Safer, more modern, and more comfortable environment for primary school children

In Gornji Buletić and Ugodnović

January 16, 2024

The reconstruction of two primary schools in two local communities of the Teslić Municipality has enabled a safer, more modern, and comfortable environment for primary education. Previously, students attended schools under poor conditions as the heating was inadequate, the joinery was worn and damaged, and the roof was leaking. According to the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Teslić Municipality has a population of 38,536.

The project of rehabilitating the branch primary school in Gornji Buletić was defined as a priority by the residents of this local community at the Forum of Citizens held in March 2022. The goal of this project was to create safe and normal working conditions for the educational process in the branch school. The school, built in 1959, holds immense importance for the residents of this area, and currently, 25 children from first to fifth grade attend this school.

 

Nenad Bubić

Photo by Imrana Kapetanović
“One of the key changes is that parents will no longer have to send their children to more distant schools due to inadequate conditions, as it was before the school renovation. We hope that the good conditions in the school for children will be one of the reasons contributing to the retention of people in these areas."
Nenad Bubić, representative of the local community Gornji Buletić

 

Improved educational resources and infrastructure will enhance and facilitate the education process for students and improve the social life of citizens. The local community representative expressed gratitude to Switzerland and Sweden, as well as UNDP, for their support and cooperation: 

The project 'Strengthening the role of local communities in BiH' and the support we have received and continue to receive from UNDP has brought multiple benefits to the Council of the Local Community Gornji Buletić in that the training we received from UNDP has opened up greater opportunities for attracting donations from other donors. This project has contributed to other institutions getting involved in solving the school's problems.”

The first significant reconstruction of this school occurred in 2019, which included the replacement of the roof, thermal insulation facade, joinery, and the addition of a boiler room with restroom facilities. The school's reconstruction was financed through funds from the LC project under the "Green Economic Development" project and the Teslić Municipality, with a ratio of 1/3 LC project and 2/3 Teslić Municipality.

The continuation of activities on the reconstruction of this school continued in 2022 within the "Strengthening the role of local communities in BiH" project, and the replacement of old wood-fired stoves with central heating was carried out using LC project funds. The internal reconstruction of the facilities was entirely financed by the Teslić Municipality, including the replacement of all installations (water, sewage, electricity, internet), as well as wall surfaces, floors, internal joinery, new toilets, and lighting. The ‘’Petar Kočić’’ Primary School in Ugodnović was built in the 1960s and has seen many successful students who later achieved success in their education.
 

 

Borislav Tešić

Photo by Imrana Kapetanović
"This primary school has had notable results in both municipal and regional competitions in various subjects. A significant number of students who attended this school are now quality professionals contributing their knowledge to both the local and wider community."
Borislav Tešić, representative of LC Ugodnović

 

The result of this reconstruction is the improvement of the working and learning conditions of the educational process, making the stay and work of students and teachers more comfortable and of higher quality. Besides the educational process during the school year, this facility will be available for use by residents of this local community for various meetings, associations that gravitate to this area like mountaineering societies or pensioners' associations, and sports organizations. 

There is an inseparable connection between the school and the Local Community, as the school has become an integral part of the Local Community over its existence. By improving conditions and reconstructing the school, greater opportunities open up for better work and activities of both the school representatives and the population of this Local Community. The collaboration will be much more efficient given that the parents of children attending this school will now be assured that their children are in quality learning conditions and a new environment. One important factor is that residents of this rural area will be more likely to stay in this local community due to the improved living conditions,” added Tešić.