Elementary school in western Zagreb to expand with new classrooms, kitchen, and sports hall

The Elementary School of Ban Josip Jelačić in Podsused, Zagreb, is on the cusp of a significant transformation following the issuance of a building permit for its expansion. This development paves the way for a comprehensive reconstruction, extension, and equipping of the school facilities, aiming to create a modern learning environment.

The project is designed to accommodate at least 560 students, enabling the school to transition to a single-shift class schedule. Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević highlighted the priority of providing high-quality learning conditions and facilitating this shift across all of Zagreb's elementary schools. Upon completion, the school will boast 26 classrooms, equipped to support single-shift education.

Key components of the expansion include the construction of eight new classrooms with associated facilities. The school's kitchen and dining areas will be enlarged, and a new school sports hall, complete with spectator stands, will be built. The existing sports hall will continue to be used as a smaller facility. Additionally, new outdoor sports and recreational areas are planned, including courts for basketball and handball, an exercise area with equipment, a long jump pit, and a trim track.

The estimated cost for the expansion is 9.5 million euros, including VAT. A substantial portion, over 8.9 million euros, is secured from European Union funds through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO). Following the permit, the next steps involve finalizing the detailed design and initiating the public procurement process for selecting contractors. The construction phase is projected to last 12 months.

Zagreb has submitted a total of 29 projects to the NPOO for single-shift education initiatives, with a combined value of approximately 340 million euros. Of these, 26 projects have been approved for funding, while three are under evaluation. The approved projects include 23 for school construction, extension, and reconstruction, five for sports halls, and one for an Autism Center. The NPOO will finance 187 million euros (55%), with the City of Zagreb contributing 153 million euros (45%) from its budget.

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Our priority is to ensure the best possible learning and development conditions for children and to enable all Zagreb elementary schools to switch to single-shift classes.