Teaching in Latvian at Russian schools is justified by Republican development plan

Latvian Ministry of Education has prepared explanatory notes for the government regarding the essence of future educational reorganization, BaltNews informs. Officials believe that cancellation of education in Russian language perfectly suits National plan of Republic’s development issued five years ago. The plan stipulates growth of Latvian language’s usage in the social sphere.

Besides, according to the Latvian Ministry of Education, following sociological polls, two thirds of residents of Latvia believe that studying subjects in their state language should start as early as in initial grades or even in the kindergartens.

More than ninety percent of school graduates pass final exams in Latvian. That was the reason why the Ministry banned an opportunity to pass exams in the native language at all.

Ministry reminds that bilingual education was just a temporary measure. Officials state that many jobs require the state language skills and higher education degree could be received in the Latvian language only. Thus, in their opinion, transfer of all schools to the state language means taking care of children of different nationalities so that they should have equal rights.

Ministry of Education of Latvia is going to prepare corresponding amendments to the Law about Education and present them for public discussion until beginning of February.

It is worth reminding that Ministry of Education of Latvia is going to transfer all secondary schools into teaching in Latvian only, excluding Native Language, Literature and History of national minorities. This reorganization evoked strong indignation of Russian-speaking community of the country.

Russkiy Mir