| Abstract [eng] |
The purpose of this presentation – analyze the trends in the network of general education schools in Lithuania problem regions in the period of 2001-2016 and to assess their impact for the growing social and spatial exclusion. The topic of the research – problem regions of Lithuania which include 22 sparsely populated municipalities (hereafter – the SPM) where a rural population density does not exceed 12,5 inh/km2. Statistical data used for this research are presented in the Statistical database of the Lithuanian Statistics Department (https://osp.stat.gov.lt/) and database of the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania AIKOS (https://www.aikos.smm.lt/) . The results are obtained through a quantitative study of the number of schools and school students and their change between 2001-2016 analysis, data mapping and territorial statistical analysis (using GIS and CorelDRAW programs) and applying geographic data analysis methods (description of territorial dignities, comparative territorial analysis, formal quantitative regionalization). During the research, it was established that decreasing population and number of school students in Lithuania SPM’s, the network of general education schools is being destroyed. During reviewing period, the number of school students decreased by 55%, schools – by 62% (by 13 percentage points more than the national average). Continuing concentration of schools. Currently schools remain in municipal administrative centers and larger settlements, part of the closed schools are converted into divisions of larger schools. The disappearance of the network of general education schools in SPM’s is one of the most important factors contributing to the social and spatial exclusion of these territories and their inhabitants, and therefore the study of the situation in SPM’s is especially relevant. Due to the decreasing number of school students, the disappearance of the school network, the distance to the educational institution for teachers and parents increases, their accessibility options are getting worse, the availability of public transport services for the whole population is decreasing (reducing number of routes and trips). At the same time, the ability of the population to reach various other institutions and enterprises providing services is becoming more and more problematic. After closing the school – the basic, community-forming and supporting institution – the settlement loses attractiveness, prospect, it starts to drop other enterprises and institutions providing services, they are moving behind, the level of services is dropping. This increases the social and spatial exclusion, territorial differences and prosperity, negatively affects demographic, social, economic and other processes, people are beginning to feel violent, peripheral people. In order to at least stop the disappearance of the network of general education schools, there should be more thoughtful renovation of schools, reduced requirements for rural schools (lower number of school students in classes, lower obligatory workload for teachers etc.). |
