SDP president Zoran Milanović and coalition leaders talk about education and other topics.
Presenting a part of the election manifesto of the People’s Coalition on education, SDP president Zoran Milanović said in Rijeka that his coalition, if it wins power, would continue where it left off. Now is the time to invest in education, said Milanović, who also commented on some other current topics, reports tportal.hr on August 9, 2016.
The education manifesto of the People’s Coalition was presented by Neven Budak, who said that it was based on the strategy of education, science and technology which was adopted in Parliament. “’Our task is to continue the strategy. The aim is to provide the same quality of education to everybody, given the interests and abilities of any individual. On the one hand, we must invest in education in order to raise its quality, and on the other hand we must ensure the social welfare component for all those who belong to poorer families so they would have equal opportunities in education”, said Budak.
Budak also commented on the comprehensive curricular reform. “The experiment of the current government has stopped the curricular reform for six months. We will offer Boris Jokić to finish the project of curricular reform”, said Budak, adding that the People’s Coalition would review the Bologna Process and invest more in science and research. Budak said that 0.75 percent of GDP was invested in the education and science at the moment and that by 2020 that would be increased to two percent.
Vesna Pusić (HNS) also discussed the importance of education. “Education is the key for the political profile of a nation. It is also important for the economy. This is a country for all of us, and unlike some others, we are here to work and be responsible. At this time, we have to choose between the country of education or the embarrassment which we have witnesses during the last several months. At this point, we all need to take responsibility”, said Pusić.
SDP president Zoran Milanović also spoke about education. “Croatia has infrastructure similar to some of the largest countries in the world. Education and science are the only way for Croatia to enter the ranks of the richest countries of the world”, said Milanović. He said he was looking forward to debates that will follow. “In the last month and a half, there are no harsh words. Croatia is not an ‘accidental country’, because it was governed well for four years and the results can be seen. That cannot be destroyed in just six months.”
Milanović will take part in a debate with HDZ president Andrej Plenković on Friday, which will be the first such debate between the leaders of the two major parties after 13 years. Reporters asked him whether he was preparing for the debate. “I have been preparing for the last ten years, because people should get all the answers. He knows more than his predecessors and he will have the opportunity to demonstrate that. However, experience is on my side. I have a left-wing heart and a conservative mind”, concluded Milanović.
