Within the framework of the project, the learning environment of general education institutions will be improved

On April 25, the municipal council of Ogre region supported the implementation of the project “Improving and equipping the infrastructure of educational institutions of Ogre region”, within the framework of which the learning environment of general education institutions in Ogre region will be improved and the acquisition of quality education outside the administrative center of the region will be promoted.

In February 2023, the municipal council adopted a decision on the reorganization of Ķegum secondary school and Suntažu secondary school, transforming them into primary schools. Thus, the preconditions for the participation of the municipality in the project competition of the European Union Cohesion Policy Program for 2021-2027 were created. According to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers issued in November 2023, the funding for the municipality of Ogre region is EUR 3,342,904.

At the beginning of this year, a group of municipal employees surveyed Ķegums secondary school, Suntažu secondary school and Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde secondary school in order to find out their needs for ensuring quality education.

Within the framework of the project, the following investments are planned:

• Keguma secondary school is planned renovation of classrooms, corridors and lobby, reconstruction of internal heating, water supply and ventilation networks, partial renovation of furniture and equipment to ensure a quality learning environment for students and school staff.
• Suntaž High School it is intended to concentrate the placement of cabinets in the new building. On the first floor, the lobby and corridor, 2 science classrooms will be renovated, as well as the director’s and clerk’s office will be moved from the 2nd floor. On the 2nd floor, it is planned to create and expand a block of classrooms for social sciences and humanitarian subjects, as well as to expand the mathematics classroom. On the 3rd floor, a large and modern design, technology and IT office will be created, the facilities and primary school classrooms will be renovated. A large library and reading room will also be created on the 3rd floor. The project also plans to purchase furniture and classroom equipment for part of the classrooms.
• Edgar Kauliņš Lielvārde High School reconstruction and renovation of classrooms and corridors on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the old building, renovation of classrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors of the new building, construction of engineering networks and room lighting, creation of modern classroom equipment will be carried out. The aim is to increase the area of ​​the cabinets so that they meet the minimum hygiene requirements.

In order to obtain more accurate and detailed information, the management team of each school will be involved in the further implementation of the project.

The total cost of the project is 4,044,913.84 EUR, including funding from the Recovery Fund – 3,342,904.00 EUR and co-financing from the municipality – 702,009.84 EUR. 30% of the funding will be directed to the renovation of Suntažu secondary school, 34% to Ķegum secondary school and 36% to E. Kauliņa Lielvārde secondary school. Municipality of Ogre region nwill ensure municipal co-financing and partial pre-financing, if necessary, taking a loan from the State Treasury.

The total duration of the project implementation is 24 months. Design works are expected to be carried out this year, while reconstruction works will start no later than the summer of next year.

CONTEXT

The investment program operates in accordance with the regulations approved at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on October 4, 2022, no. 619 “Regulations for the implementation of investment 3.1.1.5 of the European Union Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Plan “Improving and equipping the infrastructure of educational institutions”, which provides support to county municipalities for organizing the network of general education institutions by reorganizing secondary schools outside the administrative center of the county municipality, making them primary schools. These regulations have been developed with the aim of improving the learning environment of general education institutions, ensuring effective resource concentration, use and strengthening of elementary schools created as a result of the comprehensive organization of the network of local government educational institutions, allocating additional funding for improving the infrastructure of elementary schools and promoting the acquisition of quality education outside the administrative centers of regional municipalities.