Optimización del Sistema Interno de Manejo de Aguas

National socio-economical context

• Croatia gained its independence in 1991 after separating from Yugoslavia. The separa- tion was not easy and was followed by 5 years of war. The second half of the 1990s was marked by a fairly bad economic situation due to post-war recovery in some terri- tories, transition to a free-market economy and a badly handled process of privatisation. Croatia joined the EU in 2013. It has a population of around 4 200 000, the majority of whom are Croatian (90.42 %). Most are Roman Catholic (86.28 %). The official unem- ployment rate is 13 %. The population is ageing, with the average age being 42.6. • The average family size is 2.8 persons, and the average number of children per family is

1.5, which means that the standard family consists of two adults and one or maximum two children. However most families (whether the parents are married or not) do have children (54.3 %). Divorce rate is quite common, with almost every third marriage end- ing this way. In recent years, more and more young people have been migrating to other European countries in search of work.

Internet and digital technology

• The number of households with computer and internet access has been increasing every year. In 2015, 76.7 % of households owned a computer, which was 11.2 % more than the year before. On the other hand, nearly one quarter of households still has no internet access, most often because they have no need for it or they find it is too expensive. • The data from 2011 show that 57.4 % of people older than 10 years know how to use

the internet, 45.2 % know how to edit a text and 53,1 % know how to use email.

• In 2013, the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) showed that Croatian students achieved slightly higher than average results when compared to the general average in all European countries involved in the research. There were four pos- sible levels of information literacy and most of the pupils from Croatia (42 %) were at the second level, 21 % were on the third level and only 1 % at the highest level. The re- search also showed that while in other European countries there is one computer avail- able for every 18 students, in Croatia, one computer is available for every 26 students.

General pattern of parenthood

• There is not much data on how parents in Croatia monitor and regulate their children’s interactions with digital technology, depending on their different education levels or so- cioeconomic status. Existing research shows that parents who have a higher level of education and higher socioeconomic status are more likely to ask for help regarding guidelines in all areas of child rearing, including the use of digital technology.

• Unfortunately, in general the Croatian government also seems to invest less than other European countries in programmes and services that aim to increase the well-being of children and families.

Schooling system for children from 0 to 8-year-old

• Compulsory school attendance begins with the first class of primary school. All children who are 6 years old by 1 April of a given year are obligated to start school in September. In addition, there is now a mandatory pre-school programme for all children and it is free of charge. For children who are in kindergartens, this programme is incorporated in the kindergarten curriculum, and for those who do not attend kindergarten, classes are organised in the afternoons, two or three times a week, at their local kindergarten (they need to attend 250 hours of pre-school programme) in total. Still, not all children are enrolled in such programmes. Before starting school, pre-schoolers can attend kin- dergarten, from 3 to 6 years of age, whereas babies and toddlers (from 1 to 3 years) mostly go to nurseries. Due to the high unemployment rate, many mothers stay at home with their children at this time. Since the number of nurseries is not sufficient, and the number of children in such nurseries is quite high and is not balanced with the number of caretakers, many young children are either looked after by grandparents or, more rarely, babysitters at home. These babysitters are not trained for such a job, and are often paid without being officially employed.

• Kindergartens are mostly poorly equipped with digital devices, and teach no digital lit- eracy skills in an organised manner. They usually have a TV and a DVD player, but no internet connection. Children are not allowed to bring their own devices.

• In schools, children in higher grades can attend informatics classes that are not man- datory. Until then they have no chance to use a computer or any other digital device in school. They are also discouraged from bringing their own devices, mostly because teachers find that even having smartphones during class interferes with the pupils pay- ing attention to class.

• It is interesting that most schools in Croatia have a digitalised system for monitoring pu- pils’ achievement in school - containing their grades, test reports and teachers’ notes on progress, behaviour and achievement. All parents and pupils are given access passwords at the beginning of school year, and teachers are obligated to put all such information into the system regularly. This requires them to be trained for such purposes, and the state provides them with such training and technical support during the school year.

Age Schooling type

0-3 Crèche

3-6 Kindergarten/pre-school

6-8 Two first grade of primary school

After-school and leisure activities

• In the lower grades, most schools have an organised after-school programme that chil- dren can attend if they want but for which there is a charge (some schools have this opportunity for the first, second, third and even fourth grades). This includes lunch after school, and the teacher’s assistance in doing the homework that would usually be done at home. The remaining time is spent doing different sports or crafts, going outside for a walk or similar relaxing activities. Children who do not attend such a programme are usually taken care of by grandparents, older siblings or family members, and parents if they are unemployed.

• In summer most children spent the majority of their free time on outdoors activities.