The EU Floods Recovery Programme has invested EUR 1,6 million to provide furniture and equipment to a total of 124 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools, which are attended by an estimated 58,500 children and pupils across the flood-affected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This investment is additional to the Programme’s post-flood rehabilitation works in educational institutions to repair the structural damages caused by the floods. The EU’s implementing partner in furnishing and equipping schools is UNICEF, which has extensive global experience in creating safe and stimulating learning environments for children.
The investments per facility range from EUR 2,000 to EUR 54,000 depending on the extent of flood damage and number of pupils, with an average investment of EUR 12,800 per facility. The EU funds are utilised for purchasing educational materials such as textbooks and teaching equipment for classrooms, laboratories and workshops, as well as for classroom furniture, gym equipment and toys. As of today, 85 educational institutions are fully furnished and equipped while an additional 39 institutions are due to receive their equipment and furniture in the course of the spring.
“For the European Union, it was very important from the outset that the post-flood rehabilitation of educational institutions is treated as a holistic process where all aspects of education and learning are addressed. Physical rehabilitation of school buildings is not sufficient on its own, and hence we pledged funds also to equip and furnish all the educational institutions included in the Programme, which a quality learning and teaching process requires“, said Andy McGuffie, Spokesperson of the EU Delegation to BiH/EU Special Representative Office.
In Janja, the EU Floods Recovery Programme invested around EUR 31,000 for furnishing and equipping the primary and secondary schools in the town, thanks to which the school experience for the pupils has improved: “This is now a more stimulating learning environment which reflects the needs of a student in the 21st Century better”, said Sandra, a high school student from Janja. The impact is also visible in the Prva Primary School in Maglaj, which received furniture and equipment worth of EUR 20,000: “This assistance will help our pupils to acquire the proper knowledge and facilitate the work of us, the teachers”, said Mirza Bradarić, a teacher at the School.
(Source: Europa)
