Latvian parents debate rising cost of E-klase school app's paid family package
As the new school year approaches, Latvian parents on social media are again debating the price of the E-klase family package, now 24.86 euros, with some calling it unreasonably high. The company has previously said subscription and ad revenue, not state funding, covers the platform's maintenance costs.
With September 1 approaching, Latvian parents have reignited an annual debate on the social network Threads over the cost of paid add-ons in E-klase, the online platform schools use to communicate with families. The latest discussion started when a mother expressed surprise that the Family package now costs 24.86 euros for the school year, questioning why the price appears to have risen sharply compared to what she recalled paying previously.
Opinions among commenters are divided. Several parents said they see little value in the paid tier, using the free version mainly to report absences, a feature already included at no cost. Others noted that ads still appeared even when they had the paid package before, leaving them unsure what exactly the extra payment provides.
Other parents defended the price, pointing out that spread across the school year it amounts to under three euros per month. They said their children value the more detailed grade and test analysis, as well as notification features that alert them to updates without needing to check the app constantly. Some also noted that a grade ranking feature can motivate children. Commenters also stressed that the package is an optional extra offered by a private company, not a requirement.
Company says fees fund platform upkeep
LA.LV previously reported on similar confusion among parents. In 2024, the Family package cost 19.86 euros regardless of how many children a family had in school. E-klase representative Zane Rašmane explained at the time that the platform, a private initiative, receives no state budget funding, and that subscription fees and advertising revenue cover maintenance, updates and new feature development.
The free version of E-klase already allows parents to view grades, homework, lesson topics and teacher messages, and to communicate with teachers and other parents. The paid version adds more detailed test result reports, performance analytics and rankings, attendance summaries, and additional notification options. According to figures the company shared previously, about 30% of families use the paid version, while the rest rely on the free features.
