As part of its regular activities outlined in the Annual Work Program, the Pedagogical Institute of Zenica continues to implement ongoing professional development for teaching staff, aiming to update their knowledge and develop additional skills. One of these activities was the SLIPS training for primary school teachers and professional associates.
In cooperation with the PRONI Center for Youth Development, the Pedagogical Institute of Zenica organized a two-day training on August 21 and 22, 2025, in Zenica for primary school teachers and professional associates on the topic of service learning in primary schools (SLIPS – Service Learning in Primary Schools).
Service learning, also known as socially beneficial learning, is an innovative educational approach that connects school activities with the concrete needs of the local community. The goal of the training was to empower teachers to foster civic competencies, empathy, responsibility, and active participation in society among students through the teaching process.
During the training, participants had the opportunity to:
- Learn service learning methods that can be immediately applied in the classroom by linking curriculum content with solving real problems in the local community;
- Develop tools for engaging students in socially beneficial activities that respond to community needs through student-led projects, encouraging active participation in community life while fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of social responsibility;
- Establish collaboration with colleagues;
- Strengthen their capacity to apply service learning as an innovative educational approach that connects school activities with community needs and contributes to the development of civic competencies in students.
Teachers from various schools jointly developed project ideas that connect students with local communities, demonstrating the power of collective action. Participants emphasized that the open and supportive atmosphere enabled the exchange of ideas and turned experiences into inspiration.
The SLIPS – Service Learning in Primary Schools project is implemented with the support of the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, focusing on primary schools with the aim of improving the quality of education and strengthening the capacity of teaching staff to work with students in an innovative and socially responsible way.
Training participants became part of a broader European initiative that brings together educational and volunteer organizations from multiple countries, aiming to create long-term positive impacts on students, schools, and local communities.
The Pedagogical Institute of Zenica once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting teachers—not just as an institution, but as a true partner in education. The Institute continues to support projects that contribute to improving the quality of education and strengthening the professional capacities of teachers.
