Latvian political party National Alliance (NA) has submitted amendments to the Education Law that provide for ensuring all education in the country is provided in Latvian language only.
The party asks the Cabinet of Ministers to develop by 1 July a new plan for the transition to education only in Latvian language. The party believes the recent changes have contributed to the integration process. As a unifying element, these changes will help provide each Latvian child equal opportunities.
«Our statehood is based on Latvian language as the sole state language. The transition to studies only in Latvian language will help unite Latvia’s society and provide each child equal opportunities to receive quality education, become competitive on the labour market, as well as enhance the cohesion of Latvia’s society in a long-term perspective,» says the leader of NA Raivis Dzintars.
The transition to education only in Latvia has continued since 2004, with bilingual education and increased ratio of Latvian language in all levels of education being the first step.
Since 2018 Latvia has been implementing a gradual transition to education only in Latvian language. This process concluded in 2021/2022 school year: 50-80% of education at national minority schools is done in Latvian language. At secondary schools education is done only in state language. Students have the opportunity to learn national minority language, literature, history and related subjects in their respective languages.
Now that the transition period to studies in Latvian language has successfully concluded at state, municipal and private general education institutions this year, NA proposes making the next step and making it mandatory to conduct studies at elementary schools in Latvian language only.