Meeting at the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton: Many parents are not aware of how serious the situation is

(Patria) - The Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton, faced with the challenges of the new situation in schools, clearly demonstrates its commitment to dialogue and cooperation with all participants in the educational process. Today, just 15 days after the previous meeting, representatives of the Ministry, led by Minister Naida Hota-Muminović, met again with representatives of the Parent Council of primary and secondary schools in Sarajevo Canton.

"The safety of our children is our absolute priority," the minister emphasized, adding that the Ministry is doing everything within its jurisdiction to mitigate the consequences of the current situation. The focus of today's meeting was a review of the activities undertaken and the results from the previous meeting, held on October 15. The conclusions from that meeting have already been translated into concrete instructions, which have been sent to all schools in Sarajevo Canton.

Minister Hota-Muminović stressed that such meetings will be held regularly until the desired results are achieved.

"Education and professional support for schools are only part of our activities. It is especially important to provide psychological assistance to students, as recommended by school psychologists, as well as to listen to parents, because their opinion plays a key role," the minister emphasized.

In the context of recent challenges in schools, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of mental health is becoming increasingly important.

"When such situations occur, retraumatization happens; our subconscious reacts. We fully understand our communities, parents, and above all, students. These false reports are a rebellion of the subconscious seeking defense. We are aware of the challenges we face regarding mental health. That is why we will continue to monitor mental health situations and provide assistance to students and all those affected by this situation," said Melisa Mizdrak from the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton.

In times of crisis, as Ajla Džinko from the Parent Council of primary and secondary schools of Sarajevo Canton believes, every community faces challenges that require a collective response.

"Many parents are not aware of how serious the situation is. The situation is not viewed globally; everyone only looks at their own child and the situation in their school. Unfortunately, we do not know what awaits us. That is why it is important that as many parents as possible get involved to act and be there for their children. In this way, we will all engage socially and help our children. We cannot work alone, nor can the Ministry alone; we must act multisectorally," said Džinko.

Minister Hota-Muminović further revealed that representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs are already going to schools, talking to students, and informing them about the penalties and consequences of their behavior.

At this meeting, the following conclusions were adopted:

- Strengthening preventive measures across all sectors is key.
- Enhance and improve the parenting school project. Programs specific to parents in relation to the age of children and youth (implement as a requirement).
- Engage the Center for Social Work, family counseling, and other resources whose support is needed.
- Increase parental responsibility.
- Create a cross-section of the four-year research on the psychophysical health of children/youth, educational workers, and parents, and present it to schools and parents.

The Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton continues intensive work on improving the situation in schools, with a special focus on the safety and mental health of students and education workers. Through regular meetings with the Parent Council, the Ministry will ensure continuous support for schools, parents, and students through the implementation of preventive measures and programs for parents. The engagement of experts and cooperation with institutions will further strengthen systemic support, aiming to create a safer and more stimulating environment for all participants in the educational process.

A meeting with representatives of social services, as well as with representatives of health institutions, has been announced to further familiarize themselves with the challenges faced by educational communities and families.