Renovated secondary school reopens in Petrinja

(Hina) - A secondary school building in Petrinja, severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake, reopened on Monday following an €11.5 million renovation, bringing general secondary school programmes back to the city centre.

The historic school building, dating from 1871, will accommodate 113 secondary school students in eight classes. The school also includes space for Petrinja's first student dormitory, with capacity for 40 students.

Students in vocational programmes will continue attending classes in an adapted building donated by the Gavrilović meat company, which has been in use since September 2024. This has enabled all Petrinja schools to organise classes in a single shift.

Construction Minister Branko Bačić stressed the importance of investing in educational infrastructure, particularly in towns recovering from earthquakes, saying that providing young people with good conditions to study in their hometowns could encourage them to return after university.

Petrinja Mayor Magdalena Komes welcomed the return of the secondary school to the city centre, saying it would bring new life to the area. She noted that the number of newborns and students in Petrinja was growing.

Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Ivan Celjak announced that the 40-bed student dormitory would soon open, stressing the importance of keeping as many students as possible in Petrinja and the county.

The €11.5 million reconstruction was funded through the EU Solidarity Fund, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and state and county budgets.

A new student dormitory for 66 students of the Faculty of Teacher Education is expected to open in Petrinja early next year. The €5.75 million project is financed by a World Bank loan through the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets.

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