Thanks to the funds from European Union and Swiss Government, after almost half a century, pupils and teachers in five schools in the south of the country – „Trajko Stamenkovic“ in Leskovac, „Stojan Novakovic“ in Blace, „Miloje Zakic“ in Kursumlija, elementary school „Vuk Karadzic“ in Surdulica village Suvojnica, as well as „Ljupce Spanac“ in Bela Palanka, have started a new school year in significantly better conditions for learning and working. The donors have invested 412,000 Euros through the development programme European PROGRES into renovations and energetic sanation of objects.
For 846 pupils of the elementary school “Trajko Stamenkovic“, there will be no cold after replacing deteriorated carpenty and thermo-isolation of the roof and facade which donors have supported with 95,000 Euros. Works on sanitation of energy system have also included setting up of a LED panel which, besides energy savings, also provides better illumination and better conditions for work and stay in the classrooms, while significant savings in the municipal budget will be made through a reduction of current costs of maintenance for the school premises.
“After more than a decade, pupils in our school will no longer sit in their jackets in classrooms because conditions for learning and stay, as well as for works by teachers will be far better in the new premises,” Suncica Ilic, school principal said.
Around 600 pupils in the elementary school “Miloje Zakic” in Kursumlija also began a new school year in renovated premises. Energy sanation of this school in Kursumlija, which European Union and the Swiss Government have financially supported with 100,000 Euros, with the participation of Kursumlija municipality of 47,000 Euros, included replacements of old wooden windows in pupils’ bloc, as well as thermo and attick isolation, replacement of rooftop and constructing the facade.
„The school has marked 36th anniversary from its construction date and this is the first investment since its founding which has provided proper educational and working conditions for both pupils and employees. In regard to improvement of energy efficiency, the Municipality is strongly committed to to properly manage the energy and control consumption, and a special attention will be focused on strenghtening institutional capacities and implementation of efficient energy use measures,” said Kursumlija’s municipality president Radoljub Vidic.
In accordance with principles of proper management, Kursumlija Municipal Board adopted a proposal for the Decision on budgetary fund for environment protection and energy efficiency, as well as the Programme of energy efficiency with the 2018-2020 Action plan. This plan defines activities of local self-government on rising energy efficiency of premises for public use, while a system of energy management will be established by the end of the year.
EU and the Swiss Government have invested 56,000 Euros in renovation works for the elementary school “Stojan Novaković“ in Blace, which included replacement of old floors, and with an aim of providing equal conditions for education in rural areas, in Surdulica village Suvojnica, a four-grade school “Vuk Karadzic“, as well as kindergarten “Our joy.” Works for which the donors have allocated 100,000 Euros included replacement of a part of the rood, carpentry, floors and tiles, as well as sanitary spots, electroinstallations and facades.
And pupils of the elementary school «Ljupče Španac» in Bela Palanka also entered new classrooms after a full cover on the school building with the support of EU and the Swiss Government. Basement premises have also been repaired, while based on main project for school’s reconstruction, also supported by the donors of the European PROGRES, the building is being energy-repaired with the funds approved by the Public Investment Management Office.
Graeme Tyndall, European PROGRES Manager, stressed that EU and the Swiss Government have invested almost two million Euros through European PROGRES into improving conditions for schooling for elementary and highschool students in 34 less developped municipalities in the Southwest and Southeast of the country.
„European Union and the Swiss Government are supporting improvement of education both in urban and rural environments through improvements of social infrastructure, thus contributing to creating a society with equal opportunities for everyone,“ said Tyndall, adding that education was crucial for a society development as it had a direct impact of decrease of poverty, contributed to economic growth, as well as higher level of gender and social equality in the society.
Works are ongoing also in Tutin municipality, in the village Zapadni Mojstir, which will get a completely new elementary school for 50 pupils form this and neighouring villages, while secondary school pupils in Crna Trava will soon have better learning and housing conditions in renovated school and Students’ dorm”Milentije Popovic“.
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will support the activities of the European PROGRESS programme, which contributes to the sustainable development of the South and South West Serbia, with a total of EUR24.46 million. Approved projects will be aimed at strengthening local administration creating a favourable environment for the development of infrastructure and economy as well as improving the implementation of social inclusion and employment policy. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Service (UNOPS).
The municipalities included in the programme are as follows: Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varos, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raska, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Zitoradja, Kursumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medvedja, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladicin Han, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Brus, AleksinacGadzin Han, Doljevac, Merosina, Svrljig, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Knjazevac in South East Serbia.
