E-SCHOOL (SPL-20140375)

This project is the national rollout of the E-School programme. It comprises investments to enhance the digital infrastructure of Croatian primary and secondary public schools nationwide, develop digital content for teaching and learning and strengthen the digital skills of teachers and school leaders.

The purpose of the project is to raise the digital maturity of all primary and secondary public schools in Croatia, with the long-term objective of enhancing the capacity of the Croatian primary and secondary public education system to equip students with the necessary skills, including digital competences, to succeed in the labour market.

The Project comprises investments to enhance the digital infrastructure of Croatian primary and secondary public schools nationwide, develop digital content for teaching and learning and strengthen the digital skills of teachers and school leaders. All these interventions are expected to translate into improvements in the quality of public primary and secondary education and, consequently, into better learning outcomes. Improved educational attainment has significant positive externalities, as it benefits the society and the broader economy, mainly in terms of skills development, but also in terms of other positive social outcomes. The project also supports the strengthening of the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion, promoting Croatia's convergence to the EU average. The project is fully aligned with Croatia's national development and education strategies as well as with the EU's Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) and the European Education Area by 2025.

The EIB's involvement will facilitate the absorption of EU structural funds by securing national co-financing contributions of EU funded projects in Croatia. The EIB financing provides an essential financial contribution in the form of financial advantage (long tenor), that is currently not available in the market.

The project covers investments for the enhancement of digital infrastructure of existing education facilities; these types of investments are not specifically mentioned in the EIA Directive 2014/52/EU amending the Directive 2011/92/EU and moreover do not fall under Annex II of the Directive. The project is expected to have positive social impacts because of enhanced access to digital learning infrastructure and improving digital skills among students and teachers in Croatia.

The Bank will require the Promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project have been and/or will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU as well as or Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required.