Requirements for minimum class size may be eased from next school year
The Education Ministry promises more flexible rules in response to municipalities' concerns about funding for small schools.
The implementation of the new school financing model "Programma skolā", which introduces changes to how teacher salaries are funded, has raised concerns among municipalities. Local government representatives, meeting with Education and Science Minister Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance), expressed hope that they would not have to cover teacher salaries in schools with insufficient student numbers. The ministry has promised to seek flexible solutions to avoid severely impacting municipal budgets. From the next school year, requirements for minimum class sizes could be relaxed, allowing small classes to be maintained. The exact conditions are still being developed, but the ministry is committed to finding a balance between efficient resource use and access to education.
