Government approves extra teacher funding for 16 private schools

Latvia’s government has approved additional state funding for teacher salaries at 16 private educational institutions, aiming to ensure uninterrupted education for 432 children, LSM reported.

For the 2026/2027 school year, the approved measure will waive the minimum requirement of 15 pupils for certain class groups and recalculate state funding for teachers’ salaries. The changes are linked to the introduction of the new “Programme at School” funding model.

Since the new rules took effect on September 1, several private institutions have not received the expected funding for teachers’ salaries in classes that do not meet the pupil threshold.

The Education and Science Ministry estimates that the measure would require just under 45,000 euros a month. It has proposed reallocating 537,444 euros from programmes expected to have unspent funds, including support for teachers affected by school reorganisations and funding for free lunches for primary school pupils. The ministry said the total amount needed and its funding sources still require clarification.