Liepāja expands kindergarten capacity after five-million-euro rebuild

Liepāja has increased capacity at its Kriksītis preschool education institution following a nearly EUR 5 million reconstruction, LSM reported. The renovated kindergarten is due to open officially on August 31.

The project followed two years of construction and expanded the kindergarten from three groups to eight for the coming school year. It can accommodate up to 11 groups, with three groups being kept in reserve.

“Previously, we could accept only 42 children, but now our capacity will be 200,” Kriksītis director Anda Lanka told Latvian Radio.

The project added a gallery and renovated and incorporated the former dormitory building of the 31st vocational school into the kindergarten.

Liepāja’s preschools specialise in different fields. Kriksītis focuses on STEM, including science, technology, mathematics and the arts. It will also continue a specialised programme for children with language disorders.

That programme includes three groups of up to 14 children each, and all three groups are full, Lanka said.

Liepāja has built one new kindergarten and reconstructed and modernised several existing preschools in recent years. Although the city now has enough preschool places overall, some families still cannot secure a place at their preferred kindergarten.