Regional municipalities launch student support and school supply programs

Various municipalities and cities across the region are implementing social and educational support measures for students and families ahead of the new school year.

In Podgorica, the Secretariat for Sport has procured sports equipment, including balls for basketball, football, handball, and volleyball, as well as chess sets, for all 23 public primary schools. The city is also working on renovating school sports fields and plans to conduct physical health assessments for hundreds of students.

In Croatia, several local governments have announced financial aid for school supplies. Bjelovar is offering up to 55 euros per student for workbooks and materials. Matulji will finance the total cost of mandatory school supplies for its primary school students. Đurđevac continues its 12-year tradition of subsidizing textbooks for high schoolers and workbooks for primary students, while Sveti Juraj na Bregu is providing one-time payments ranging from 50 to 90 euros depending on the grade level. Radoboj is also co-financing workbooks and additional materials.

Additional welfare measures include Viškovo financing 100% of monthly public transport costs for certain primary school students, and Zagreb launching a pilot project to provide up to 40 euros for corrective eyeglasses for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.