The Ministry of Education and Science in Latvia has plans to replace Russian language in foreign language lessons with official EU languages in schools starting with 2026/2027 school year, as confirmed by the ministry.
This means it will no longer be possible to learn Russian language as second foreign language in schools. The ministry explains that this is because this language is neither an official EU language, nor are there any interstate agreements in place to provide this option.
The ministry claims these changes will motivate youngsters to fully join the European education space, promote teaching of official EU languages, which, in turn, opens the way for wider employment options in the EU and outside its borders.
Minister of Education and Science Anita Muižniece stresses that the topic of second foreign language in schools was discussed with President Egils Levits, adding that it was mentioned during the discussion that it is necessary to promote and ensure lessons of official EU languages as the second foreign language in all schools in the country. This, according to her, will help residents participate in the general European cultural space more easily.
«Now more than ever we need to reinforce Latvia’s main value – official language and Latvia’s place in the European Union,» said Muižniece.
The first foreign language is taught in schools starting with 1st grade in Latvia. It needs to be one of the official languages in the EU. Most often it is English language. The second foreign language taught as part of education programmes in Latvian language is taught starting with 4th grade.
Regulations do not dictate which foreign language – French, Russian or German – schools need to offer as the second foreign language. The choice is provided by schools in accordance with their development goals in cooperation with the education institution’s council. The ministry notes that parents’ and children’s own opinions play a major part in the choice of the foreign language to learn. The ability of schools to provide teachers of appropriate qualification plays an equally important role.
According to results of a survey carried out in schools in 2021 on language lessons, nearly half of schools in Latvia do not offer a choice – more than 300 schools teach Russian language as the only second foreign language.
The ministry explains that as demand for EU languages increases and the importance and use of Russian language goes down, both the ministry and the National Centre for Education (VISC) receive many complaints from parents with proposals to provide EU languages for second foreign language lessons.
To promote lessons of official EU languages, the ministry will develop amendments to standard of primary education. This will ensure that only official EU languages or languages the teaching of which is regulated by intergovernmental agreements is taught in schools as the second foreign language in schools.
The transition period is planned to last three years. The ministry has also commenced talks with the University of Latvia in order to discuss the topic of training for foreign language teachers or re-training.
The topic of the choice of the second foreign language was discussed at a seminar of heads of state and county education administrations and education specialists. VISC head Liene Voronenko invited education administrations to discuss the situation with education institutions with foreign language studies.