Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

Dienas editorial is on a study Analysis of the Implementation of Bilingual Education. Columnist Askolds Rodins draws attention to a contradiction in two laws – the Education Law and the General Education Law. In contrast to the Education Law, which says that the switch to Latvian as the language of instruction in all secondary schools should be launched in 2004, the General Education Law does not provide clear timing for the implementation of the switch. Askolds Rodins also stresses other results of the study which show that both teachers and students lack Latvian language skills, which suggests that many schools will have difficulties in implementing the education reform in 2004. Askolds Rodins concludes that the Law on Education should be amended and a specific system should be developed, which would support and motivate weak and unprepared schools to implement the reform, while strong schools would receive real benefits for the implementation of the reform in time. Rodins doubts the capability of the Ministry of Education and Science to of elaborating such a system.

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A Chas editorial provides columnist Leonids Fedoseyevs considerations regarding the school system in Latvia. He writes that Latvian teachers are actually not ready to teach Russian students, that is, they do not understand their mentality and do not how to cope with them. Leonids Fedoseyevs believes that there is hidden apartheid in Latvia: it is not officially recognised, however, there are constant discussions about who is a master in this country.

Panorama Latvii

publishes a discussion of two election candidates: Igors Pimenovs from FHRUL and Karlis Sadurskis from the New Era Party. The key discussion object was education. publishes a discussion of two election candidates: Igors Pimenovs from FHRUL and Karlis Sadurskis from the New Era Party. The key discussion object was education. The Russian party is the only party which supports granting the Russian language the status of a state language. FHRUL believes that the Latvian language should be the only language, which has state language status in Latvia, while Russian should be used as an official language in municipalities where the number of Russian-speakers exceeds 20% of residents. Leader of FHRUL Janis Jurkans stated that Russian newspaper

The Russian party is the only party which supports granting the Russian language the status of a state language. FHRUL believes that the Latvian language should be the only language, which has state language status in Latvia, while Russian should be used as an official language in municipalities where the number of Russian-speakers exceeds 20% of residents. Leader of FHRUL Janis Jurkans stated that Russian newspaper Chas, which wrote that FHRUL MP Boriss Cilevics talked about the Russian language and calling for granting it the status of an official language in Latvia at the discussion show The Russian Issue, misreported the opinion. Diena

Latvijas Vestnesis

publishes an interview with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins. One of the questions was in regard to the signing of an agreement with Russia on social security issues. Prime Minister Andris Berzins states that it is Russia which hinders the signing of the agreement. publishes an interview with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins. One of the questions was in regard to the signing of an agreement with Russia on social security issues. Prime Minister Andris Berzins states that it is Russia which hinders the signing of the agreement.

Vesti Segodnya

reports on positive impressions of participants at a summer camp for Russian children from Latvia in the Russian city Pskov, which was organised within the framework of the Russian Federation assistance programme to its compatriots. reports on positive impressions of participants at a summer camp for Russian children from Latvia in the Russian city Pskov, which was organised within the framework of the Russian Federation assistance programme to its compatriots. Panorama Latvii, Vechernaya RigaPanorama Latvii, Vechernaya Riga