The Latvian government has mandated that general and vocational educational institutions provide medium-absorption menstrual hygiene packages free of charge. This decision, announced on Tuesday, aims to improve access to essential hygiene products for students.
If additional funding is secured, there may be further amendments to ensure that hygiene packages are readily accessible to all students at these institutions, according to the Ministry of Health. Preliminary estimates suggest that supplying menstrual hygiene products across all educational facilities could cost approximately EUR 1,886 annually. However, the ministry notes that needs may vary between different schools and municipalities.
The location of these hygiene products will be decided by the respective educational authorities. If the packages are not placed in restrooms, institutions must inform students about where to find them and how to obtain them. Distribution can be managed either by staff or through direct access in school restrooms.
Currently, a flexible distribution model is planned, which guarantees at least a minimum number of packages while allowing institutions to provide additional products if they have internal funding. As of now, 36% of schools, or 199 institutions, already offer free hygiene packages.
While some institutions have previously provided hygiene products upon request, usage has been low, primarily in crisis situations. The proposed changes are not expected to impact school or municipal budgets significantly, as they can be accommodated by reallocating existing resources.
In several schools, the decision to support students with hygiene packages is made collaboratively by the school board, parent associations, or student councils, often funded through donations or school foundations. Some schools have reported providing such assistance from their own resources and ensuring students are excused from classes if they experience difficulties accessing hygiene products.
To determine resource needs, a survey of schools currently providing hygiene products revealed that, in a school with about 1,000 students, roughly 10 to 15 packages are distributed monthly, averaging one package per girl.
Currently, approximately 77,785 girls aged 11 to 19 are enrolled in 668 educational institutions across Latvia. According to estimates, these girls would require between 1,556 and 2,357 packages each month. The Ministry of Education and Science has outlined plans to ensure all girls receive 15 packages monthly throughout the school year.
A 2019 study by Procter & Gamble indicated that 15% of girls in Latvia have been late for school due to an inability to purchase menstrual hygiene products because of financial constraints.
