Latvian Minister of Education Anda Čakša did not say how many schools will have to close down in the near future due to the requirement for the minimal number of students.
During her interview to TV3, when asked about the kind of school network the ministry has plans for a new potential school network after new requirements come into force, the minister did not provide any clear answers. All she said is that closure of schools is in the hands of municipalities. The ministry will continue working with them in the topic of reorganisation of the school network. However, municipalities will still be able to organise their school networks in accordance with the financing volume available to them.
550 schools in Latvia will open up in Latvia on the 1st of September.
As it is known, for schools to receive state financing in full, it is planned to introduce a requirement for a minimal number of students in a class depending on the level of urbanisation – the more populated a territory, the larger the number of students in a class and more classes it will be required to secure.
According to IZM’s proposal, in cities and administrative centres it will be necessary to secure at least 120 students in four class groups.
In municipalities outside administrative centres the minimal number of students in 1st – 3rd and 4th – 6th grade groups is to be 30, whereas for 7th – 9th and 10th – 12th grade groups the requirement is 60 students in a class. As for municipalities close to the border and thinly-populated municipalities, they will have to secure at least 30 students in three-class groups until the 9th grade. In secondary schools the requirement will be at least 60 students in the same groups.
The ministry explains it has decided to drop the idea for an average number of students in a class. This is intended to provide schools with more flexibility.
IZM noted that the quantitative criteria for 1st – 6th grade group will be recommendatory and municipalities will be able to make exceptions. However, it will not be allowed to organize joint classes at this level of education. In turn, the quantitative criteria in the 7th grade group will be binding on all municipalities – the decision on the reorganization of the school network will be taken by the municipality in coordination with the ministry.
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Latvian minister does not disclose how many schools will have to close down
