Be prepared to pay more: since the fall, some groups of children have become more expensive

The rise in prices is felt both in the municipal budget and in private extracurricular activities.

Prices went up, but those who wanted did not go down

Sigita Muravjova, an employee of the Klaipėda city municipality education department, shared that prices in municipal budgetary institutions (art, music schools and some sports clubs) increased this fall, but her increase specialist does not associate them with the pandemic.

“The price has increased in economic institutions: art, music schools and leisure and youth centers for children.

It’s not very big, but it was the change I needed before, we had to do it last year, but the quarantine prevented it. However, politicians agreed that it should be increased.

(…) The (final) rate is already calculated by the institutions themselves. For some groups it will be the same, for others it can go from 5 to 10 euros.

Also in sports schools, the rate changed. But it was evaluated by the institutions themselves and they evaluated that it should not scare the parents ”, says the municipal official.

He also shared an updated price list for the most popular groups.

At that time, private non-formal education providers have their own fees, which are not controlled by the municipality, but Ms Muravjova also recalls the benefits that belong to residents, which are also valid when admitting a child to a group private. organizers.

“And here is the choice of the parents, which institution they will choose, because they still receive a child’s basket and can reduce that fee.

If we have a basket of 20 euros per child, lowering it from about 60 euros per group and paying 40 euros is already a really big incentive ”, says S. Muravjova.

The employee adds that so far Klaipėda residents are satisfied with informal activities by both parents and institutions: there are a variety of activities, as well as there is no lack of financial resources to make informal activities available to children. kids.

Planning to raise prices

At the time, Egidijus Zaknys, the director of the white tiger karate club in Šiauliai, says he has not yet decided whether prices will increase.

“We are still considering whether to go up or not, but I think there will be a promotion. But a maximum of 5 euros, up to 5,” says the head of the karate club.

He adds that if the price is raised, a karate club membership for a boy this fall, training twice a week, will cost 35 euros.

“It just came to our attention then. Anyway it was 30 euros. But if we go up, it will be 35 euros, not more,” says E. Zaknys.

The coach adds that currently the club only hosts social networks, but there is no shortage of those who want to play sports, and parents are not afraid to leave their children too much in groups.

“In fact, we will start the reception from September 6, when the schools will start operating and then we will try to share all those invitations through the schools. And now we are just trying to invite on Facebook, you are signing up.

(…) The activation is, in fact, that the children want to return to activities, ”says karate coach E. Zaknys.

Part of the classes went up

Greta Strolytė, a marketing specialist for the Kaunas-based Girstutis Basin, says that club attendance at the pool hasn’t changed significantly and there is no shortage of people wanting to play sports.

“The activities of the Swimming Academy are suspended from 2020. to the end of October, so we are excited to be able to start the swimming training season again this year after a long break.

The swimming training groups of our swimming academy have always been smaller compared to other groups, with groups of 12 to 15 children, ”says a spokeswoman for the pool.

According to the website of the “Banga” swimming school, 2 trainings per week for children of different ages who cannot swim, in most cases it costs 49 euros per month. At that time, 1 week of training for a child costs 39 euros per month.

“Prices did not change significantly, prices were redirected to more frequent swimming lessons to promote quality employment after school and physical activity, so the price changed once a week, increased by 9 euros a month , other prices remained similar. ” says G. Strolytė.

Prices rose even before the pandemic.

According to an employee of the athletics department of the Vilnius City Sports Center, who responded by phone to the tv3.lt news portal, the prices of the classes have not changed this season, because so far the quarantine restrictions do not restrict the classes too much. sport activities.

“So far, there are not many of those restrictions, when we do outdoor sports, there are not many restrictions. We do not allow initial training groups to enter the attic, only team members can train there,” said the employee.

The exact prices for this season’s athletics were shared by the athletics department of the Vilnius City Sports Center. They confirmed that the prices of the sessions did not change this season, since their increase was made in the time before the pandemic.

Representatives of the department add that the municipality has also provided points according to which it would be possible to attend trainings for free.

By decision of the municipality, the following may be exempted from the tax:

– families receiving social assistance or social support for athletes;

– Athletes left without parental care, Athletes with disabilities who have submitted supporting documents;

– Athletes from families raising a disabled child under the age of 21 when studying in a general education, vocational training, or special educational needs program;

– athletes from families in which three or more school-age children attend sports training institutions of the Vilnius City Municipality;

– Athletes who have not visited the Institution for a month or more due to an injury, upon presentation of a document issued by a doctor confirming it for the first session after the injury;

– athletes during the annual vacation of their coaches;

– athletes of the first year of education groups of the initial training in the first month of education;

– Award winners of different ages, candidates from the Lithuanian Olympic team and athletes from the Olympic round;

– Athletes for an adequate period of inactivity and suspension from the Institution due to quarantine, emergency.