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| Acknowledgements |
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Acknowledgements - target group
20070622
My wife and I have jobs. My working hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. or sometimes even longer because I have to visit many objects. My wife works in Vilnius because she can't find a job nearby. It's very comfortable to bring our child here. The working hours are convenient. For example, the preschool in Baltoji Voke is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Should we be late for work? We can't manage to bring a child there and to take him without being late for work. Employers don't like empoyees being late.
Father
At first I couldn't believe that such a miracle could be possible. It's hard to believe that somebody is trying to help parents. I signed my child up with this group. But there was some kind of competition, because we had so satisfy some criteria. It is convenient to pick up your child an hour later. I don't need to hurry after work. Earlier I was forced to pich up my child at 6 or 6.30 p.m. and now I feel free to pick up my child whenever I can. A social worker and psychologist work here. Parents can arrange discussions with them at the most convenient time. We aren't used to psychologists. Usually parents solve their problems alone or with friends. But now we can see that parents gather here for the discussions. I like these meetings as well. I raise my daughter alone and have no time to communicate with her, so it is natural that we have communication problems. But now with the help of the specialists our relationship is perfect. I must work with clients for a long working day. Recently I've been picking my daughter up only at 9 p.m. or sometimes later. But I have no choice because I work late and I am alone.
Mother
|  | Acknowledgements - government
20070622
The program "Forward!" is really atractive. It meets the requirements of our lives. Mothers seek careers and want to get involved in the job market. The aim of the program is supporting working families. TheMinistry of Education and Science is just an observer. I think that the environment is favourable now.
According to the law - the Education Law and the Local Government Law - preschool education is an independent function of municipalities, so they should give a support at first. Every municipality is responsible for taxes, its budget, economic development, and occupation of citizens. Families should be encouraged to participate in the labour market and give their children the best possible education. But the economic situation situation varies from region to region, and the social situation is different as well. So support from programs is necessary (program financing according to our laws). Such a program has already been prepared. It's a program of preschool and primary school educational development. The project is still being discussed. Municipalities will profit from this activity because children are from different environments.
Grazina Seibokiene
The Chief of the Department of the Ministry of Education and Science
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