ZAGREB, August 25, 2018 – Science and Education Minister Blaženka Divjak said on Friday that her ministry was ready for the new school year and the launch of the “School for Life” pilot project in 74 schools.
“The School for Life pilot project covers 74 schools with 8,500 pupils and close to 2,000 teachers and assistants, who have all been trained,” said Divjak, noting that the new school year would begin on September 3.
The ministry has done its share of the job, book publishers have promised to provide textbooks for the pilot project by the start of the school year, the minister said, adding that some schools had already been given tablets while others were about to get them.
“As for other schools, the big change this year is that we have computer science as a compulsory subject in all primary schools in 5th and 6th grade. As for the equipment, we have equipped the first 218 schools, those that were the most critical in terms of computer equipment,” she said, adding that by the end of this year 400-500 more schools would be given computer equipment.
She said that her ministry had worked a lot on absorbing EU funds and that in less than two years two billion had been withdrawn, a record amount not only in relation to the previous period but in relation to other ministries.
“We are also embarking on a new concept of reform of vocational education which has been neglected for decades. It includes new curricula, dual education, more cooperation with employers and one billion kuna that is being invested in 25 competency centres throughout Croatia,” said Divjak.
