Croatia: Local funding initiatives address school discrimination and extracurricular access

In Nedelišće, Mayor Nikola Novak has announced that the municipality will fund field trips for all fourth-grade students at the Nedelišće Elementary School. This decision follows allegations of discrimination by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. Novak noted that previous ministry policies led to unequal funding for field trips between different schools, specifically regarding whether certain student groups were included in subsidized trips. The municipality aims to ensure all local children receive equal access to outdoor education.

Separately, Đurmanec Elementary School has been awarded over 108,000 euros for its ‘School of Opportunity for ALL’ project. The funding, provided by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, is co-financed by the European Union’s European Social Fund Plus (85%) and the Croatian state budget (15%). The 22-month project, scheduled for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 school years, aims to enhance extracurricular activities, including sports, digital skills, and nature-based learning, through the procurement of equipment, transport, and workshops.