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.

• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics: minority schools are ready to implement the education reform
• Constitutional Court of Latvia accepts a claim challenging norms set by the Law on Education which stipulate the switch of minority secondary school to studies in Latvian
• BISS presents the research ‘Integration of Non-Latvian Youth in Latvian Society in the Context of the Education reform
• Head of the FHRUL parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners comments on the latest activities of the government concerning the education reform
• Head of the Riga City Councils For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM faction and doctor Janis Birks condemns the decision of his colleague to participate in the hunger strike

‘Minority schools are ready to implement the education reform,’ stated the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday. According to the Minister, only eight minority schools have not licensed their curricula and they have not done it due to administrative reasons. Juris Radzevics also stressed that none of minority schools has been closed.

‘Minority schools are ready to implement the education reform, stated the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday. According to the Minister, only eight minority schools have not licensed their curricula and they have not done it due to administrative reasons. Juris Radzevics also stressed that none of minority schools has been closed. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

The Constitutional Court of Latvia accepted a claim challenging norms stipulated by the Law on Education which deal with the transfer of secondary minority schools to studies in the Latvian language. The claim is submitted by 20 MPs from the People’s Harmony Party, Latvia’s Socialist Party and union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. MPs believe that the norms do not comply with the Constitution of Latvia and international obligations binding to Latvia.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia accepted a claim challenging norms stipulated by the Law on Education which deal with the transfer of secondary minority schools to studies in the Latvian language. The claim is submitted by 20 MPs from the Peoples Harmony Party, Latvias Socialist Party and union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. MPs believe that the norms do not comply with the Constitution of Latvia and international obligations binding to Latvia. Diena, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Newspapers report on results of the research ‘Integration of Non-Latvian Youth in Latvian Society in the Context of the Education Reform’ conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences (BISS). The goal of the study was the assessment of relations between Latvians and Russian –speakers in the context of the education reform. The results of the research reveal that recently relations between two communities have worsened: attitudes of Russian-speaking youth towards the Latvian language, education reform and state affiliation are more negative than in 2002. Only 15% students, 30% teachers and 13% parents support the education reform this year, while in 2002 40% students, 42% teachers and 42% parents believed in the necessity of the reform. The Director of the BISS Brigita Zepa believes that parents of minority students are afraid of the education reform because their own Latvian language proficiency is not good enough to help their children to do home works.

Newspapers report on results of the research ‘Integration of Non-Latvian Youth in Latvian Society in the Context of the Education Reform conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences (BISS). The goal of the study was the assessment of relations between Latvians and Russian –speakers in the context of the education reform. The results of the research reveal that recently relations between two communities have worsened: attitudes of Russian-speaking youth towards the Latvian language, education reform and state affiliation are more negative than in 2002. Only 15% students, 30% teachers and 13% parents support the education reform this year, while in 2002 40% students, 42% teachers and 42% parents believed in the necessity of the reform. The Director of the BISS Brigita Zepa believes that parents of minority students are afraid of the education reform because their own Latvian language proficiency is not good enough to help their children to do home works. Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas, Telegraf

Telegraf prins an interview with the head of For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners. The key discussion topic is the protest actions against the education reform and latest activities of the government in this field. Jakovs Pliners notes that all government activities, including the initiative to develop the Law on Minority Schools, are attempts to calm down society, but cannot be viewed as effective solutions to the problem. The MP foresees that the protest meeting organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools will not cause any conflicts. However, he is concerned that there is a conflict possibility during the rock concert, which will be organised by the Ministry of Education and Science on 1 September.

Vesti Segodnya re-prints some excerpts of the open letter written by the head of the Riga City Councils For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM faction and doctor Janis Birks. In his letter he condemns the decision of his colleague, anaesthesiologist Viktors Dergunovs to participate in the hunger strike against the education reform. According to Janis Birks, abolishment of the education reform would reduce chances of many young people to obtain a good education and thus deprive possibilities to become doctors and teachers.