Science and Education Minister Blazenka Divjak on Monday expressed satisfaction with data showing that 80% of the total number of around 125,000 pupils from first to fourth grade came to school on the first day of regular classes after ten weeks of distance learning.

School occupancy is above our expectations, Divjak said, noting that the data was collected in more than 700 schools in the morning and afternoon school sessions.

We have proven that it is possible to provide a safe environment for conducting elementary school classes, the minister said, calling also on parents “who have been reluctant to send their children to school to do so.”

The largest number of students, 94%, came to school in Brod-Posavina County and Varazdin County, and the smallest in Zagreb, 61%, the minister said, thanking all parents, teachers and school founders who had supported the decision to resume regular classes in line with protection measures against the pandemic.

Classes in higher primary school grades and high school classes are still conducted online.

Divjak added that online classes would finish on June 5, and that most schools will finish the school year on June 26.