We are not as wealthy as Switzerland as to afford that one teacher teaches only ten children - Karins

RIGA - Latvia is not as wealthy as Luxembourg or Switzerland as to afford that one teacher teaches only five or ten children, said Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) at the debate on the future school network.

The prime minister explained that due to the demographic situation, in the future the number of schools in Latvia will be lower. "Either this Saeima will decide on that or the next," he said, adding that the exception would be to keep schools with a small number of pupils only in border areas.

Saeima opposition lawmaker Harijs Rokpelnis (Greens/Farmers) at the parliament debate criticized Education and Science Minister Anda Caksa (New Unity) for attempts to implement school network reform "behind everyone's back" and called not to make children hostages and deprive them of good quality education.

Caksa said at the debate that the goal is good quality education, accessible to all Latvian children, and the state pays sensible price for it from the budget.

Caksa submitted amendments for the final reading of the government budget that would give the green light to reforms in the school network. Saeima, however, turned down the proposal, agreeing to discuss school reform in the future.