EU supported improvement of energy efficiency in the Leskovac Primary School “Vasa Pelagić“

More than 600 pupils attending “Vasa Pelagić“ Primary School in Leskovac will have significantly improved conditions for learning and working in a school that has been renovated with financial support of the European Union (EU) of 150,000 Euros. This project aimed at improving energy efficiency of the facility, implemented through the EU PRO development programme, will contribute to reducing the maintain ace and enabling savings in the city budget, while decreasing the level of pollution of the central city area.

"The reconstruction of the school, built in 1918, included the renovation of the facade and roof, the replacement of gutters, lightning protection structures and the purchase of equipment, while the City allocated an additional 1.3 million Dinars for the rehabilitation of one toilet. The school, which has been carrying out its educational work for more than a century, deserves to be reconstructed, more modern, better equipped and to provide pupils conditions to learn and stay in a comfortable environment, "said the Mayor of Leskovac Goran Cvetanović, stating that the City financially participated with 67,813 Euros in the implementation of the project.

As he recalled, in addition to the “Vasa Pelagić“ school, the European Union provided 105,000 Euros for the energy rehabilitation of the primary school “Trajko Stamenković“, while the sum of 240 million Dinars was invested in the reconstruction of primary and secondary schools. The significant funds were also earmarked for the renovation of classrooms, toilets, sports halls, school yards and sports fields, which all enables pupils to have better conditions for learning and staying in schools.

“This project, in addition to creating a warmer and adequate environment for pupils and school employees, also enables energy savings. However, educational component is very important element of the projects as it is now our job to constantly teach our pupils about the importance of energy efficiency and to encourage them to contribute to energy savings," said school principal Aleksandar Cincar-Janković.

"The children and teachers of this school will now have significantly better learning and working conditions, which is precisely the goal of projects supported by the EU through the EU PRO programme - better quality and living conditions for the population," said Dragana Novaković, infrastructure sector manager at EU PRO, adding that the project is particularly focused on improving the knowledge of the importance of energy efficiency and why it is important to rationally use energy.

The EU, in partnership with the Government of Serbia, through the EU PRO programme, supports 37 local infrastructure projects, of which more than 50 percent contain elements of energy efficiency or environmental protection, thus helping the local self-governments to address these important issues.

Through the activities related to the implementation of the principles of good governance, the savings and their use will be regulated. These activities are carried out in partnership with the Swiss PRO program supported by the Government of Switzerland.