Speaking to the press, Stipic said the petition was still being signed.
Preporod wants Milanovic to relieve Jovanovic of duty because school employees received lower salaries for November and transport costs for December were not paid as well as because of the minister's poor performance.
He thanked the teachers' union and the Teachers Organised association for collecting signatures in 519 schools in which Preporod was not active. Preporod has 8,500 members in a third of all Croatian schools (330).
Stipic said the union would try to enable students and employees in universities and scientific institutions to sign the petition as well.
Ana Majnaric of Teachers Organised criticised the rhetoric of the government and the PM, saying they talked about solidarity and looking at the bigger picture while being the first not to show solidarity or think about education.
Stipic said that if the PM refused the invitation to meet, it would mean that he had turned a deaf ear to those he should not have turned a deaf ear to.
Asked if he expected dissatisfaction in schools to escalate if Jovanovic remained minister, he said: "We believe that won't happen and that the PM will understand our message... We just ask that in the second half of its term, the government start behaving differently regarding education."
"Now, the ball is in the PM's court. He can replace his minister or wait for the people to replace him. If the second thing happens, I'd like it to happen as soon as possible, so that we don't all waste time," said Stipic.