Transforming Early Education: Over Two Billion Kuna Invested in Kindergarten Construction and Renovation

According to a State Secretary, two billion kuna have been invested in the construction or renovation of kindergartens in recent years [no source provided]. Private and religious kindergartens are subject to the same legal provisions and standards as kindergartens founded by LGUs. Investment priorities are determined by counties and cities, regardless of the calculation of rights to these expenditures at the school level. There are differences in ways of co-financing public and private kindergartens: public subsidies account for 47% of income in private kindergartens, compared to 79% in public kindergartens. States spend more than two billion dollars annually on pre-kindergarten. States are beginning to invest in tracking the performance of children in pre-kindergarten.

In Croatia, kindergarten is the first level of education and is designed for early childhood development. It is locally known as vrtić and is not compulsory. However, every child must attend at least one year of pre-primary school before joining the next stage. Enrollment is open throughout the year, meaning that children can join any school with open slots.

According to Eurostat, 75% of children from four years of age to compulsory schooling go to kindergarten in Croatia, but there are extensive regional disparities. In Zagreb, 82.8% of girls and boys from three to six years of age go to kindergarten, while in Vukovar-Srijem County, only 29% of children attend kindergarten. There are over 450 kindergartens in the country, most of which are state-run, although there are also private ones. Investment priorities are determined by counties and cities, regardless of the calculation of rights to these expenditures at the school level. In recent years, the Republic of Croatia has made significant investments in the construction and renovation of kindergartens in Croatia because in many municipalities, girls and boys simply do not have the opportunity to go.