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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Joint work of government, UNICEF on improving position of children

Belgrade, 8 December 2020

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with new Representative of the UNICEF Office for Serbia Deyana Kostadinova, who presented the most important projects of this organisation in Serbia and a five-year Activity Plan for the period from 2021 to 2025.

Brnabic expressed gratitude to UNICEF, as the most important partner of the Serbian government in the area of implementing international standards of the rights of the child, for the help it provides to the most vulnerable groups of children during the coronavirus crisis.

She added that cooperation on strengthening different segments of the child population in Serbia will continue with the same intensity.

Noting that investment in education is high on the priority list of the Serbian government, Brnabic underlined that UNICEF's projects significantly contribute to the government's vision in the strategy of education and digitalisation, as well as inclusive education, which is one of the priority programmes of this organisation.

The Prime Minister explained that for the first time Serbia has introduced the Unified Education Information System, which will enable the state to have a full overview of the entire course of education of students, from the moment of their enrolment in elementary school to the moment of completion of high school or university and getting employed.

This will enable us to have, for the first time, a full overview and picture of our education system and the needs of our economy.

Speaking about the employment of the young, Brnabic explained that the government project “My First Salary” is in course, which already gives results and is aimed at encouraging youth employment and supporting the economy in solving the problem of lack of workforce.

Kostadinova said that the crisis caused by the coronavirus at the same time brought a big chance to accelerate innovation and digitalisation in the education sector, given that distance learning has been introduced in the school system as a model which successfully provides the education process during the epidemic.

She added that UNICEF, through the project “Bridging digital gap for the most vulnerable children”, through establishment of educational digital libraries and learning clubs, will provide 1,800 tablets for 30 schools throughout Serbia so that around 12,000 children could have access to the education system.

According to her, a joint priority is that every child in Serbia has access to the Internet and a computer, which is why UNICEF and the Serbian government will work together in the coming period to achieve that.