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

• The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis on schools preparedness to the education reform
• The State Education Inspection: majority of schools in Riga are ready to teach subjects in Latvian
• Vice Speaker of Estonian Parliament and observer to the European Parliament Toomas Savi: Russia should apologize to the Baltics for the occupation
• Vesti Segodnya reports on the publications in the German newspaper Tagenszeitung criticizing minority policies in Latvia
• Around 350 minority children participate in the children and youth festival Golden Ball in Liepaja
• The Latvian Russian-language writer Dalija Truskinovska invites parents to initiate an open public attestation of teachers in schools claiming to be ready for education reform

Vesty Segodnya interviews the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. According to the prime minister, the consultative committee established with the Ministry of Education and Science has visited 33 Russian-language schools to evaluate their readiness to the reform. 15 schools have already licensed their education programs for the reforms implementation, while 60% of schools have prepared programs for licensing. Other schools continue coordinating preparation of the programs with the Ministry and parents. Indulis Emsis has pointed to the different level of preparedness to the reform among schools and outlined difficulties of studying subjects in Latvian for low- achieving students. The prime minister has promised that the government will do its best to ensure the reforms implementation and to prevent deterioration in quality of education, and that no Russian-language schools will be closed.

According to the State Education Inspection, many schools in Riga are ready to teach subjects in Latvian. Out of 60 Riga minority schools, only 2 schools have problems with development of the education programs. 19 out of 422 teachers, who will have to teach subjects in Latvian next year, will not be ready for it. Officials promise to prepare a full report of schools’ readiness to the education reform in early May. 

According to the State Education Inspection, many schools in Riga are ready to teach subjects in Latvian. Out of 60 Riga minority schools, only 2 schools have problems with development of the education programs. 19 out of 422 teachers, who will have to teach subjects in Latvian next year, will not be ready for it. Officials promise to prepare a full report of schools readiness to the education reform in early May. Chas

According to the Vice Speaker of Estonian Parliament and observer to the European Parliament Toomas Savi, Russia should apologize to the Baltic States for the occupation after the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union is applied to all new EU member states.

According to the Vice Speaker of Estonian Parliament and observer to the European Parliament Toomas Savi, Russia should apologize to the Baltic States for the occupation after the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union is applied to all new EU member states. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya quotes critical articles by German newspaper Tagenszeitung about the education reform in Latvia. Tagenszeitung refers to the director of the Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehris naming the ratio 60/40 as a big problem raising hidden tensions. According to Tagenszeitung, the EU should criticize Latvia for its minority policies.

Last weekend children and youth festival “Golden Ball” was held in Liepaja with participation of around 350 minority representatives.

Last weekend children and youth festival Golden Ball was held in Liepaja with participation of around 350 minority representatives. Latvijas Avize

Chas features an article by the Latvian Russian-language writer Dalija Truskinovska, who invites parents to initiate an open public appraisal of teachers in the schools which claim to be ready for the education reform.