Savremeni izazovi u radu stručnih saradnika zaposlenih u osnovnim i srednjim školama na području Kantona Sarajevo
Contemporary Challenges in the Work of School Professionals Employed in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Sarajevo Canton

Summary/Abstract: The work of school professionals involves planning and implementing a significant number of activities aimed at improving the educational process and the psycho-physical development of students. In addition to working with students, school professionals collaborate with teachers, parents/ guardians, and representatives of various institutions, all with the goal of creating better conditions in the educational context. The aim of this paper is to identify the most common challenges and problems students face in the school setting, potential causes, and to evaluate the quality of school professionals’ collaboration with teachers, parents, and institutions, based on the experiences of school professionals (psychologists, pedagogues, and social workers). The data was collected as part of a study conducted for the third time by the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton, with the authors of the paper participating as members of the expert team appointed by the Ministry. For the first time, the study conducted in March and April 2023 included participation from school professionals. A total of 133 school professionals (M=41.62, SD=8.31) filled out the questionnaires, consisting of 66 psychologists, 53 pedagogues, and 14 social workers. The analyzed responses of school professionals indicate the presence of various challenges that hinder student functioning and adjustment, with the highest percentage of responses highlighting learning difficulties (96.9%), stress (91.7%), anxiety (87.9%), and the presence of psychosomatic symptoms (87.2%). School professionals report that family problems (96.2%), peer relationship issues (91.7%), and the overload of school activities (83.4%) are the main contributors to these difficulties. They evaluate their collaboration with parents/guardians as the weakest, while collaboration with other institutions, particularly social work centers, is the most frequent. The results of this and similar studies in this field provide a basis for planning and creating preventive and intervention measures in working with children and adolescents, some of which will be described in detail in this paper.

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