Slađana Nikolić, special advisor to the Minister, said at the Unity and Strength – Serbia gathering that supplementary schools abroad were key instruments for preserving the national and cultural identity of children in the diaspora.

Presenting the results of the development of educational work in the Serbian language abroad to date, she stated that interest in attending educational work in Serbian was continuously growing among the Serbian people living abroad.

‘This statement is illustrated by the fact that in the 2017/2018 school year, classes in supplementary schools were organized in 11 countries. Today, they take place in 22 countries and are attended by more than 9,500 students of Serbian nationality, taught by 144 dedicated teachers,’ said the special advisor, adding that the largest number of students of Serbian nationality attended educational work in the Serbian language in Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia.

According to her, in addition to the supplementary school classes, the Ministry also organizes a number of activities that involve families in the activities of supplementary schools, visits by prominent writers and artists are organized, as well as gatherings and excursions that connect children from the diaspora with their homeland.

‘One such project is Summer in the Homeland, where students of supplementary schools stay in Tršić free of charge for seven days during the summer months. During their stay in the motherland, various activities are organized for the children, such as visits to cultural and historical monuments and socializing,’ she said.

Nikolić stated that this gathering was an opportunity for conversation, but also for opening important issues concerning the future of Serbia and our people abroad.

‘The Ministry of Education remains committed to improving the work in supplementary schools, as well as expanding the network of these institutions. Certainly, in these matters we cooperate closely with the Office of the Minister without Portfolio Đorđe Milićević, as well as other ministries and state institutions, because our common goal is to foster the national and cultural identity of our people abroad, but also to establish and maintain lasting ties with the fatherland.’

The two-day Unity and Strength – Serbia event was held on the occasion of Vidovdan and the Day of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region on Zlatibor, organized by the Office of the Minister without Portfolio in charge of the Diaspora, Đorđe Milićević.

‘Serbia stands firm today, as a state that relies on its strength, both in the homeland and in the diaspora. Vidovdan is our greatest encouragement, because it reminds us of our history, but also of our goal: unity, peace, and state-building. We are a country that believes in its people and its institutions,’ said Minister Milićević.

Source: Ministry of Education, Republic of Serbia

Photo: Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation