This paper will focus on the positive outcomes and new practices in the preschool education, which have been taking place thanks to the realisation of several important projects in kindergartens in resent years, dealing with... [ view full abstract ]
This paper will focus on the positive outcomes and new practices in the preschool education, which have been taking place thanks to the realisation of several important projects in kindergartens in resent years, dealing with peace education and promotion of peace culture, as well as understanding of peace as a need in a multicultural society, such as Macedonia. We will focus our attention on the MOZAIK -Project, as the first model for integrated multicultural education, having been realized since 1997, the PRECEDE -project Parnership for reconciliation through ECE and Development in EU, including 10 kindergartens from Macedonia, and the UNICEF -office Skopje project Respect for Diversity and Multyculturalism in Early Childhood Education, which is the newest project being realized in all the kindergartens in Macedonia. Furher this paper will show how peace preschool programs have approached, find solution and implemented issues that deal with equal status, respect for diversity, tolerance, common values, problem solving and promotion of new pedagogical discourse, overcoming traditional pedagogy with new pedagogical tools in the preschool education in Macedonia. The needs for change in the initial education of the kindergarten educators will also be presented, as well as the needs for strengthening their capacities, concerning peace education. In service trainings with the preschool teachers , promote new practices with children in the preschool sites in different part in the country. All documents adopted by the Ministry of Education and Ministry for Social work and Social policy in Macedonia, such as New Strategy for Integrated Education, New curriculum for preschool education, Early Learning and Development Standards for children from 0 to 6, etc. are only a declarative movement for the promotion of peace education at an early age, when it is in fact needed the most.
Key words: peace education, preschool education, diversity, tolerance, preschool children
