Science and Education Minister Radovan Fuchs gave a presentation at a World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting on Friday on the model of classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the third time Croatia had presented its model.

The meeting was attended by the world’s leading experts on models and measures for risk mitigation and infection control, testing strategies for schools, vaccination strategies and recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The team that today presented the Croatian model consisted of Minister Fuchs, Institute for Social Research Director Boris Jokic and Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ) Deputy Head Ivana Pavic-Simetin, the Ministry said in a press release.

Previously, Croatia had presented its model and research on the impact of the pandemic on the education system in August and December 2020.

Since three models were available depending on the epidemiological situation, namely Model A, which refers to face-to-face classes, Model B, which is a combination of classes conducted in school and online instruction, and Model C, which refers to online classes, a large number of Croatian students were able to attend classes in school despite the pandemic.

As many as 98% of classes for pupils in grades one to four of primary school were conducted in the classroom, and 90% of students in the final grade of secondary school attended classes in school. Primary school students in grades five to eight spent 85% of time at school, while secondary school students spent less time, 71%.

Jokic presented parts of a study carried out by the Institute for Social Research in cooperation with 160 primary and secondary schools on the impact of the pandemic on the education system.

The study has shown that over half of students reported that the pandemic had a negative effect on their life, and the changes in organisation and the restrictions introduced due to the pandemic mostly had a negative impact on their motivation to study, while most students said it had a positive effect on the development of their digital skills. The pandemic had the greatest negative impact on the  respondents’ mental health, extracurricular activities and hobbies, as well as sports activities.