Symposium on the Inclusion of migrant and non-native speaking children in the Croatian education system held in Zagreb

ZAGREB, 24 October 2025 – On Friday, 24 October, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth hosted the symposium “Presentation and Exchange of Good Practices for a Supportive Environment for Non-native Speaking Children and Children from Migrant Backgrounds”, organized by the UNICEF Office for Croatia and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.

The symposium gathered education professionals, experts, and institutional representatives to exchange concrete experiences from kindergartens and schools, and to reflect on systemic solutions for more inclusive education. Opening remarks were delivered by Luisa Brumana, Representative of the UNICEF Office for Croatia, Thomas Casura, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Croatia, Katarina Milković, Director of the Education and Teacher Training Agency and Ivana Pavić Šimetin, Special Advisor to the Minister of Science, Education and Youth.

“Inclusion is not just a policy – it is a promise to every child who enters a Croatian classroom that they will have the opportunity to grow, develop, and reach their full potential”, said Luisa Brumana, UNICEF Croatia Representative, adding that teachers are at the heart of this promise, and that their creativity, empathy, and resilience shape the daily experiences of children facing challenges such as a new language and culture.

“Language is not just a means of communication — it is the foundation of identity, a bridge between a child’s past and their future. That’s why encouraging bilingualism and nurturing the mother tongue is just as important as successfully mastering the Croatian language. Our shared goal is to build a system that respects diversity, fosters solidarity, and enables every child to feel accepted, safe, and successful”, said Katarina Milković, Director of the Education and Teacher Training Agency.

“Projects like this do more than deliver services — they transform lives. They lay the foundation for a more inclusive, compassionate, and resilient society where every child — regardless of origin — can thrive and contribute”, said Thomas Casura, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Croatia.

“I would especially like to express my gratitude to UNICEF and all partners for their years of collaboration, support, and dedication in shaping approaches that respect origin and language. The results presented today strengthen examples of good practice, offer quality recommendations, and build bridges of cooperation among all stakeholders in the education system focused on supporting children who speak other languages”, said Ivana Pavić Šimetin, Special Advisor to the Minister of Science, Education and Youth.

Teachers demonstrated that inclusion happens not only through policy, but through everyday actions, creativity, and empathy. From Makarska, Split, Rijeka, Zadar, Kutina, and Vukovar to Zagreb – representatives of schools and kindergartens shared inspiring examples of working with children navigating new linguistic and cultural environments.

During the symposium, some results of the programme “Supporting Protection and Integration of Children and Families in Migration in Croatia” were presented. The programme is jointly implemented by the UNICEF Office for Croatia and the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), with financial support from the second Swiss contribution to selected EU Member States.

It includes the development of online training modules, standardized Croatian language tests, and policy reports with recommendations for improving inclusion.

The symposium concluded with key takeaways and recommendations for further strengthening inclusive education in Croatia, along with a call to continue joint efforts in building an education system where inclusion becomes the norm, not the exception.