The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, in cooperation with the UNICEF and the Center for Interactive Pedagogy, has published a manual "Towards a Safe and Encouraging School Environment".

The manual highlights the importance of the school as a learning community, nurturing the values that underpin a safe and supportive environment for development and learning. In order to build a safe and supportive environment for students, their parents, as well as all employees of the school, cooperation and involvement of all employees is required, consistency in adherence to the rules and norms of behavior, care and commitment to every child with good cooperation within the school. It is important that the school systematically plans, monitors and works on advancing the school culture with the aim of achieving respect for one another, embracing diversity and constructive cooperation between all stakeholders. One of the key activities of the school is the importance of continuous implementation of preventive activities that contribute to desirable behaviors and protection against violence and discrimination.

 The guide is the result of the experience of school staff, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the UNICEF and the civil sector. Also, the Guide integrates the knowledge, experience and resources generated during the implementation and evaluation of the “School without Violence” program.

As the authors of the manual point out, “this is a Guide to a shared vision of all schools in Serbia: we are developing as a community where everyone feels good, where learning is done in a pleasant and stimulating environment that is full of joy and pleasure, where we are respected and appreciated and where we show that we can do things more nicely and be more successful.” 

The manual was developed as part of the project "Integrated Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia II", implemented by the UN Women, the UNFPA and the UNDP, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, led by the Coordination Body for Gender Equality. The project is being implemented with the support of the Government of Sweden. The project "Integrated Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia II" is aimed at developing a social and institutional environment that will contribute to zero tolerance and eradicate violence against women in Serbia.

The School Guide: Towards a Safe and Encouraging School Environment” is available on „http://www.mpn.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ka-sigurnom-i-podsticajnom-%C5%A1kolskom-okru%C5%BEenju-vodic-za_skole.pdf

Source: zuov.gov.rs  and Coordination Body