The Minister of Education in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Slavica Đukić Dejanović, said yesterday that continuous work was being done to develop awareness of the importance of the Serbian language in preserving national and cultural identity abroad and establishing lasting ties with the fatherland.

At the training for teachers seconded to work in supplementary schools abroad and carry out educational work in Serbian, Đukić Dejanović said that the common task was to expand the network of these schools and implement activities aimed at developing awareness of national and cultural identity.

The Minister noted that educational work in Serbian was now organized in 22 countries, while in the 2017/2018 school year it was conducted in nine countries.

She stated that classes were now held in Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Slovenia, Malta, Greece, Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Russia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

According to her, new groups of students in schools offering this type of classes were formed in the 2023/2024 school year for the first time also in America, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Iceland.

Đukić Dejanović said that the efforts of the competent Serbian diplomatic and consular missions, as well as associations of Serbian citizens abroad to organize such classes in other countries were also important.

The Minister specified that in this school year, the classes were attended by 9,162 students divided into 502 teaching groups, and taught by 134 teachers.

In the 2017/2018 school year, according to her, the classes were attended by 4,197 students, and taught by 47 teachers.

She expressed special gratitude to the Institute for the Improvement of Education, which organized this training for teachers together with the Ministry of Education, and her belief that it would provide professional support in conducting the teaching and learning process, contribute to the improvement of teaching practice and enrich the already known methodical experiences.

I am certain that you will represent your country in a dignified manner in the host country, and that with your professional work you will contribute to nurturing the Serbian language, tradition and culture of the Serbian people and strengthening lasting ties with the fatherland, she underscored.

Zlatko Grušanović, director of the Institute for the Improvement of Education, spoke at the training.

Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia

Photo: Ministry of Education