Setumaa schools open year with community celebration

Setumaa’s school year began with an education celebration at the foot of the Meremäe observation tower, bringing together all classes of the Setumaa school cluster, a music school and kindergarten groups, ERR reported.

The school community gathered at the square near the tower to music as 237 students began the new school year, including 27 first-graders.

“The fact that we have gathered here today, together with the schools, kindergarten, music school and youth work centre, is very important. It creates a sense of unity,” said Pille Liblik, director of the Setumaa schools.

Liblik said the gathering was also significant because Setumaa is located near the border and is sparsely populated, meaning people may not meet others as often in everyday life. Events such as the first day of school provide an opportunity to show the strength and size of the Seto community, she said.

Education in Setumaa also teaches children to value local heritage and traditions.

“It is very clear here that a school is not just a building. A school is the people and the community around it,” said teacher Helena Elgindy. She added that the community’s involvement gave her confidence as a parent that her child was being cared for not only by the family or class teacher, but by the entire community.