INSTITUTE OF PRIMARY AND PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
The Institute of Primary and Pre-Primary Education was established on September 1, 2011. It consists of Department of Primary and Pre-Primary Education and Research Centre for Primary and Pre-Primary Education. It follows up the significant academic and educational outcomes of former Department of Pre-School and Elementary Education at Faculty of Education.
Historical background
Fifteen years ago in Slovakia there was not any facility dealing with problems of theory, methodology and scientific research in the field of primary and pre-primary education. It was necessary to create conditions for development of research and its application in educational practice. Therefore, in 1995 the Department of Pre-School and Elementary Education was established. In that time it was the youngest faculty’s department.
Its aims were: 1. to develop scientific theory in pre-school and elementary school education with own research projects; cooperate in projects with other relevant departments and research centers; to focus scientific research on the development of psycho-didactic concepts and methods of their realization in practice. 2. to contribute to the transformation and institutionalization of pre-school and school education in Slovakia by developing new alternative approaches of curricula and their evaluation. 3. to develop sound criteria for the graduating professionals in the field; construct new study programs and improve pedagogical and professional competencies of graduates according to the new developments in theory and educational practice.
Tasks realized
The attention of the department was focused on questions of institutional education of children in pre-school and primary school age. In this way basic and applied research projects have been realized. Members of the department were involved in eight international and 21 national projects VEGA and KEGA. At present, the Institute participates in the international project COMENIUS, in two projects VEGA and two projects KEGA. Doctoral students are actively involved in scientific research and grants.
The department is also known as a co-organizer of the cycle of conferences Ways of Democracy in Education. At present the 13th annual conference is being prepared. Other significant activity for students and doctoral students is The Student Forum. Since 2002 our doctoral students can present results of their research in this forum under professional supervision of university experts and experts from research centres from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. From both events reviewed proceedings are published every year.
The members of the Institute are contributing to the transformation of institutionalized pre-school education as members of the academic field expert committees at the National Institute for Education, as authors of the basic pedagogical documents and as the authors of textbooks for primary education (members of our institute are authors of 13 books).
One of the most important tasks of the department is to provide a high quality of teaching. Currently we have accreditation for all three types of studies. Bachelor’s study program Teaching for kindergartens and tutoring in school clubs is focused on training teachers for kindergartens and tutors for school clubs. Master’s study program Teaching for primary education is training teachers of primary schools. Doctoral study program Pre-school and elementary education is focused on scientific research and complex project and development activities in pre-school and elementary education.
Scientific seminars
Members of the Research Centre for Primary and Pre-Primary Education regularly organize scientific seminars on topics which come out either from problems of the scientific projects the department is involved in, or they analyze the latest international scientific and research findings.
Publications
Former Department of pre-school and elementary education has rich publication activities. All members and doctoral students work every academic year on publishing at least 3 professional contributions in A categories. Since 2011 every member of the Institute strives to be the author (or co-author) of a scientific monograph.
International cooperation
International cooperation of the Institute is wide. There are 12 bilateral agreements within the LLP Erasmus for international exchange signed with universities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, and Bulgaria. Every year several teachers and researchers from the above mentioned countries visit the department. All agreements on cooperation are based on solving the common grant projects. The preparation of other contracts on international cooperation is now being in progress.
Cooperation with professional educational practice
Part of the Institute of Primary and Pre-Primary Education will also be the Counseling Centre. It is planned to be established within one year. Its aim will be realization of consultancy focused on children, parents and teachers of pre-primary and primary education. Attention will be paid to adaptation problems of children entering kindergarten and primary school, problems of communication of kindergartens with parents, development of projects as parts of the grant applications for financial support of kindergarten, to modernization of kindergarten curricula.
