MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION IN EDUCATION SIGNED

KAZAN, JUNE 11 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, Željka Stojičić, and the Russian Minister of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, signed today in Kazan a Memorandum of Cooperation in education.

The Memorandum was signed during the Third International Forum of Education Ministers, "Shaping the Future," and was assessed as highly significant. Building on the traditional friendship and brotherly relations between Russia and Republika Srpska, it aims to enhance cooperation in primary education, general secondary education, and vocational secondary education, as well as in relevant additional professional training and professional development, the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska said. Before the signing of the Memorandum, Stojičić addressed the forum, where she emphasized that Republika Srpska is responsible for implementing and developing its national education system and, as such, acts to achieve its strategic goals aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. “Being aware of the importance of the topics discussed at the forum these days, I considered this a good opportunity to discuss developments in the context of global trends in education, as well as the challenges we can expect in the future regarding education,” said Stojičić. She also stated that equal access to education has been ensured for all children from preschool age through the completion of secondary education, and that the education system is committed to traditional values, especially regarding the school’s role in upbringing. “We believe that the 21st-century student expects much more from their teacher than what may sometimes be provided at a given moment. Being aware of the role and importance of teachers in the educational process, we are dedicated to implementing programs for their professional development and training, so that they acquire the necessary skills, stay motivated, and through continuous support, become more prepared and confident for their work,” said Stojičić. She stated that due attention is given to the development and implementation of curricula and that efforts are being made to find innovative approaches to their execution. “We are aware that digital transformation in education is not just about internet access or acquiring and using software and hardware. It requires changes in norms and certain habits, as well as the creation of new demands for our teachers, because they are a very important, if not the most important, link in this process of change,” Stojičić said. She thanked the Forum’s Organizing Committee, the hosts from Tatarstan, the Russian Embassy in BiH, as well as the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Russia for their support. “Change is unstoppable, and the willingness to share experiences today represents a step forward,” Stojičić said.