On November 21, 2025, in Sarajevo, a strategic meeting of educational authorities, key stakeholders in education, and international organizations was held, organized by the Center for Educational Initiatives Step by Step in partnership with the World Bank Group, UNICEF, UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), UniCredit Foundation, and Think Equal. The meeting was dedicated to aligning educational initiatives and conducting consultations on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).
The focus of the meeting included: strengthening dialogue on early childhood education and care, presenting successful models and innovations in ECEC, exploring areas of cooperation with the World Bank.Key findings of UNICEF’s analytical work were presented, along with an overview of the state and potential of ECEC in Bosnia and Herzegovina, examples of projects from regional countries, the TEACH ECE tool – how to measure the quality of educators’ work (presented by the World Bank), and a plan of activities for the future.
The Director of the Pedagogical Institute Zenica, Aida Salkić, actively participated in the meeting and presented the work and activities of the Institute in the field of preschool education. These activities include professional supervision of preschool institutions (pedagogical monitoring and improvement of work in public and private preschools to ensure compliance with standards and regulations), monitoring the implementation of preschool education programs, the work of educators, other professional staff, and preschool directors, providing expert support in planning, programming, and organizing educational work in preschool institutions, as well as organizing professional development programs.Director Salkić emphasized that one of the goals of the Pedagogical Institute is to strengthen the professional capacities of educators and to create a stimulating environment for children at the earliest age, which has been recognized as a key factor for the long-term development of the education system.
