The town of Zaprešić has signed a contract with the firm Tekton Construction for the construction of a new primary school, valued at almost €22 million. This is the largest educational infrastructure project in the town’s history.
The project is funded by grants from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, with the contractor selected through a public procurement process. The school will be built on undeveloped land covering 30,000 square metres next to the Ban Jelačić Secondary School. The project includes 28 classrooms, specialised spaces and laboratories, a canteen, a library, and a large three-part school sports hall, along with landscaping works. Three additional classes are planned for children with special needs.
The director of the contractor, Igor Šeremet, announced that work would begin in the summer, with completion expected in 18 months, provided there are no exceptional circumstances. "We are currently working as the main contractor on four schools, from Slavonia to Dalmatia, and this will be our fifth," said Šeremet, adding that the Zaprešić school is the largest in the current wave of educational construction in Croatia.
The new building is expected to resolve space constraints and enable a transition to a single-shift schedule, thereby paving the way for the introduction of full-day schooling. The sports hall will also be available for use by clubs and associations, and is set to become the centre of the town’s sporting life.
The mayor, Željko Turk, stated that the project is "not merely an infrastructure investment, but an investment in our most precious asset: our children and their future, and the long-term development of our town." He noted that almost €23 million has been allocated for education in the municipal budget, excluding the new school. This funding is designated for investments in school facilities and equipment, extended day care, and support staff, as well as free textbooks, transport subsidies, and school programmes.
