Article
Latvia鈥檚 education responses to the influx of Ukrainian students
Situation
Context
Latvia provides education programmes in seven minority languages and diverse opportunities of digital learning. It is now accommodating displaced children and youth who are forced to flee Ukraine as a result of the military aggression of Russia.
Every child arriving from Ukraine will receive education in Latvian or in a minority language at pre-school and primary level and do not need to pass state examinations.
Preschool education
For pre-school level, if there are not enough spaces in local public kindergartens for a child over 1.5 year, the child can enrol in a private kindergarten and the local municipality will cover the tuition costs.
Basic Education and Upper Secondary education
For basic education, an individual curriculum will be developed for each child to meet their needs, such as counselling, speech therapists, Latvian language support and Ukrainian language lessons when possible. The Ministry of Education stated that children would learn in Latvian incrementally and is planning to provide teaching materials to support this. While Ukrainian children are provided with education in Ukrainian in the short term, from next year onwards basic education would be provided in the state language.
In addition, Latvia is working to provide the option of distance learning in cooperation with Ukraine, based on parents鈥 preferences.
According to the new law from 15 March 2022, minor Ukrainian civilians are not required to pass state examinations. Pupils from grades 1-8 and 10-11 can be transferred to the next class without conditions. Grades 9 and 12 students who pass their exams will receive an educational document (certificate, attestation or diploma). Students across all grades have the right to re-study in the same class.
Vocational education
Minors have the right to continue their previous vocational education. To access vocational education, Ukrainian minors are also exempted from having to pass state examination (except for the professional qualification examination).
Higher education
About 800 students are already studying at Latvian universities, and these could open about 1,000 additional study places to accommodate for more students.
Students who should have passed upper secondary exams this year are exempted from the examinations in Latvia. The Cabinet of Ministers is discussing regulations that would provide Ukrainian citizens with a different admission procedure in Latvian higher education institutions.
Ukrainians have a right to work as teachers, bypassing regular certification, only if they teach Ukrainian minors in special classes. To work as a regular teacher in a Latvian school, Ukrainians would need to get certified.
Vilnius University (VU) is ready to offer free studies and financial assistance to Ukrainian students whose their studies and higher education aspirations were disrupted.
The EU issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Council implementing Decision 2022/382, establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection (2022/C 126 I/01). As such, EU Member States shall grant access to their education system to persons under 18 years old enjoying the temporary protection status under the.
Bibliography
Government sources:
"Izgl墨t墨bas Un Zin膩tnes Ministre Anita Mui啪niece Ar Valsts Prezidentu Egilu Levitu P膩rrun膩ja Ukrainas B膿g募u Izgl墨t墨bas Iesp膿jas." S膩kumlapa | Izgl墨t墨bas Un Zin膩tnes Ministrija. Accessed March 31, 2022.
"Ukrai艈u B膿g募u B膿rni Uzs膩k Izgl墨t墨bas Procesu Latvij膩." S膩kumlapa | Izgl墨t墨bas Un Zin膩tnes Ministrija. Accessed March 31, 2022. .
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鈥淟atvia statement at the 214th session of UNESCO's Executive Board". Permanent Delegation of Hungary to the OECD and UNESCO. Paris, France. April 5, 2022.
Other sources:
"Latvija Tr墨sk膩r拧o Uz艈emamo Ukrainas B膿g募u Skaitu." Neatkar墨g膩. Accessed March 31, 2022.
"Minister: Ukrainian Children in Schools in Latvia Should Learn Latvian from Next Year 鈥 Baltics News." Baltics News. Last modified March 25, 2022.
"In the Classroom, the Children Who Have Just Sat in the Bomb Shelters." The School Helps Children from Ukraine to Settle in Latvia 鈥 Baltics News." Baltics News. Last modified March 26, 2022.
"Latvian Universities Help Students from Ukraine 鈥 Baltics News." Baltics News. Last modified March 6, 2022.
"VU Invites to Contribute to the Support of the Ukrainian Academic Community, if Necessary, Will Award Scholarships to Ukrainians 鈥 Baltics News." Baltics News. Last modified February 24, 2022.
