Education staff attend Vidzeme Schools, gaining inspiration for the development of the Rezekne municipality
In the months of May and June, the employees of the municipality of Rezekne and Viļānu will participate in the exchange of experience in other Latvian provinces, in order to explore their experience in project development and implementation, to take over the good practices and methodologies of colleagues, as well as to discuss problems and share ideas in resolving them. This possibility is offered by the European Social Fund (ESF) project implemented by the municipality of Rezekne “Strengthening the capacity of the municipality of Rezekne and Viļānu and the attraction of investment attraction”. The first trip took place on 24 April, when the three Vidzeme schools were headed by our educational institutions.
They visited the Gulbene District of Druone, the Līgatne High School at Līgatne District and the Mores primary school in Sigulda District. In the primary school of Mores, teachers were most interested in their implementation OF THE ESF project, which developed and implemented a programme for children with special needs. The members of the group were interested in the experience gained and difficulties in implementing the project, on its sustainability, as well as on the experience of the educational institutions of Rezekne, who have special needs.
Positive inspiration was achieved by our educational institutions in the Druone Basic School. It is a real example of how small schools are able to develop successfully by attracting funding from different programmes and funds. The teachers team of this school successfully implement projects that improve the learning process and the environment, such as improvement of energy efficiency, the provision of training equipment and the placement of children's playgrounds. The School is actively involved in invitations to tender, such as the Innovation Prize, as well as the activities of various Habitats and Historical Heritage. The following projects are also topical for the educational institutions of Rezekne, as the municipality has a rich history, where students can also be involved in research. This would certainly form the loyalty of the population and increase their integration, as a large proportion of the Russian population has historically developed in some counties. This issue was also the subject of schools in historic buildings.
An interesting project, which was presented by the Director of the Druth Primary School and who created a lot of questions, was the “Possibility of Change for Schools” project of the Soros Foundation-Latvia initiative “School of Education, Culture and Social Support”, in which the school is converted into a child, youth and adult education and cultural centre, which is based on mutual cooperation in its activities, contributes to the creation of creative and responsible personality. This experience is new for the educational institutions of Rezekne and shows how to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the school, how to improve the educational opportunities of the population in a way to improve the quality of the pupils' leisure. The participants also discussed the organisation of the general learning process, including the programme for children with mental disabilities. There was also an interesting experience outside the learning process, creating traditions and projects for leisure time in summer, such as a workshop.
The presentations of Prince Chernoglazova and teacher Lansen, Madara and Yolantas gave the participants a lot of positive emotions and ideas that they would be able to live in their schools.
On the other hand, while visiting the High School of Līgatne, the teacher Aija Ziedina was told about experience in collaborative and pupil exchange projects. There is no experience in the implementation of student exchange projects for schools in Rezekne, but such projects would create an opportunity to introduce pupils and adults with traditions and languages of other countries. This would create conditions for local society to create tolerant attitudes towards other cultures, expand vision and language knowledge, and enable other European countries to look at it. The teacher of the Līgatne High School noted that the benefits of such projects to improve the learning process are invaluable: many subjects from theory turned into exciting sources of knowledge. These trips are also valuable for teachers, as they give the opportunity to learn new pedagogical methods and methods of work, create inspiration for the development of the learning process in their object.
The information obtained during the journey is a very valuable substance for reflection by the educators of Rezekne, as the issue of the elimination of unprofitable schools is topical at all times. Identification of their unique niche is a matter of school survival. At the level of the municipality, it is important to maintain the widest possible network of educational institutions as it is related to ensuring the living level of the population. Knowledge of the experience of other municipalities in promoting school development was a significant benefit. A large tour of the journey was also the development of inter-school relations, which further gives hope for joint projects and good practice.
Two more experience exchanges are planned in May and June. The cultural workers will go to the Cēsis municipality, while specialists who, within the framework of the project, have complemented their expertise on projects of the Cohesion Fund, THE ERDF, THE EAFRD and the rural development programme, will go to Kuldīga and Liepaja municipality after experience.
Project No 1DP/1 .5 .2 .2 .3 ./11/APIA/SIF/027/3. It is implemented over the period from 1 October 2011 to 31 July 2012.
The information was prepared by:
project manager Anna Jared, t. 64607205
