The origins of teacher education in Petrinja date to 1821 and 1822, when the first pedagogical courses were held. The teacher training institution officially opened following a decree issued to the General Command on 26 April 1862, authorising the establishment of a two-year pedagogical course. This course ran from 1 October 1862 to 1 October 1868, after which the Petrinja pedagogical course developed independently. On 12 March 1869, during Emperor Franz Joseph I’s visit to Petrinja, a decision was made to construct a dedicated building for the Petrinja teacher-training institution and to ensure the continuity of the Teacher Training School (preparandija) in Petrinja as a critical hub within the Croatian-Slavonian Military Frontier. On 1 October 1871, an independent three-year teacher training school opened in Petrinja, serving as the sole institution for teacher education within the Croatian-Slavonian Military Frontier until the definitive demobilisation of the Frontier in 1881.
In 1961, the Academy of Pedagogy was established in Petrinja and operated as an autonomous institution until 1981, when it was integrated into the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Basic Organisation of Associated Labour (OOUR) of Pedagogical Sciences in Zagreb. It then functioned as the Petrinja Branch of Preschool Education and Primary Education until April 1997. During the period of displacement from 1991 to 1995, the Branch continued operations in Zagreb and Sisak before returning to Petrinja in 1996.
By decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia dated 10 April 1997, the first two independent colleges of teacher education in Croatia were established: the College of Teacher Education in Petrinja and the College of Teacher Education in Čakovec (with seven further institutions established subsequently). The College of Teacher Education in Petrinja operated independently until 2007, when, by decision of the University of Zagreb, it was merged into the Faculty of Teacher Education in Zagreb as a Faculty affiliate.
By the Decision on Amendments to the Statute of the Faculty of Teacher Education dated 16 June 2009, the designation and status of an affiliate were abolished and replaced by the official title of the Petrinja Branch.
Address of the Petrinja Branch: Trg Matice Hrvatske 12, 44250 Petrinja
