Coaches that don’t speak state language [Latvian] have been suspended in Daugavpils for the duration of language studies, as Daugavpils Mayor Andrejs Elksniņš announced at a press-conference.
The head of the city council explained that in 2021 State Education Quality Service (VVC) had performed inspections in multiple schools in which insufficient state language skills were uncovered among coaches working for Daugavpils School of Individual Sports. The service insisted for the school’s management to act.
The school organised Latvian language lessons for its employees. Another evaluation was performed later. The service found there are still coaches that do not have sufficient state language skills. The school’s management was ordered to take more severe measures.
«Coaches that do not have sufficient state language skills were sent to study. They are thereby suspended from their posts until their language skills meet an appropriate level,» explained Elksniņš.
The school is doing all it can to help coaches pass tests. «Some have agreed to go on an exchange programme to other Latvian regions to change their work environment. Our objective is helping teachers,» said Elksniņš.
State Education Quality Service uncovered insufficient state language skills among 23 of 57 the school’s coaches. These people received administrative punishments, as reported by LTV programme Panorāma.
«Those that fail to present appropriate state language skills by 1 September, the school will be forced to dismiss them,» as acting principal of Daugavpils School of Individual Sports Kristīne Alžāne told LTV.
At the same time, Alžāne allows that some of them are prepared to have a second go at a language exam and prove their language skills.
The previous principal decided to resign after receiving results of VVC’s inspection.
The acting principal promises the school will have enough teachers to teach youngsters.
According to VVC, this was the biggest number of violations uncovered in a single institution in recent memory.