The new financing model “Program in the school” provides that targeted grants from the state budget would be allocated in full to municipalities that have an organized school network.
If the model were introduced this year, Alūksne, Đadažu, Ķekava, Mārupe, Olaine, Salaspils, Saulkrasti and Valkas would not have to look for the missing funding in their budgets.
The other municipalities should find co-financing. Riga would have to pay the most – 2,198,831 euros. More than one million euros should also be paid to Jēkabpils and Preiļu districts, but less than 100,000 euros should be paid to Jūrmala and Liepāja.
The implementation of the model this year would have cost municipalities a total of 16,443,755 euros, the Ministry of the Interior has calculated.
According to the growth schedule of the lowest salary rate for educators approved by the government, it would increase from 9.54 euros to 10.35 euros in 2025. With the existing school network and the condition that the rate does not change during the year, municipalities should find a total of 17,839,922 euros in their budgets.
LETA, however, said that there is still no clarity about the fulfillment of this schedule, as there is a lack of funds.
Back in the spring, the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Culture stated that at least 12 municipalities have organized the school network.
Clarity on the final number of municipalities that will have to co-finance the new model is promised by the Ministry of Interior after the decision on the implementation of the model has been made.
Edīte Kanaviņa, director of the Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Culture, revealed to LETA that some municipalities have already provided for co-financing in their budgets. Others, on the other hand, are waiting for the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, based on which they will decide on changes in their school network.
Planned exceptional cases could also introduce their own corrections. For additional border and access schools, which are provided with relief, the Ministry of Education and Culture proposes to introduce termed and open-ended exception statuses.
For example, indefinite status could be applied to schools whose infrastructure is already designed for a smaller number of children than stipulated in the regulatory acts. On the other hand, timed exceptions would be determined if construction works started at the school with funds from structural funds or the road network is not adequate and active construction works are underway. Exceptional cases are planned to be evaluated by concluding contracts with municipalities.
Source: www.diena.lv
