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.

• Saeima approved the new government
• Vesti Segodnya interviews with a young ethnic Latvian teacher teaching Latvian language in a Russian language school

Yesterday, the Saeima approved the new government headed by the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma.  According to Vesti Segodnya, the new government declaration (strategy) does not include plans on the  transfer of  the teaching of subjects in ethnic minority schools in predominantly  the Latvian language starting with 2018. The previous government co-operation agreement, which specifies decision making procedures in the coalition government, included a provision which foresaw the raising of the proportion of Latvian language instruction to 80% (from the current 60% in secondary school). The new government co-operation agreement, though, mentions  that cooperation partners take note of the opinion of the National Union “All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM” concerning  its support for the transfer of all state and municipal minority schools to  the Latvian language of instruction until 1 September 2018. It also says that support for such provision  as well as support for the proposal to revoke the issuance  of residence permits for the purchase of real estate in Latvia will not be considered a violation of the cooperation agreement.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with a young ethnic Latvian teacher teaching Latvian language in a Russian language school in Riga. The teacher agreed to work in the school for two years in the framework of a project “Mission is Possible.” The teacher teaches Latvian in junior classes. She says that the decision to work in a Russian language school was a challenge due to fear of different attitude towards Latvian language, different children, and differences in Latvian language proficiency. As the school is located in mostly Russian speaking district of Riga, there are some kids with very poor Latvian language proficiency. Therefore, the teacher says that she set a rule to speak in the classroom in Latvian only, thus creating environment where children would hear Latvian language. She also believes that attitude towards language comes from the family and it is hard to change it.