School closures due to declining student numbers are a trend in Europe, prompting various national solutions.
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Delfi.lt - LIT
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In Lithuania, the network of educational institutions has shrunk by 3.5 percent over three years, with demographic forecasts indicating a continued decline in the number of children. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport (Å MSM) reports that by 2025, the country will have only 21 preschool institutions and 34 general education schools, a problem shared by other European nations. The most significant trend is observed in small municipalities where student numbers are decreasing, leading to an increase in schools with fewer than 200 students. The Å MSM emphasizes that maintaining schools is vital not only for local access to education but also for the future viability of the communities themselves. Lithuania is exploring solutions, such as allowing small high schools to form upper grades if they have at least 12 students and the municipality contributes 50 percent of the teaching funds. Exceptions are also being made for schools serving national minorities or Lithuanian speakers in specific regions, allowing for smaller class sizes.
Other countries face similar challenges. Greece is closing numerous schools due to declining enrollment, particularly in remote areas, with projections showing further decreases in student numbers. Italy is also dealing with school closures, which can lead to difficult living conditions for families, though exceptions are made in sparsely populated areas.
In response, Austria and the Czech Republic are implementing collaborative models. Austria supports linking small schools into larger networks for shared activities, while the federal government provides structural funding to maintain local schools. The Czech Republic allows schools to operate separately while sharing administrative and management functions, recommending consolidation for schools with fewer than 180 students. Bulgaria has been restructuring its school network since 2007, utilizing central schools where children are transported from areas without local institutions, and also has a system of protected schools that prevents closure based solely on student numbers.
