Distance-learning high school in Ozolnieki draws students from across Latvia
The Jelgavas novads Distance Learning Secondary School currently teaches 342 students from across Latvia and abroad, including adults up to age 53. Its director says distance education demands more discipline, not less effort, than commonly assumed.
The Distance Learning Secondary School of Jelgava municipality, based in Ozolnieki, currently enrolls 342 students taught by 38 teachers. The school only offers grades 9 through 12 and has become an option for people who once left the education system — young mothers, professional athletes, and people with health issues among them. Director Antra Akermane says the student body ranges from teenagers to mature adults, including one 53-year-old student.
Enrollment has stayed fairly steady in recent years, at around 300 to 350 students — 325 in 2023 and 342 this year — though a share of those who initially sign up don't finish, since distance learning turns out to demand more commitment than expected. About two-thirds of students live in cities, the rest in rural areas, and some study from abroad, traveling to Latvia only for exams.
Self-discipline is the biggest hurdle
According to the director, the main challenge isn't the coursework itself but managing one's own time and staying motivated without daily teacher supervision. Students also need digital skills to use online learning platforms, along with a computer, internet connection, camera and microphone — the school lends computers free of charge to those who lack the equipment.
The school has no shortage of teachers; many work at other schools simultaneously and continue developing digital and AI skills. The curriculum covers all general subjects, including sports and the arts, while state exams are held in person at Ozolnieku Secondary School under the same requirements as anywhere else in Latvia. Mathematics remains the weakest subject, so the school plans extra in-person practice tests before state exams this year.
The school's roots trace back to 1967, when a correspondence department was created at Eleja Secondary School. It became an independent institution, the Jelgava District Correspondence School, in 1996, and launched a distance-learning program in the 2016/2017 school year after drawing on experience from Finland. It shifted entirely to distance learning in 2024.
