This post is also available in: српски (Serbian)

The two-day informal meeting of the Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice of the Council of Europe with more than 60 participants from European countries was held in Belgrade, in the House of the National Assembly in Palace of Serbia, on October 24-25, 2013. The meeting was also attended by docent Aleksandar R. Ivanovic, president of the association “Monitor”.

The meeting was opened by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, prof. Dr Tomislav Jovanović. Minister prof. Dr. Tomislav Jovanović wished participants of the Conference a pleasant stay In Belgrade, the successful work of the meeting on which the experiences will be exchanged In the quality of education. In his welcoming speech, Prof. Dr. Tomslav Jovanović said that, despite moderate investments, higher education in Serbia Part of the European educational space. He also emphasized that better financing is needed to create modern and quality education as a step in the development of every society. “With the current budget, we can ensure the availability of conversion for each child and a better quality of teaching and learning,” Jovanovic said. Jovnovic also pointed out that one of the next tasks is to include private universities in scientific research at the state level, which should contribute to significant results and increase competitiveness, both in the country and abroad.
The gathering was opened by the intonation hymn of the Republic of Serbia “God of Justice”, performed by the children of the Children’s Choir “Čarolija”. Presided over the meeting was Vesna Fila, Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Origin, as a member of the Council for Europe’s Policy and Monitoring Council ).
The participants were welcomed by the Director of the Department for Democracy of the Council of Europe Snežana Samardžić Marković, pointing out the specific education mission for a better future for all.
The Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, Željko Jovanović, Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, Goran Mutabdžija, addressed the participants as well as the President of the National Council for Higher Education of Serbia Srđan Stankovic.
The participants are high representatives of all members of the Council of Europe who are in charge of general education and higher education, who are responsible at the national level for the planning, development and implementation of educational policy issues by the Supervisory Committee for Educational Policy and Chest of Council of Europe.
At the meeting was led the discussion on topics: “Managing of quality education: from Helsinki to Belgrade”, “Inclusive education”, “Development of competences for a democratic self-intercultural dialogue”.
The meeting was a good opportunity to understand the experiences and results, after which the 24th session of the Permanent Conference of Ministers of Education of the Council of Europe was held in Helsinki this April.
The recommendations made at the meeting related to the most diverse aspects of education from the inclusion of all children in education to providing quality education.
Also, Recommendations I am connected to the special support for children from vulnerable social groups, reduction of dropouts from education, further development of democratic initiatives, participation of multiculturalism itself. Through discussions in Belgrade, concrete suggestions for the implementation of the recommendations made should be defined through the activity of each member state of the Council of Europe.