Latvian Minister of Education Anita Muižniece expects the parliament will pass law amendments necessary for the transition to studies only in Latvian language in the last two readings at the end of August or start of September, said the politician in an interview to LTV Rīta Panorāma.
Muižniece admits that the process is accompanied by a great deal of anxiety. Nonetheless, the minister is confident the transition will be successful, because already the law in Latvia requires many school subjects to be taught in Latvian language.
The minister said the requirement of the law on education only in state language will apply to private schools as well, unless they are international schools, whose operations is regulated by a special law and international agreements.
Muižniece stressed the no major restrictions over the possible spread of Covid-19 are planned for this year’s school year.
If Covid-19 restrictions become necessary, the measures schools will have to take will be similar to those observed at the end of the last school year.
As for other topics related to the next school year, the minister said it is not planned to transition to online exams. As for 9th grade exam scores – they will be posted in percentage, not marks.
Soon the Ministry of Education and Science could submit to the government a new education evaluation system to ensure scores across schools are more comparable.
Teachers’ minimal wage for the next school year is set at EUR 900.
According to Muižniece, this wage will be paid to very few teachers. Most teachers will be paid EUR 1 000 a month.
Muižniece refused to call the data on shortage of teachers as speculative, as many teachers are in the middle of switching jobs. This means relevant information will be provided at the start of the school year.