The old school building was severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake and its reconstruction would be very demanding and would have taken a long time. The Hungarian government however adopted a decision to finance the construction of a new school building and the old school building will then be used for other purposes once it has been rebuilt.
Hungary's Ambassador to Croatia Csaba Demcsák attended the ceremony along with Sisak-Moslavina County's Deputy Prefect Mihael Jurić, state secretaries and other guests who were addressed by the president and director of Hungary's Ecumenical Aid organisation László Lehel, who is the project leader.
The school building will have three floors and 20 classrooms, teaching cabinets and other facilities including a sports hall.
Hungary State Secretary for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affairs Miklós Soltész noted that there was no dilemma in Hungary in the aftermath of the earthquake to provide help to that area.
Apart from financing the construction of this new elementary school, Hungary will also help rebuild a church in the village of Žažina, halfway between Petrinja and Zagreb.
Hungary's aid to Croatia amounts to HRK 190 million. Soltész invited two groups of 50 Petrinja children each to visit Hungary in the summer.