PROTOCOL ON MUTUAL PREVENTION OF EARLY SCHOOL LEAVING
4.11.2015

In the City Hall of Nis, in the presence of Mr. Michel Saint-Lo, Director of the UNICEF Office in Serbia a protocol was signed on cooperation between the City of Nis, UNICEF, Palilula Municipality and 28 institutions and associations joint on the prevention of early school leaving.

In the name of Palilula Muncicipality, on whose territory is the Community Centre of Youth, the protocol was signed by the president Boban Džunić. On this occasion he pointed to the fact that according to the 2011 census, in the Municipality of Palilula live 24.18 percent of the population older than 15 years without any education, with incomplete primary and only primary education. The data was particularly worrisome for the children from vulnerable groups. Comparison of different regions in Serbia, in addition here illuminate the large regional differences in terms of level of education of the population and these differences correspond to differences in the degree of economic development of the region.

According to Tamara Simonovic, executive director of the Group for Children and Youth "Indigo", the signing of the Protocol on the cooperation of the sides at preventing early school leaving children, the result of the project "Community centers-where individuals thrive, families connect and community develops," which with the support of UNICEF and in cooperation with the Palilula Municipality-City of Nis and Municipalities of Bojnik, Lebane, Pirot, Prokuplje, Surdulica and Vladicin Han, implements the Group for Children and Youth "Indigo" in Nis. In order that all children successfully complete primary and enroll in high schools, said Tamara Simonovic, we initiated a gathering of responsible and interested stakeholders.

One of the millennium development goals - reaching universal primary education - has not been fulfilled. On the UN summit dedicated to sustainable development, which was held from 25th to 27th of September this year, this goal has been replaced with 4th goal of sustainable development, which reads: ensure inclusive and quality education, and promote the possibility of lifelong learning for all. It is planned that by 2030, ensure that all girls and boys in all countries end up free, fair and high-quality primary and secondary education. Analysis of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia showed that in Serbia every thirteenth child in a generation leaves school early. The second national report on social inclusion and reduction of poverty in Serbia states, based on census data from 2011, that the educational structure of the population in Serbia is still unfavorable.