A new group of schools in Central Bosnia Canton has joined the growing Network for Democratic School Culture, opening up more opportunities for students and teachers to build a culture of inclusivity and critical thinking. As part of this initiative, 16 teachers from Bugojno, Novi Travnik, and Vitez participated in the training on democratic values and practical classroom tools, helping them to guide students to become engaged, open-minded citizens.

The three-day training introduced educators to the Reference Framework of the Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) and included a visit to the first resource center for democratic school culture, opened at the Vocational High School Fojnica in Kiseljak on 29 October. This school, supported by the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Quality Education for All” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been a pioneer in developing a democratic school culture, setting a model for local communities through activities that promote inclusivity and civic engagement.

According to the school coordinator prof. Martina Đukić, the process of introducing the RFCDC has empowered both teachers and students.

“Our participation in this process brought about a sense of empowerment. For teachers, it strengthened our core belief that we are the ones who stand at the heart of the education system and can be the motors for change. For students, it challenged them to perceive everyday situations from a different angle and to seek solutions. They have become more active in school life, understanding that we can all contribute in our own way towards a more inclusive environment. Today, our school represents a strong community which has a deep sense and understanding of the competences and values which it promotes and lives by and is looking forward to sharing this knowledge and experience with other schools,” she said.

In the coming period the action will provide further support to teachers and schools in Central Bosnia Canton to develop their capacities and promote quality education for all, bearing in mind that today's students represent tomorrow's democratic citizenship aware of the necessity of democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law, solidarity, openness, respect for diversity, and critical thinking.

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”.