Q:
A:
€100m for modernisation of schools in Serbia
Belgrade,
8 June 2010
Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic and Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Division for Slovenia, Croatia and the Western Balkans Dominique Courbin signed an agreement to continue financing a €100 million programme to modernise schools in Serbia.
Vincent Degert, Dominique Courbin, Zarko Obradovic and Diana Dragutinovic
Dragutinovic told a press conference following the signing that half of the funds are a loan from the EIB, to be repaid over the next 25 years, while the other half will be secured by Serbia.
The government will send a bill affirming this agreement to Parliament under emergency procedure, to make sure it is on the agenda for the next Parliament session, she said.
Dragutinovic stressed the importance of the EIB’s role in the time of crisis in Serbia, adding that in 2010 around €1 billion is expected from the EIB, of which €300 million is for Corridor 10.
Head of Division Dominique Courbin noted that the large number of projects financed by the EIB and plans for new investment demonstrate the good cooperation between Serbia and the bank.
The project to modernise schools in Serbia is very important as support to primary and secondary education and Serbia’s future economic development, he emphasised.
The first stage of this programme was successfully completed in 2009 when 12 schools, which the Ministry designated as priorities, were renovated.
Courbin added that the programme implies support to defining an education strategy and the construction of new schools.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert pointed out that apart from investing in infrastructure and transportation, the European Commission is also investing in education in Serbia.
Degert announced that the EIB will also be engaged in the construction and modernisation of schools, while the European Commission will finance training for teachers, the procurement of equipment and software.
Minister Obradovic underlined that by signing the agreement on the continuation of the programme to modernise schools funds have been secured for the improvement of education.
He also clarified that once the agreement is adopted by the parliament, the construction of and procurement of equipment for schools will begin around the end of June or in early July, highlighting that a portion of the funds, ie €3 million, will be used to draft an education strategy.
The plan is to secure computer classrooms with 30 computers for each class in Serbia for the school year 2011/12, the Minister disclosed, recalling that in 2009 nine new schools were opened and four renovated.
The government will send a bill affirming this agreement to Parliament under emergency procedure, to make sure it is on the agenda for the next Parliament session, she said.
Dragutinovic stressed the importance of the EIB’s role in the time of crisis in Serbia, adding that in 2010 around €1 billion is expected from the EIB, of which €300 million is for Corridor 10.
Head of Division Dominique Courbin noted that the large number of projects financed by the EIB and plans for new investment demonstrate the good cooperation between Serbia and the bank.
The project to modernise schools in Serbia is very important as support to primary and secondary education and Serbia’s future economic development, he emphasised.
The first stage of this programme was successfully completed in 2009 when 12 schools, which the Ministry designated as priorities, were renovated.
Courbin added that the programme implies support to defining an education strategy and the construction of new schools.
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert pointed out that apart from investing in infrastructure and transportation, the European Commission is also investing in education in Serbia.
Degert announced that the EIB will also be engaged in the construction and modernisation of schools, while the European Commission will finance training for teachers, the procurement of equipment and software.
Minister Obradovic underlined that by signing the agreement on the continuation of the programme to modernise schools funds have been secured for the improvement of education.
He also clarified that once the agreement is adopted by the parliament, the construction of and procurement of equipment for schools will begin around the end of June or in early July, highlighting that a portion of the funds, ie €3 million, will be used to draft an education strategy.
The plan is to secure computer classrooms with 30 computers for each class in Serbia for the school year 2011/12, the Minister disclosed, recalling that in 2009 nine new schools were opened and four renovated.
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