Children from migrants’ families temporary residing in northwest region of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have officially started school on Monday, local media reported.
A total of 105 children, who live in reception centers in Una Sana Canton (USC), located some 300 kilometers from the capital Sarajevo, are involved in curriculum of four local primary schools.
Education Minister of USC Damir Omerdic praised the good organization, highlighting that teaching staff is fully prepared.
“Absolutely everything is available to children, from medical examinations, transportation, the required accessories,” Omerdic added.
With the financial support of the European Union (EU), approximately one hundred migrant children have undergone medical examinations in January, one of the main preconditions for their inclusion in the education system.
After the medical examinations, it was stated that the health condition of the examined children is satisfactory.
UNICEF Coordinator USC Nevenka Lukin emphasized that this is probably the most beautiful and most positive day since she is working in this part of BiH, pointing out on a great job jointly done. “Firstly, we all agreed and organized with local ministries of education, science, culture and sports, school management, parents and migrant families themselves. After that, we provided the children with everything they needed for school, from clothes and shoes to complete school supplies,” Lukin said, emphasizing that the first day of school for children is at the same time important and emotional for organizers as well.
In four schools, teaching will take place within special program which implies working with children who have undergone certain forms of trauma, and accordingly, a great number of teachers and professional associates have been trained in the past.
Ervina Lipovic-Hodzic, teacher at local school explained that they will work with children following HART program, healing and education through art.
“Simply, children learn through creative work and play, and the program is also designed to work with children who have experienced stress,” Lipovic-Hodzic, explained.
Teachers and parents councils prepared gifts for the first school day for children from migrant families.
A total of 23,902 migrants have been registered on the territory of the country in the period from Jan. to Dec. last year, mainly from Pakistan, Iran and Syria.
Currently, there are between 4,000 and 5,000 migrants on the territory of BiH, mainly near the cities near the border with Croatia, from where migrants are attempting to enter the EU countries.
(Source: Sarajevo Times, Xinhua, Photo: biscani.net)
