In an effort to address the growing issue of catchment tourism, MPs from various political parties are working towards implementing rules that would restrict parents from choosing schools based on quality or location. Catchment tourism refers to the practice of enrolling children in schools outside their designated catchment area, often done to secure a spot in a school with a better reputation or to accommodate parents’ work and commuting schedules. The Ministry of Education is currently in the process of formulating these rules to discourage such practices.

While politicians focus on preventing catchment tourism, they have yet to address the underlying reasons that drive parents to resort to this behavior. These reasons often include a lack of available school places, concerns about poor quality and reputation of local schools, parents’ long commutes to work, and the need for proximity to address unforeseen issues with their children. Lenka, a parent who commutes to work, explained, “I registered my son at my parents’ address so that he could attend kindergarten there. I can’t imagine receiving a call from the kindergarten to pick up my son because he’s unwell, and I arrive two hours later due to traffic congestion.”

Parents have taken to social media to discuss their reasons for transporting their children to schools outside their residential areas, even if it means covering long distances. Žaneta, who takes her son to a different school each day, explained, “Before my son started school, we speculated and researched for two years to find out about the school here… mainly about the teachers. Bullying by a teacher is a daily occurrence. Some children have even developed psychological problems because of it.”

Relocation is another factor that prompts parents to transport their children to schools outside their catchment areas. Gabriela described enrolling her daughter in a school where most of her kindergarten classmates went, in the neighborhood where she grew up.

Significant differences exist between schools, which are funded by taxpayers’ money, in terms of extracurricular activities, teaching methods, and overall performance. Some schools adhere to traditional approaches, while others experiment with modern methods. Parents’ satisfaction levels and concerns vary greatly across different schools. Disparities can also be observed in the success rates of children in entrance examinations for further studies.

Despite the diversity of schools and the concerns raised by parents, politicians argue against parents’ ability