School network reorganization reshapes families' daily routines this year
For many Latvian families, this September 1 began differently as school network reorganization forced children to change schools or classes. One such family is Grieta's household, where her son had to leave his school and classmates after six years there.
This school year has started differently for a number of Latvian families, as reorganization of the school network has changed children's daily routines in various parts of the country. The reorganization process affected educational institutions in several municipalities this year, forcing families to adjust to new arrangements.
One family's experience
Among the families directly affected is that of Grieta (name changed). Until now, both her son, who started 7th grade this year, and her daughter, who is in 4th grade, went to the same school every morning. This year that has changed — each child now attends a different school and class.
The daughter is continuing, for now, at her familiar school with a teacher she knows, but the son had to move to another school after spending six years at his previous one. The reorganization also broke up his former class, as some of his classmates chose to enroll elsewhere.
A small, close-knit school
Grieta says the family had deliberately chosen the school years ago — it was a small institution near their home, which by the end had only nine classes remaining. She describes it as a friendly, close-knit school where children and teachers supported one another.
Parents had already heard about the possible reorganization beforehand, but for a long time there was little clarity about how the changes would actually be implemented. Families were initially informed about the merging of schools, while teachers were offered the option to continue working at another, larger school.
