Riga, March 25 (LETA) - The municipalities of Dienvidkurzeme and Tukums for optimization of their school network will be granted a total of EUR 2.935 million that can be used to modernize the learning environment, the government decided on Tuesday.

The municipalities, whose school network is organized according to the criteria proposed by the Education and Science Ministry, can receive funding from the European Union (EU).

In the first and second rounds of the European Recovery Fund, 19 reorganized schools in Aizkraukle, Cesis, Gulbene, Jelgava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Madona, Ogre, Smiltene and Valmiera municipalities have already been approved for investment.

In the third round, three municipalities - Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme and Tukums - have adopted and submitted decisions on reorganization schools to the ministry.

The municipality of Dienvidkurzeme will receive EUR 1.559 million, while the municipality of Tukums will receive EUR 1.376 million.

The new funding model Program at School would allocate the full amount of the target grants from the state budget to municipalities with an organized school network.

The number of pupils will continue to be the decisive criterion for the formation of the school network in municipalities.

The ministry has committed to implement the reform from September 1 this year, however, the necessary funding is not foreseen in this year's budget or in the future.