December the 21st, 2024 – The Prečko school attack has prompted Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to announce emergency changes to Croatian schools.
Yesterday was marked by the devastating Prečko school attack in which a 19-year-old attacker took the life of a first grade child, and severely injured a teacher and other students before making an attempt on their own life.
As a result, anger and sadness has gripped Zagreb and the rest of the country. As we progress through the morning hours of a national day of mourning, Plenković announces changes for educational institutions.
As Index vijesti/news writes, PM Andrej Plenković and Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević both publicly agreed on emergency measures to increase safety in schools at an extraordinary meeting. The plans will materialise and be implemented during the school holidays.
The two politicians once again expressed their deepest condolences to the family of the child who tragically lost their life in the Prečko school attack, as well as to the families of all those injured and undergoing hospital treatment.
“This is an event that occurred due to psychiatric problems, but it raises a number of questions related to safety levels in Croatia’s schools,” said Plenković after the meeting with Tomašević. It was then reported that based on a report by the Minister of Science and Education Radovan Fuchs and those responsible for schools in the City, it would be seen what additional work can be done to ensure the safety of children in schools.
Locking doors, implementing technical improvements, and having a qualified person at the gate
“First of all, it’s mandatory that we lock the doors of schools. Then we need to prevent situations from occurring where someone does still manage to enter a school without there being any technical staff to oversee someone who isn’t a student or a parent coming to pick up their children. There are also technical improvements in relation to the types of doors that should be used in schools. That alone is a good way to raise the element of security to a higher level,” Plenković reported.
He also added that the systematisation of Croatian schools will provide for a place for people who would be qualified and have special knowledge related to security.
“In agreement between the competent ministries and the City of Zagreb, we’re going to take measures to raise the level of security in schools, and that’s the most important message of today,” Plenković emphasised following the shocking Prečko school attack.
Better security in Zagreb and Croatian schools
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević also confirmed that the pair had agreed to raise the level of security during the holidays, not only in Zagreb, but in all Croatian schools.
“What happened during the Prečko school attack could unfortunately have happened anywhere in Croatia, and it must never happen again. That’s why we’re going to work closely together on finding proper solutions,” he said.
He added that he fully supported short-term and medium-term measures and protocols. He believes that all schools must respect locking doors and installing special doors that can’t be opened so easily from the outside.
“this can never be allowed to happen again”
“It’s of paramount importance that a person is provided who will take care of security in schools. They can’t merely be someone a security company sends and who then changes their job. It needs to be person who is part of the school team, someone knows the students and parents, and someone knows who should and who shouldn’t be present at the school. We’ll continue in this direction to raise the level of safety in all Croatian schools and to prevent this from ever happening again,” Tomašević emphasised.
