EU funds: 85 schools fully equipped, remaining 39 during spring

The EU flood recovery program has invested 1.6 million euros in furniture and equipment for a total of 124 preschools, primary and secondary schools in areas affected by floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended by approximately 58,500 children and students, reports the BH news agency Patria.

This investment is in addition to the work within this Program on repairing structural damage caused by floods in educational institutions. The European Union's partner in implementing the equipping of educational institutions is UNICEF, an organization with extensive experience in creating a safe and stimulating environment for children's education globally.

Depending on the extent of damage and the number of students, investments per facility range from 2,000 to 54,000 euros, while the average investment per school facility is 12,800 euros. EU funds are used to procure educational materials such as textbooks and didactic equipment for classrooms, laboratories, and workshops, as well as furniture for classrooms, equipment for physical education halls, and toys. To date, 85 educational institutions have been fully equipped, while an additional 39 will receive equipment and furniture during the spring.

- For the European Union, it has been very important from the very beginning that the process of repairing educational institutions after the floods be comprehensive and take into account all aspects of education and learning. The physical repair of school buildings is not sufficient, which is why we have allocated financial resources for the procurement of furniture and equipment for educational institutions, as a quality learning and teaching process requires - says Andy McGuffie, spokesperson for the EU Delegation to BiH and the EU Special Representative.

In Janja, within the EU flood recovery program, approximately 31,000 euros were invested in equipping the primary and secondary school, which has improved the schooling process itself.

- This is now a more stimulating learning environment, which better reflects the needs of students in the 21st century - says high school student Sandra from Janja.

The effect is also visible in the premises of the First Primary School in Maglaj, where 20,000 euros were invested in equipment and furniture.

- This assistance will contribute to our children acquiring the necessary knowledge and facilitate the work of us teachers in the future - emphasizes teacher Mirza Bradarić.

In line with the Program's principle of "Building Back Better", EU funds were not only invested in the procurement of furniture and equipment for schools where floodwaters washed away the entire classroom inventory, but furniture and equipment that survived the floods, but were found to be damaged and obsolete, were also replaced for health and safety reasons.

Now that the furniture, educational materials, and didactic equipment have been procured and are mostly in use, the Program's focus is directed towards equipping physical education halls and laboratories, which will complete the equipping of educational institutions.

- We are currently finalizing the needs assessment for equipping physical education halls, after which we will initiate the procurement procedure for equipment. The focus will then be on equipping school laboratories for chemistry and biology in flood-affected areas - concludes McGuffie.