The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

PILOT PROJECT

A Rural School – the Heart of Local

Development

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Preconditions of development in rural setting of Latvia are strongly connected with local

cooperation possibilities and skills to participate in planning of development. Adults are usually named as target groups of planning but school

stuff and especially school students are involved seldom.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

A school historically has been a developmental catalyser of any inhabited

place thus it greatly contributed in ability of local setting to exist and develop, creating intellectual, cultural and creative potential.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

However, due the current economical disadvantageousness or territorial reform, many

small schools are closed thus excluding possibility for local development as very often a rural school is the main and the only provider of

local development.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

In order to promote sustainable development of rural areas, it is important to act and take up the

challenge of rural development, search for solutions what help to create local initiative,

activate and mobilize inhabitants to act themselves.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Possible solutions of the problem – the role of a rural school and its future in promotion of local development – concession of new functions for

small rural schools. For example, adult education, preschool age children care, social

and culture centre, based on needs of local people.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Project “A Rural School – the Heart of Rural Development” was a new initiative what

experimentally was started in 20 rural pilot schools of Latvia with the aim to strengthen the role of a school as a local development centre

in rural development.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

20 pilot schools from districts of Jēkabpils, Madona, Jelgava, Daugavpils, Aizkraukle, Alūksne, Talsi, Dobele, Preiļi, Ogre, Ludza,

Bauska un Balvi were involved.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

The aim of the project was to strengthen formation of civic society involving rural schools

as guides of local initiatives thus promoting public discussion about national development of

our state. Time of implementation – one year. The project was implemented by association

Latvian Rural Forum (LRF).

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

In conclusion of the project the conference “A Rural School – the Heart of Local

Development” was held and results of the project were summarised.

The time of the event – July 4, 2007.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

In April of 2008 Latvian Rural Forum is starting again work on extension of

the Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Work of the Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools is based

on 6 main work aims:

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

- Idea exchange on school projects;

- Popularization of successful experience;

- Providing identification of rural schools;

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

- Ensuring of common activities;- Promotion of cooperation between a teacher and a student;

- Summarization and dissemination of important information for schools.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

At the moment those Latvian rural schools are recognized what would like to participate in creation of the

cooperation net.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Conclusions: Schools previously engaged in the project now

are actively involving in cooperation; Schools invited using personal contacts are

partially involving in cooperation; Small rural schools what are active culture

centres in municipalities agrees for cooperation;

Latvijas Lauku skolu sadarbības tīkls

Conclusions: Schools what are located near the big towns

and do not do a function of a culture centre are not interested in cooperation possibilities;

Schools with insufficient understanding about information technologies do not show interest about cooperation possibilities;

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Conclusions: In order to create a wide cooperation net of

rural schools, at first work with schools involved in the pilot project should be started again;

These schools can recognize other active schools from their districts and with their successful experience to motivate their engagement.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Practical assignments: Following the exploration of schools to organise

a conference with the aim to determine common priorities and needs of schools;

To create a separate section for the Cooperation Net of Rural Schools in home page of Latvian Rural Forum;

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Practical assignments:To summarize successful experience of schools and popularize it in the home page;To gather information on projects implemented by schools and to place the information in the home page;To encourage an interest of schools about cooperation.

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Questions?

The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools

Thank you!