STEM, i.e. science, technical skills, engineering and mathematics are recognized as key skills for future occupations. Three schools from vicinity of Đakovo, Croatia,  recognized the importance of strengthening STEM skills and abilities, both of their pupils and teachers.

    The primary school of Josip Kozarac in Semeljci thus satisfied the competition "Strengthening STEM skills in primary schools", which was published by the Ministry of Regional Development and European Funds, and within the program "Local Development and Poverty Reduction". The program itself is financed from the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA), which is financed by Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway. The project called "STEM - my education" will enable students and teachers of three schools to get additional education in STEM skills. In addition to the elementary school from Semeljci, which is the project's promoter, Primary school of Josip Juraj Strossmayer from Trnava and Primary school Đakovočki Selci are also included as partners.

    Funds approved for the implementation of the project are 2,067,652.72 HRK (EUR 274,570.44), and the contract was solemnly signed on July 22, 2022, while the implementation of the project began on September 1. The donor partner of the "Local Development and Poverty Reduction" program is the Norwegian Center for International Cooperation and Education, and the project for three primary schools from Đakovo vicinity is financed by the Kingdom of Norway.

     The Norwegian partner will also be involved in the "STEM - my education" project. In the specific project, we are talking about the institution Åpenhet AS from Oslo, which will help elementary school teachers from Semeljci, Trnava and Selci Đakovački to create special teaching models. Representatives of the Norwegian partner will thus visit their partners from Slavonia, and a selected group of 20 teachers involved in the project will go on a study trip to Norway next year, where they will learn about modern methods of teaching and application of STEM technology in education.

        There will also be trips within Croatia, so as part of the project, study trips to the science park in Oroslavlje, Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla in Zagreb and special scientific and popular astronomy lectures for students are provided.

         But how will students and teachers ensure that STEM is really "accepted" in these schools?

         First of all, there is the acquisition of new, modern equipment. Three schools will thus be equipped with new interactive screens, robotic equipment, scanners, 3D printers and various measuring devices. And the equipment will be intensively used in curricular and extracurricular activities, because as part of the project, students will be formed into groups of young meteorologists, mathematicians, physicists, they will conduct herb cultivation and robotics workshops.

        No one is excluded from the project activities, so gifted pupils who may not be able to fully fulfill their potential or interest in STEM through the standard school curriculum will participate in it. In the same way, students with difficulties will participate, who can choose their future profession through this STEM approach.

        How to apply this to future generations?

        Teachers involved in the "STEM - my education" project will be specially educated about this, and external experts will educate them about working with gifted and students with developmental difficulties and how to recognize them.

         The project "STEM - my education" lasts until the end of November 2023, and all involved teachers and students will enable elementary schools in Semeljci, Trnava and Đakovo Selci to interest their upcoming generations in further education in the professions of the future.