Project “Law for Equality” – Fighting for Equal Rights for Every Child in Kindergarten

From November 25, 2021, to February 24, 2022, the SIDRO association implemented the ad-hoc project “Law for Equality – Equally Accessible, Equally Safe, and Equally High-Quality Kindergarten for Every Child.” The project aimed to advocate for amendments to the Preschool Education Act and raise awareness among professionals and the general public about the need to halt unfavorable legislative changes.

During the three-month period, a team of one hundred coordinators, association members, and partners worked intensively toward achieving the project’s goals. In December 2021, while parliamentary discussions on the proposed amendments were underway, the association staged a protest performance at St. Mark’s Square. The event vividly illustrated a day in the life of an early childhood educator in an overcrowded nursery group. The public, association members, and even policymakers reacted positively, showing support and great interest. A single Facebook post about the event reached and engaged 136,000 people.

Despite the legislator’s initial plan to pass the law by December 2021, SIDRO’s strong advocacy and influence on decision-makers contributed to delaying the legislative changes, leading to four revisions of the draft proposal. However, while some modifications were made, they were still insufficient, prompting further action.

By March 2022, the law had yet to reach its second reading in the Croatian Parliament. SIDRO, together with four major unions and four professional associations, remained firm in their stance that the proposed law should not be passed. Symbolically, on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022, a series of protest activities began in more than 60 cities and 13 municipalities across Croatia, emphasizing that approximately 98% of kindergarten employees are women.

Key Proposals for a Fairer System

One of SIDRO’s key proposals focuses on reforming the kindergarten funding model. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, highlighting inequalities in the financial capacities of local governments, which lead to disparities in accessibility, fees, program quality, and safety of kindergartens. Based on these findings, SIDRO proposed amendments aimed at ensuring equal conditions for every child in Croatia.

SIDRO continues its mission to secure equal conditions in preschool education for all children, regardless of their place of birth, social, or economic status. Until every child in Croatia has equal access to a safe, high-quality kindergarten, their fight goes on.