Our School

The educational system for blind people in Latvia began in 1872 when the
first such school for the blind was established in Riga.
Today Strazdumuiža Residential Secondary School and Training Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the only educational establishment for children and young adults with severe visual impairments in the country. Study process for individual needs is guaranteed, as well as support for colleagues who work with the students integrated into mainstream schools.  Children, beginning at the age of 6, can attend the preparatory classes. Students, completing the course of education through grade 12, receive a secondary school diploma and are able to continue their development in vocational or higher education establishments according to their skills, abilities, competency and desire. Extracurricular activities also enable students to participate where they otherwise would not be able to do so. The school also offers external studies program for people at any age who have not managed due to visual health problems or other reasons to acquire primary and secondary education. Starting from school year 2008/2009 a special primary program for visually impaired children with mental disorders (C-level) has been licensed.

In school year 2011/2012 there are 118 students studying at the training center.

Classes and free time are scheduled according to the competency, necessity, interests and visual capabilities of each individual.

skoleni

Since 1997 the school has also served as a training center. As a result it has undertaken new duties and functions which include:

  • Collaboration  with the local government and educational
    establishments to  identify all blind and visually impaired children in the country;
  • Special assistance and consultation for visually impaired children of all age groups and their parents in a home setting;
  • Consulting visually impaired children in mainstream schools;
  • Consulting teachers for mainstreamed visually impaired children.

Various activities are planned and organized during free time between teachers and students.

Many opportunities are given to those keen on sports (track and field, Judo, swimming, etc.).

Educational staff consists of 51 members (teachers and after-school teachers) who regularly   improve their qualification. Most of them have Master’s degree in philology and pedagogy and continue their studies at LU (University of Latvia). School – Training centre teachers have developed special methods for teaching blind and visually impaired children. They are ready to give their advice on education and development for blind and visually impaired children.

The school has a library

Extracurricular activities are organized in cooperation of teachers and students. Students regularly participate in the music festival for the blind “Baltijas vilnis” /The Baltic Wave/ organized among the Baltic States.  We also have sports activities (athletics, judo, swimming) and other activities. In spring of 2009 “spartakiāde” Baltic sports competition for blind people was held at our school.  For the first time 4 sports activities were planned (swimming, athletics, shaldon (tennis for the blind) and power-wrestling. Also for the first time the team from Juvasula Finnish School for Blind and Visually Impaired Children was invited.  In the competition participated Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian and Finnish schools. 41 sets of medals were presented.