With the new school year, a new partnership - UNICEF and Sarajevo Canton are joining forces for better education

UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Institute for the Development of Pre-University Education (IRPO), with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Canton of Sarajevo, are launching a partnership that will support teachers in the process of introducing innovations, continuing to work together to improve the quality of education.

The initiative covers three strategically important areas: competences for environmental sustainability, digital skills, and education on children’s rights. Within the framework of the partnership, materials will be developed to introduce the European Sustainability Competence Framework (GreenComp) into preschools and primary schools, expand the Akelius digital language learning programme to more schools, and modernise the teaching of children’s rights in primary schools.

Learning for a sustainable future

As part of the initiative, UNICEF is supporting IRPO in carrying out an analysis of the preschool curriculum and selected primary school subjects, and in developing teaching resources that integrate GreenComp. The result will be a methodological handbook for educational institutions, which will be piloted in five preschools and five primary schools. Following this initial phase, the handbook will be made available to all preschools and primary schools.

Digital skills for the 21st century

Thanks to the existing partnership, over 200 foreign language teachers in Sarajevo Canton are already applying the Akelius digital language learning programme in classrooms. This school year, the expansion of the Akelius learning community will continue, including professional development and support for teachers, as well as equipping schools with the necessary digital tools to use the Akelius programme.In the coming period, UNICEF, IRPO and the Ministry of Education in Sarajevo Canton plan to introduce the European Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigiComp), with the aim of further improving the quality and relevance of education, building on the experience of introducing GreenComp and other good practices.

Schools that live children's rights

The new partnership also brings activities aimed at empowering students to understand their rights, as well as teaching staff to better understand and use the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 30 schools, teaching and learning about children's rights will be carried out through an innovative and modern approach.

The value of the partnership is more than 250,000 KM , which represents a significant investment in the quality of education and skills needed by children and young people for life and work in the 21st century.

“At the Institute for the Development of Pre-University Education of Sarajevo Canton, we believe that quality education is the foundation of social progress, built through continuous innovation and cooperation. That is why we proudly announce this new partnership with UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton, through which we continue our joint efforts to improve the quality of education for every child.

This initiative is strategically important as it simultaneously strengthens three key areas for 21st-century education: competences for environmental sustainability, digital skills, and education on children’s rights. Our vision is clear - to empower teachers with concrete tools and resources to teach in a way that is relevant, modern, and responsive to the needs of children and young people.

I am especially pleased that, through the introduction of the European Sustainability Competence Framework (GreenComp) and the European Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigiComp), our preschools and schools will be able to develop students’ critical thinking, responsible decision-making, and creative and safe use of technology. At the same time, by strengthening education on children’s rights, we are building schools that embody the values of equality, respect, and inclusion of all pupils,” said Senada Salihović, Director of the Institute.

“When we place education at the heart of society, we invest in what is most valuable – children and their future. Investing in sustainability, digital skills, and children’s rights means investing in generations to come - in their ability to think critically, make responsible decisions, and build a fairer society. I believe that initiatives like this lay the foundations for education that keeps pace with the future and prepares children to lead it,”said Naida Hota-Muminović, Minister of Education of Sarajevo Canton.

“Quality education is not just preparation for the future labour market – it is about opening new horizons and learning to view the world with different eyes. Quality education builds the communities we strive for, communities that are sustainable and that place children at their centre. This strategic partnership is of particular importance to UNICEF, because at the practice level it provides teachers with concrete tools to improve learning, while at the policy level it offers an example that can serve as inspiration not only to other schools but also to other administrative units in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our vision is for every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina to have equal opportunities to reach their full potential,” said Marc Lucet, UNICEF Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The partnership is supported by funding from the Kingdom of Sweden, the Akelius Foundation, and UNICEF thematic funds.