EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN FROM MARGINALIZED GROUPS
13.11.2013

Representatives of UNICEF and the Japanese government delegation visited the elementary school "Desanka Maksimovic" in Cokot - Palilula Municipality Niš (Tuesday, 12 November ) in order to learn about good practice, which is present in the educational system of Serbia. The host of this event, Ljiljana Radovanovic Tosic, principal of the school "Desanka Maksimovic" in Cokot, expressed great satisfaction that this conversation and visit took place at the school, which last year received the highest educational award "St. Sava Award",  for outstanding results and contribute to the development of education in Serbia. Our school "Desanka Maksimovć", said the principal, is already ninety years old and is currently attended by approximately 920 children. Students and teachers of the school, with the usage of the appropriate pedagogical methods, are the example of successfull work.

"A large percentage of children from marginalized groups lacks basic education, and a goal that will be set on the projects with schools in the region conducted by UNICEF and the Japanese company "UNIQLO", is to get as many children properly educated, said Eiko Sherba. In Serbia, there are fewer children each year, and to our knowledge, 15 per cent of children from rural areas do not finish primary school, reminded Vesna Savic Dukic, head of operational services of the United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF. We want to continue our collaboration on new projects with the elementary school "Desanka Maksinmović" from Cokot, which in recent years has demonstrated good practice in education.

On the territory of Palilula -Nis, except primary school "Desanka Maksimovic" in Cokot, which is recognized as an example of good practice,  in the area of setlement "Crvena Zvezda" , where predominantly Roma population lives, with the support of UNICEF, there is a  social center established, assisted by the Open Club to integrate young people into society and non-formal education of marginalized groups of students. According to Milos Stojiljkovic, a member of the Municipal Council of Palilula, the education of children from marginalized groups is one of the priorities of the Strategy for the development of the local government of the City of Nis. Members of Council of Palilula Municipality, Milos Stojiljkovic and Ivica Stojanovic, pointed to other benefits that Palilula provided organized transport of disabled persons to educational institutions and the removal of architectural barriers.