This time, the discussion on the social network 'Threads' was sparked by a mother who, upon seeing the offer to purchase a family package for 'E-klase', was surprised by the price. "€24.86 for a family package of E-klase! I really don’t understand what such a large amount is for!?" she writes. The post quickly garnered reactions from other parents, and opinions were divided. Some commentators admit that they do not see much need for the paid version at all. "I also don’t understand why this is even necessary… Even for €5. I don’t use anything in E-klase except for the application for a pass," writes one mother. Another commentator holds a similar opinion: "Why do you need it? You can absolutely do without it." The initiator of the discussion herself points out that the family had previously purchased a paid package, but she has a question about why the requested amount now seems significantly higher. "But wasn’t the same service last year about half the price? We are still thinking, the kids liked it last year, we bought it. But now I don’t quite understand the difference," she writes. She also notes that in the paid version, she still saw advertisements before, so it is unclear what exactly the user gets for the higher fee. Not all participants in the discussion consider the price excessive. One mother calculated that if you divide the annual fee by the months of the school year, it amounts to less than three euros a month. She herself purchased the paid package because the children wanted it — it provides a broader analysis of academic performance and tests, as well as notifications about news. Another mother also notes that her children particularly like the notification feature because they do not have to check 'E-klase' all the time waiting for a new grade. The performance rating seems useful as it can serve as additional motivation for the children. Another participant in the discussion reminds that this is an additional service offered by a private company that the family can choose — to buy or not to buy. The discussion about the paid services of 'E-klase' is not new. LA.LV has previously reported on parents' confusion as to why some features of the system are only available for a fee. At that time, a representative of 'E-klase', Zane Rashmane, who was contacted by LA.LV, explained that no state budget funds are used to support the system. "E-klase" is a project of private initiative, and the funds for supporting the system, developing, and implementing regular updates come from subscription fees and advertising, the company representative previously explained to LA.LV. At that time, in 2024, the price of the family package was €19.86 for the academic year, regardless of the number of children in the family. The company explained that the price was calculated to help cover the costs of supporting and developing 'E-klase'. At the same time, 'E-klase' emphasized that the paid package is not mandatory for parents to monitor their child's studies. In the free version, parents can see their child's grades, homework, lesson topics, and messages from teachers, as well as communicate with educators and other parents. The paid version offers additional conveniences — more detailed reviews of tests, performance analytics and ratings, reviews of absences and performance, as well as various notification options. Earlier, a representative of 'E-klase' also indicated to LA.LV that about 30% of families use the paid version, while the rest find the free options sufficient.
