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.

• Saeimas Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments forbidding teaching in foreign languages in state funded higher education establishments
• Draft project of state budget provides funding for the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration for 2009

Newspapers report that the Saeima’s Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments forbidding teaching in foreign languages except the official EU languages in state funded higher education establishments.  The ban applies also on those private higher education establishments which partly receive state funding. Head of the Baltic International Academy considers that such regulations should not be applicable to all students studying in a private higher education establishment which is party funded by the state, but only to those students who study on specific programs funded by the state.

Newspapers report that the Saeimas Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments forbidding teaching in foreign languages except the official EU languages in state funded higher education establishments. The ban applies also on those private higher education establishments which partly receive state funding. Head of the Baltic International Academy considers that such regulations should not be applicable to all students studying in a private higher education establishment which is party funded by the state, but only to those students who study on specific programs funded by the state. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that according to the draft project of state budget for 2009 accepted by the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration is granted LVL 4,6 millions (EUR 6.5 millions). Funding for the Secretariat is planned also for 2010 and 2011. However, the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis states that plans to liquidate the Secretariat are not canceled and its funding will be excluded from the budget project during its revision in the Saeima.