Government allocates almost EUR 5 million for gradual introduction of Program at School model

RIGA - The government on Tuesday approved the reallocation of EUR 4.92 million to the Education and Science Ministry and the Culture Ministry to start the gradual implementation of the school funding model Program at School this autumn and provide additional funding for the salaries of support staff.

EUR 4.92 million will be earmarked for targeted grants to municipalities and a further EUR 341 for the Culture Ministry's budget program Culture Education.

The funding has been reallocated from the national budget program for support measures and other projects of national interest.

The reform of teachers' salaries was proposed as early as 2023 in order to tackle inequalities between teachers, as salary increases in the current Money Follows Pupil model depend on the number of children in municipalities.

In May this year, the government agreed to fully implement the Program at School model from September 2026, with the millions needed for the reform still to be found in the next years' national budgets. The implementation of Program at School is also among the three priorities for next year's budget, as defined by both Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) and President Edgars Rinkevics.

According to the Education and Science Ministry's calculations, an additional EUR 35.7 million will be needed from the state budget next year to implement the reform, and EUR 107.24 million annually from 2027 onwards. The calculations are based on current data on the number of pupils, the structure and the network of educational institutions for the 2024/2025 school year.

The new model foresees that the full amount of the state funding for teachers' target allocations would be received by municipalities with a school network organized according to the pupil population criteria proposed by the ministry.

The parliament is expected to decide on amendments to the Education Law, which will delegate to the government the right to set these criteria, in its second reading in September.