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
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Opponents of the education reform preparing new protest activities
• Interview with the Education and Science Minister Juris Radzevics
• European Parliament German Deputy Elisabeth Schroedter about the new Latvian Prime Minister
• Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament
• Article by student of Ghent University about the education reform
• Commentary on the article of Sigita Zankovska-Odina, researcher of the Latvian Universitys Centre for ethnic studies
• Article about the pedagogy issues of the education reform

Opponents of the education reform are preparing a new protest activity – students’ strikes on 15th and 16th of April. According to

Opponents of the education reform are preparing a new protest activity – students strikes on 15th and 16th of April. According to Chas, students from60 Rigas schools, as well as students from Liepaja, Ventspils and Daugavpils may join in the strike. Latvijas Avize reports about the meeting of the Minister for Education and Science and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov about the implementation of the education reform. The newspaper ponders if this meeting may indicate that Latvian government has recognized that minority education reform is not only an interior issue of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Rigas Balss features an interview with the Education and Science Minister Juris Radzevics. Minister comments that the education reform in the schools with Russian language of instruction has become more of a political than a pedagogic issue. He believes that it is necessary to analyze the situation and understand what causes problems. It is evident to the minister that reforms goals have not been thoroughly explained to the public, and no discussion has been attempted with the reforms opponents. Juris Radzevics thinks there is no reason to change the Education law, and that moratorium would not resolve the issue either. He believes that it is possible to achieve a reasonable, balanced compromise, once the reforms opponents will understand that the main goal is to prepare young people for the employment market or the system of higher education.

Latvijas Avize writes about the comment of the European Parliament German Deputy, who submitted the report on Latvias preparedness to join the European Union, about the new Prime Minister of Latvia. Elisabeth Schroedter states that she puts a lot of hope on Indulis Emsis, who supports the integration policy and is ready for compromise. According to Schroedter, it had been appreciated by the Russian minority MPs who voted for his candidature.

The head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament in order to represent the interests of the Russian-speaking minority. However, if his name appears on the election lists of two parties – Latvian Socialist party and the People’s Harmony party (who have both listed him as a candidate), he will be deleted from both.  Pimenovs is planning to organize a press conference to explain this situation.

The head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament in order to represent the interests of the Russian-speaking minority. However, if his name appears on the election lists of two parties – Latvian Socialist party and the Peoples Harmony party (who have both listed him as a candidate), he will be deleted from both. Pimenovs is planning to organize a press conference to explain this situation. Telegraf

Diena prints an article by Maxim Kovalenko, student of Ghent University, about the education reform. He stresses that language policy is one of the components of the integration policy, which aims to integrate young people into the system of higher education and the employment market. Maxim Kovalenko also indicates two critical success factors for the reform implementation: first of all, minority schools and teachers should be ready for it; second, there is a certain lack of trust between Latvian- and Russian language communities, which has been intensified by the recent political conflict in the area of education. M. Kovalenko concludes that in order to accomplish the reform, a series of supportive activities, which can minimize or even prevent the negative factors influence, is necessary: additional training for teachers on bilingual methods in practice; effective public relations program to minimize the negative attitude of the teachers and students; help to the socially vulnerable groups, like additional language tutorials when needed.

Vesti Segodnya publishes commentary on the article of Sigita Zankovska-Odina, researcher of the Latvian Universitys Centre for ethnic studies, who believes that Latvias accession to the EU can further complicate the society integration process in Latvia, as non-citizens will receive additional rights and therefore their motivation to naturalize will decrease. The researcher evaluates the possible choice of the part of non-citizens to adopt the Russian citizenship, which in her opinion would create a two-community society, as well as would give Russia a possibility of interfering in Latvian internal affairs.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by Jakovs Pliners, MP from For Human Rights in United Latvia and Valerijs Buhvalovs, doctor of pedagogy, who believe that in order to successfully implement the ‘western model of bilingual education in Latvia, it should be scientifically analyzed and adapted to the local conditions, which, according to them, had not been the case. Pliners and Buhvalovs call to ‘professional pedagogical debate on the issue.