1. The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools PILOT PROJECT A Rural School – the Heart of Local Development

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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

12. The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools Work of the Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools is based on 6 main work aims:

13. The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools - Idea exchange on school projects; - Popularization of successful experience; - Providing identification of rural schools;

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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;

17. 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;

18. 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.

19. 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 ;

20. 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.

21. The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools Questions?

22. The Cooperation Net of Latvian Rural Schools Thank you!