Elementary school “Posavski partizani“ in Obrenovac, heavily damaged during May floods, has been successfully reconstructed thanks to EU funds through EU Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia Programme. The school was officially opened by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and EU Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport.
The entire ground floor with cabinets, classrooms, lobby and sports hall was flooded and water caused a serious damage. European Union invested 160.000 euros in reconstruction and provision of furniture, whereas the reconstruction works included replacement of dilapidated electrical installations, plastering, reparation of walls and floors, replacement of joinery and flooring in the sports hall.
“I am pleased to see the success of our joint efforts in renovating the “Posavski pratizani” elementary school, that suffered a significant damage during May floods. It s particularly important that students will no longer have to attend classes in three shifts,” Davenport said.
“European Union invested significant funds in renovation of 14 schools in flooded areas. We will continue our support for flood relief, and in the next stage, we are going to finance measures that will prevent future flooding,” said Davenport, adding that, so far, the EU invested 150 million euros for flood relief in Serbia.
According to him, reconstruction success is a result of joint efforts made by volunteers, civil initiatives, donors and the State; all of these elements were crucial for swift recovery.
European Union allocated over 860.000 euros for reconstruction and equipment of five educational institutions in Obrenovac: elementary schools “Posavski partizani“, “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj“ and “Jefimija”, as well as Agricultural and Chemical School and Technical School, whereas geomechanical studies and geodetic surveys for the reconstruction of severely damaged Grammar School were done as well. Equipment for cabinets and teaching materials should be delivered early next week, while in early 2015, the old building of Technical School will be renovated, and main reconstruction project for Grammar School will be developed.
“Thanks to EU’s support, our children will again have appropriate learning conditions at school, where they will learn how to become good persons. Only when the misfortune befell us, did we know who we could rely on,” said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.
“European Union have helped us a lot during the flood relief, and the school ‘Posavski partizani’ is among the best equipped in Belgrade. Students should now prove themselves and continue to study hard,” said Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
“After a difficult period of seven months, students and teachers can now finally study and teach in two shifts, thanks to support from the EU and the State,” said Vesna Jesic, principal of “Posavski partizani” elementary school.
