Towards a Child Union – Slovenia

24th September – 17:30 -18:30

This publication launch was hosted by Progresiva. The results from the ‘Towards a Child Union’ publication were presented and discussed by European and Slovenian public policy and educational experts.

The Child Guarantee, as the EU’s primary response to child poverty and inequalities, is on its way. But progressives need to promote a Child Union which principles focus on improving access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) and better integrating it with other welfare provision. It is an essential element to revamp a sense of solidarity and a welfare state enabling to tackle inequalities while also promoting collective resilience and sustainability.

This research project, conducted by Christian Morabito and Michel Vandenbroeck, aims at delineating the mainlines of a Child Union intended as a European programme to fight children’s inequalities through access to opportunities for children, to ECEC and social safety nets.

The ECEC program, which is implemented by pedagogically educated professionals, implies early socialization for children, development of group dynamic and early education, which lowers the obstacles for children, brought from their home environment. In Slovenia, 82,7% of children (11 months – 6 years) is included in ECEC. 95% of them benefit from access to public kindergartens with national curricula, educators with a bachelor degree and well-equiped buildings. It tackles issue such as socialization, equality, learning and creativity for children; professional possibilities for (both) parents and full-time job especially for women; necessary skills and routine before entering school.

This project was carried out by FEPS, Reggio Children (IT), Pablo Iglesias Foundation (ES), Institute for Social Democracy (HU) and Progresiva (SL), to analyse how Europe could better organise early childhood education for it to be a real tool addressing children’s inequality.

Programme of the conference

To register please contact, info@progresiva.si

Speakers confirmed:

László Andor, FEPS Secretary General

Urban Boljka, Research fellow at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia

Majda Hrženjak, Peace Institute – Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies, reasercher

Christian Morabito, International expert for Save the Children and the European Commission

Barbara Novinec, principal in kindergarten Galjevica, Ljubljana and President of ESHA, the European School Heads Association

Branimir Štrukelj, Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture of Slovenia, Secretary General

Martina Vuk, Former State Secretary at the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and member of Društvo Progresiva