The draft decision of the Lääneranna municipal council to close two and reduce four schools to four grades leaves the question of why this is being done unanswered.
The director of Metsküla school, Pille Kaisel, can’t find any other words than “unbelievable” regarding the decision to close. Kaisel doesn’t understand why the school is being closed – it’s overcrowded. The number of children is not decreasing, but increasing. Currently, 21 children attend the school, next year 27 and 32 the year following. At the county Olympiads, the children of Metsküla win one subject competition following another. “Second and fourth place in biology just came in now,” Kaisel said Wednesday. These fifth-grade boys competed with sixth-grade children a year older than them all over Pärnumaa. Last year, the children of Metsküla took five first, three second and three third places. The second and third places of the all-Estonian biology subject competition also came to Metskülla.
At the same time as we are talking to Kaisel, a letter arrives in his email inbox – a parent of a first grader asks if he can bring his child from another school in the municipality to Metskülla. Next year, second grade. This is nothing special – children are brought to Metskülla from the far corners of the municipality because of its good reputation. Last year, Metsküla reached the finals of the school of the year competition, coming in second following Läänemaa joint high school.
“It can’t be that a good school is closed,” Kaisel said on Wednesday following reading the closing decision. Measure however you want – everything should be fine with the school. “I don’t understand what our problem is,” said Kaisel. “The building – we’re happy with it. As if there was quality. Parents are satisfied. The school is full of happy children. Why is it necessary to close this school?! I do not understand.”
