After publicly announcing the readiness of 80% of local governments to support the organization of the XII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival, more information, which local governments expressed or did not express support in the survey, was not disclosed by the organizers and representatives of the festival, reports LETA.
–
–
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
–
Inga Vasiljeva, the head of public relations at both the State Education Content Center (VISC) and the School Youth Song and Dance Festival, “cannot reveal” which municipalities expressed or did not express support. Instead, it was clarified that local governments must express their position on the organization of the festival themselves.
Vasiljeva explained that in accordance with the Law on Song and Dance Festival, local governments nominate Song and Dance Festival coordinators and ensure their operation in order to coordinate the process of preparation of Song and Dance Festival in local governments and cooperation with state and local government institutions. Questionnaires prepared by VISC were sent and received from the coordinators delegated by the municipalities. In the questionnaires, municipalities were asked to indicate their opinion on their readiness to participate in the “B” model and the “C” model.
According to Vasiljeva, each municipality chose its own approach to opinion formation – in the questionnaires the municipal coordinators indicate very different ways in which opinions were collected for submission to VISC: in some municipalities a parent survey was conducted, in some areas coordinators, education specialists, council representatives directors, some relied on a decision by council members. The person filling in and sending the questionnaires is the municipal coordinator.
In turn, Sigulda, Talsi and Valmiera municipalities refused to participate in the organization of the School Youth Song and Dance Festival, but Liepāja will assess the epidemiological situation during the festival. Cēsis will act in accordance with the government’s decision, but the mayor of Rēzekne expects a concrete decision from the government on this issue.
Jelgava municipality revealed that it supports the organization of celebrations in the municipality, but only if the epidemiological situation improves, moreover, in a different format, in the autumn and with events in the city itself, without school youth trips to the capital. Ventspils supported only a part of the offered possible holiday options.
Alūksne district collective leaders agreed on “C” of the proposed options, namely, if the epidemiological situation in the country allows, then from 2 to 3 September there will be a song dance day or co-singing in the district schools, whichever has the strength, convening a repertoire with song festival. In addition, the Alūksne Regional Children’s Youth Center together with the Education Department will organize a joint event with the idea of inviting children back to interest education. The wind orchestra will have its own concert at the end of July.
The Deputy Mayor of Daugavpils has also previously acknowledged that the prevalence of Covid-19 is not decreasing, vaccination is not so fast and educators may be at greater risk. Daugavpils emphasized that it is important to prepare for the start of the school year, “not to show that we are a nation that sings and dances”. At the same time, Jēkabpils municipality also expressed objections, pointing out that in the current epidemiological situation, children continue their studies remotely, therefore the organization of celebrations would not seem permissible. Jēkabpils could only support events in the regions.
As reported, the results compiled by VISC show that 96 local governments or approximately 80% of localities support the organization of the 12th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival at the end of this summer.
The organizer of the festival – the State Education Content Center – after a compiled survey of local governments on the readiness to participate and participate in the festival, out of a total of 118 local governments, 106 local governments sent questionnaires with answers, of which 96 supported the organization of the festival this year.
Six municipalities did not support any of the proposed scenarios for the celebration, but four municipalities did not express an opinion.
It has previously been reported that three scenarios are planned for the School Youth Song and Dance Festival – “A”, “B” and “C”. The first or “A” scenario states that the celebration takes place traditionally and as usual. This scenario is not considered in the Covid-19 pandemic. Scenario “B” envisages that the celebration will take place in Riga and the region in the fresh air, while according to the “C” scenario, events would take place only in epidemiologically safe regions in the fresh air – sports grounds, school yards and stages.
The Minister of Education and Science Ilga Šuplinska (JKP) has already indicated that the celebration is likely to take place according to scenario “C”, however, the presentation of the Ministry of Education and Science shows that scenario “B” or a combination of both scenarios would be permissible. According to the calculations of the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), organizing the XII School Youth Song and Dance Festival according to the developed “C” scenario would cost cheaper than the implementation of other scenarios -1.32 million euros.
One event is planned for a safe celebration in one day, thus the participants would participate in the celebration only for one day. It is planned to celebrate the holiday without spectators, but it would be possible to get a sense of the holiday on your TV screens.
The ministry said it would collectively follow a “bubble” strategy to reduce the risks of Covid-19 spread. The concerts will also take place in the fresh air, but with a few exceptions, such as kokletas and contemporary dance groups. These festival participants would have the opportunity to perform indoors.
The Ministry of Education and Science reminded that participation in the School Youth Song and Dance Festival is voluntary, adding that a child or young person can participate in the festival with the consent of teachers and parents.
In case it will be possible to organize the celebration according to the “B” scenario, then the testing of teachers and participants will be added to the list of tasks, expressed in the presentation of the ministry.
The Ministry of Education and Science emphasized that both the “B” and “C” scenarios envisage a reduced repertoire, the traditional festive procession would be missed, as well as the festivities could be watched only on their television screens.
According to the Ministry, the total funding for the implementation of scenario “B” would be 4,080,800 euros. Of this, EUR 540 000 should be earmarked for the remuneration of artists, technical and organizational staff, EUR 1.3 million for testing participants, EUR 828 000 for renting premises, artistic and technical design, EUR 30 800 for the registration, accounting and control system for participants, EUR 125 000 euros – for the provision of emergency medical assistance, 137,000 euros – for security, safety, order, 340,000 euros for coverage of festive events, video documentation and 780,000 euros for catering for participants.
In Scenario C, on the other hand, it would be necessary to finance the coverage of the festive events and video documentation from the state budget, which would require 780,000 euros, while the remuneration for artistic, technical and organizational staff would be 540,000 euros. Meanwhile, teachers’ salaries will be covered by a budget earmarked grant.
–
