Education and Science, Latvia, Legislation, Society

The number of schools has changed due to mergers and closings. The Riga Secondary School No. 68 has shut down, and is now a part of Riga Secondary School No. 34, as well – the Riga Elementary School No. 24 has been co-joined with Riga Secondary School No. 32 – creating a new entity: Riga Eastern Secondary School.

Balamovskis noted that the budget for Riga Municipality schools will not be changed this year.

He also notes that he is not certain when the new framework for teacher salaries will be implemented. It has been estimated that it would cost EUR 10 million extra for pre-school teacher salaries alone.

Balamovskis says that main tasks for this school year include raising the quality of Latvian language studies, a pre-school advisory centers – in 2016 they plan to open two.

"Also, we are considering working on preparing children with special needs to integrate in the general education schools. And starting from January, the municipality plans to create a new commission that would deal with the matters related to home schooling for children with appropriate medical reports from their doctors. In the new school year, state gymnasiums and general education schools can apply for the European structural funds.