Latvia starts school year for 224,000 students

Latvia’s new school year began on September 1, with around 224,000 students returning to classes, LSM reported. About 19,000 children started school for the first time, while approximately 26,000 teachers are involved in their education.

Municipal general education institutions opened their doors across Latvia, including primary schools, basic schools, secondary schools, state gymnasiums and special education institutions. A further 72 private schools also began the new academic year.

State President Edgars Rinkēvičs urged parents and teachers to remember that schools and all discussions about them exist for the sake of children. First-graders began their school careers with a desire to learn, while teachers also marked September 1 as a special day.

In Olaine, the stadium of Olaine Secondary School No. 1 was filled with students, parents, flowers and good wishes. The school is the largest in the municipality by student numbers and is currently its only secondary school. Olaine Basic School also began the year with its new status after previously operating as a secondary school.

State Police inspectors patrolled near schools on the first day, reminding children and adults about traffic rules and monitoring pedestrian crossings. Children also spoke about road safety.

In Jēkabpils municipality, several schools were closed this year, contributing to a notable increase in the number of students at Zasa Secondary School. In Pilsrundāle, the school year began with hopes of retaining secondary school status, while celebrations in Latgale were not disrupted by an overnight alert.