Minister of Science, Education and Youth Radovan Fuchs stated that parents should not assess on their own whether their child is ready for enrolment into the first grade. Instead, he believes that in such decisions, one should rely exclusively on the opinion of experts. This stance was expressed in the context of recent data showing that more than 4,000 delayed enrolments of children into the first grade were recorded in Croatia, indicating a need for stricter adherence to expert assessments in these procedures.
The minister, in an interview with the media, stated that parents often have the impression that their child is not yet ready for school, but such delay is not recommended. Although occasional proposals for postponing the start of the school year are heard, no official requests have been submitted. Fuchs points out that relying on expert assessment is key, rather than solely on the subjective impression of parents, to ensure that children are properly prepared for school obligations.
Regarding infrastructure capacity, the minister stated that the deadline of 2030 for the introduction of full-day schooling is not overly ambitious. He noted that although the construction of schools is proceeding more slowly than initially expected, everything is progressing at a good pace. He specifically highlighted that new kindergartens are opening daily, which contributes to resolving capacity issues in pre-school education.
The minister also stated that more than 92 per cent of schools in Croatia will operate in one shift, indicating stability in the organisation of primary education. In the context of student welfare, he noted that Split already has 35 million euros secured for the construction of a student dormitory, the location for which has already been secured. Success in realising these projects is evident through the contracts signed for student dormitories in Slavonski Brod, Karlovac, and Zadar.
When it comes to student welfare, the minister clarified that student stipends are defined by a special regulation of the Ministry of Finance. Currently, he stated, there is no consideration of increasing them, as the current mechanisms are aligned with existing regulations. Although he announced that he would leave the ministerial post after the end of his term, he stressed that during his term he is focusing solely on implementing the planned reforms and improving the education system.
