Schools across Serbia will soon have access to a valuable new resource: the second volume of Guidelines for the Integration of the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) in National Curricula. Developed by a team of education experts from the State Institute for the Improvement of Education and the Ministry of Education, this guide aims to help educators enhance their teaching by incorporating democratic values and principles.
It connects democratic competences to 11 subjects in the national curriculum, providing practical examples and strategies for teachers. By using this resource, educators can create a more engaging and democratic learning environment that encourages students to actively participate in their communities.
With existing support structures, such as mentors and advisors for democratic culture established by the Ministry of Education, these guidelines represent a significant step forward in integrating democratic principles into the classroom. Once finalized, the guidelines will be distributed to teachers, who will also receive training to implement these concepts effectively.
Additionally, the State Institute for the Improvement of Education plans to launch an online database of best practices and lesson plans to further support teachers in this effort.
This initiative, developed within the action Quality Education for All and supported by both the Ministry and the Institute, is part of the broader effort to align Serbia's education system with democratic principles, as outlined in the Education Strategy 2030. The ultimate goal is to change the paradigm of teaching and learning, and equip students with skills such as critical thinking, empathy, and respect for diversity.
The action “Quality education for all” is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.