Although some parents of future preschool children actively opposed the reduction of the number of preschool education groups in certain nurseries-kindergartens, and the fact that some children should transfer to general education schools, we will still have to prepare for innovations. On Thursday, the municipal council of the city of Alytus approved the decision, which will lead to changes.
At the meeting held on March 28, it was requested to approve the prepared draft decision, which would determine the number of pre-school education groups in nurseries-kindergartens, kindergartens and general education schools from September 1, 2024.
The decision was approved by the majority of votes. 19 council members voted for, 6 were against and 1 abstained.
This means that the number of pre-school education groups will decrease in many nurseries-kindergartens. Parents will have the opportunity to choose newly formed pre-school education groups in general education schools. In the “Nykštukas” nursery-kindergarten and in the “Sakalėlis” elementary school, preschool education groups will not be formed at all.
During the meeting – another hope of parents
The mayor, members of the council, the head of the Education and Sports Department of the Alytus City Municipality received requests from the parents of children attending the “Obelėlė” and “Linelis” nurseries to oppose the aforementioned decision or at least postpone the matter. Parents also submitted signatures.
The representative of the parents of the future preschool children of the “Obelėlė” nursery school also spoke during the council meeting. She once again asked for a postponement of the decision, reminded that 38 parents expressed their will to stay in the nursery-kindergarten. She said that the parents submitted more than 30 questions to the city manager, the head of the Education and Sports Department, but they were not answered.
“He just indicated that the council will consider this issue. The current procedure is suitable for us, because some parents, who have decided to choose schools, have this option. And those who want to stay in the kindergarten can also choose freely. Currently, it is proposed to forcibly evict one group. This is unacceptable for parents and violates their right to choose,” said the mother.
Heads of nursery schools called for approval of the changes
Vitalija Vitkauskienė, the director of the “Du Gaideliai” daycare center, acting as the head of the “Linelis” daycare center, also spoke during the meeting. She expressed her opinion and called on the council members to support the decision, giving reasons why it should be done.
“Times change, so do choices. I want to argue with parents that they have no choice. There are enough pre-school education groups being formed in the city, so there is a choice,” said V. Vitkauskienė.
She was seconded by Daiva Rekštienė, the director of the nursery school “Nykštukas”, acting as the head of the Piliakalnis pro-gymnasium.
“The community stands up for it. We decided that if we go to school, we all go together, meaning two groups. There were a lot of discussions, but I am grateful to the community, because they think not only about the welfare of pre-school children, but also about those who stay in kindergarten. We are not afraid of changes, we are open. We are worried, but we hope that we will solve the technical issues by cooperating together”, said D. Rekštiene.
The arrows of the opposition flew
Members of the opposition also expressed their disapproval of the draft decision. Valerijus Vencius asked what the reasons were for such haste.
As stated by Loreta Šernienė, head of the Education and Sports Department of the Alytus City Municipality Administration, who introduced the question, there is no rush. According to her, the time for that has long come. Also, the presenter indicated a series of arguments on how the adopted decision will benefit the children: quick and painless adaptation of students at school, the opportunity to receive integrated education, activities in spaces adapted for special education, separate pre-school buildings will be installed, where not only spaces will be adapted for education, but also for recreation. Extended day groups will also operate according to the needs of parents, there will be an opportunity to choose from a large number of groups, the quality of education will increase, etc.
However, V. Vencius asserted that, in his opinion, obstacles are created for parents to choose the desired educational institution and asked why groups are reduced only in certain nurseries-kindergartens, and not in all. He also said that there are two problems in schools – growing violence and the use of narcotic and psychotropic substances. The council member was afraid that 5-6-year-old children were being moved to a potentially toxic environment.
As L. Šernienė testified, there really aren’t enough places to move all preschoolers from kindergartens to schools.
Jurgis Valiūnas saw in the decision manifestations of discrimination against parents and their children, because he raised the question of why groups are reduced in one place and not touched at all in others.
“There is no discrimination here, because we transfer the children to better conditions. Lest those who cannot fit in schools will be jealous, but we have a goal to slowly transfer all pre-school education groups to general education schools in the future. Whether we will allow it or not – depends on the members of the council”, said L. Šernienė.
Valdas Račkauskas drew attention to the fact that if it is planned to be implemented gradually, why is it not possible for institutions that want to transfer to schools, while others have to wait.
“I don’t agree with the fact that we limit something. I consider myself an education professional, I have certainly achieved certain results with my communities and I know how educational processes work in organizations. As I know, what a big plus such a decision will bring to the improvement of the quality of education”, said the head of the Education and Sports Department, noting that in some places the quality of education is really worrying.
There are also talks about the mayor’s wife
Povilas Labuk asked his colleagues how many of them had actually visited the institutions that will be affected by the changes, and he saw the real situation with his own eyes.
“If you went and looked at it, you would see the question in a completely different way. Not checking the real situation and believing only what we are told is a big problem. I would ask: who else, if not the person closest to the mayor, can know the real situation when a person from the same family farm signs with the number two and clearly expresses his will? This is the mayor’s wife”, said P. Labukas, noting that the mayor’s wife, who signed the decision together with other parents, is against the decision.
N. Cesiulis also had an answer to him, reacting to the fact that a person close to him was mentioned.
“When you have, if you have a wife, then you will understand that there is democracy in the family, and adults can have their own opinions. It doesn’t matter if it’s the wife of the mayor or someone else,” said N. Cesiulis.
Recommended videos:
Tags: spears put verdict clear parents future preschoolers prepare change
-
