Dozens of kindergartens in Riga may have to be reformed or even closed due to lack of pupils

RIGA - Due to the so-called demographic hole, the number of pupils in kindergartens in Riga has dropped significantly, which is why the possibility of reforming or even closing dozens of municipal kindergartens is being considered, TV3 News reported last night.

Currently, there are more than 150 municipal kindergartens in Riga, but not all of them are fully occupied, according to the Riga City Council. The municipality is considering optimizing the kindergarten network. Various scenarios are being discussed, ranging from merging institutions to closing kindergartens. The municipality recognizes that the current number of facilities no longer corresponds to actual demand.

Since 2016, there has been a 50 percent drop in the number of newborns in Riga. It is faster than in Latvia as a whole. This is leaving its mark on kindergartens and schools, says Elina Treija (National Alliance), a member of the Riga City Council.

We need to look at demand and supply. If the supply is such that the cost per child is high, and there are some places where the cost per child is higher than EUR 1,000, then we need to think how to get to the average - EUR 500, said Laima Geikina (New Unity), head of the Riga City Council's Education Committee.

Councilors have been working for a long time to re-organize the network of educational institutions in Riga. According to Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs (Progressives), there are neighborhoods where there is a catastrophic shortage of kindergarten places, such as the city center and Skanste, but at the same time in several other neighborhoods the number of children is decreasing and kindergarten occupancy is 60-70 percent. We will have to make decisions in the future and assess where we should even close, the mayor told the program.

The aim of the optimization is not only to save money, but also to improve the quality of education and to use municipal resources more efficiently, for example, to avoid spending money on maintaining empty premises and instead to allocate money for teachers' salaries. However, the municipality stresses that each case will be assessed on its own merits, taking into account various criteria and focusing on the child, the parents, and the family.

On Monday, the City Council held its first working session to discuss the optimization of the kindergarten network. It has not yet been revealed exactly how many and which institutions could be affected, but it is being speculated that several dozen kindergartens could be affected, TV3 News reported.

The municipality promises dialogue with residents and clear communication about the possible changes, which are likely to be implemented by September, when the new school year starts.