Panevėžys district schools welcome students as nearly 3,000 children begin the year

Panevėžys district is beginning the new school year with 2,814 students in its general-education schools, including 254 children entering first grade. About 1,000 more children are expected to attend preschool institutions.

The district will operate 17 independent education institutions: six gymnasiums, two basic schools, one progymnasium, two school-kindergartens, four kindergartens, a music school and an educational support institution. Schools have planned 158 class groups, three fewer than last year’s student total, which fell by 33 children.

Primary education will include 1,037 students, while 1,446 will study in basic education and 331 in secondary education. A total of 139 students will begin their final year of school.

Some schools have adjusted their class structures to reflect student numbers and family needs. Dembava Progymnasium will have two first-grade classes. Ramygala Gymnasium will have two classes each for first-graders, second-graders and fifth-graders, while Velžys Gymnasium has formed three second-year gymnasium classes.

Smaller school branches will retain combined primary classes, allowing children to study closer to home. Such classes will operate in the Miežiškiai branch of Raguva Gymnasium, the Naujamiestis branch of Krekenava Mykolas Antanaitis Gymnasium and the Tiltagaliai branch of Paliūniškis Basic School. The Naujamiestis branch will no longer offer a ninth grade this year.

Preschool institutions plan to form 16 nursery groups, 28 preschool groups and 23 pre-primary groups. Eighteen of the pre-primary groups will combine children from different age levels. District Mayor Antanas Pocius wished students, teachers and families curiosity, respect, friendship and the strength to grow during the new school year.

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September 1 is always special. It marks not only the beginning of a new school year, but also a new stage for children, teachers and families.