56 schools damaged or destroyed in three cantons

The Coordination of Ministers of Education and Science in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, comprising the Federal Minister of Education and Science and cantonal ministers of education, at today's thematic session held in Sarajevo, reviewed the condition of educational facilities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the floods and priority action plans.

According to reports from the ministers of education from Zenica-Doboj, Tuzla, and Una-Sana Cantons, 51 educational facilities were damaged by the floods and landslides in these three cantons, while five were completely destroyed, Patria reports.

At the session dedicated to the current issues, it was concluded that the competent cantonal ministries of education, in cooperation with cantonal and municipal commissions for damage assessment, civil protection headquarters, and other competent institutions, should perform final assessments of the damage to school facilities as soon as possible, in order to undertake all necessary activities for their repair and rehabilitation.

Reports on the condition and damage assessments of all destroyed and damaged educational facilities are also necessary for potential donors, as well as for determining priorities in the distribution of existing funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, intended for improving the working conditions of educational institutions in the Federation of BiH, which will be directed exclusively towards affected areas in these five cantons.

Damage assessment reports on school facilities will also be requested from the cantonal ministries of education of Posavina, Central Bosnia, and Sarajevo Cantons, whose representatives were justifiably absent from today's session.

The Coordination of Ministers of Education and Science in the Federation of BiH supported the initiative of Federal Minister Damir Mašić to request the possibility from the competent cantonal ministries of education and public higher education institutions to extend examination and enrollment deadlines for students coming from flooded and affected areas in the Federation of BiH – it was announced from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Patria reports.