ZAGREB, March 17, 2020 - A survey by the Croatian Teachers Union (SHU) covering 627 primary schools across the country shows that a total of 109 pupils showed up at school on Monday as their parents did not have anyone to care for them at home.
According to information reported by 1 pm by 627 primary schools, on the first day of remote learning, introduced due to the coronavirus epidemic, the most pupils attending Grade 1 to 4 who showed up at school were in Sisak-Moslavina County - 41.
Sisak-Moslavina County was followed by the City of Zagreb, where 21 pupils showed up at school, and Split-Dalmatia County, where 20 pupils showed up. In ten counties fewer than ten pupils turned up.
No pupils showed up at school in eight counties.
The union recalled that under the government decision of March 13, primary school employees have to ensure the reception of children who attend Grades 1 to 4 if both their parents are employed and there is no other way for them to ensure child care. Recalling also instructions by Education Minister Blaženka Divjak to school principals regarding the "scope and duration" of school employees' stay at work, the SUH called on school principals to reconsider whether it was necessary for all school employees to show up at work in order to additionally reduce the risk of infection.
The union also called for patience and solidarity and thanked all those involved in removing the current problems in the implementation of remote learning.
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