• State Language Centre has punished 55 teachers and 24 teachers’ assistants for insufficient state language proficiency

The State Language Centre (SLC) has punished 55 teachers and 24 teachers’ assistants for insufficient state language proficiency till 1 November 2014. The SLC inspected 99 schools including private and municipal schools as well as general and professional schools. In 2013, the SLC punished 16 teachers and 34 teachers’ assistants. Latvijas Avize

 

• 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. 

 

 

• Newspapers report about the inaugural session of Latvia's 12th Saeima

Newspapers report about the inaugural session of Latvia's 12th Saeima conducted yesterday. The greatest attention during the session was drawn to two deputies - the member of the Unity Janis Junkurs and the member of the Regional Party Juris Vilums. Janis Junkurs put down his mandate just after it was approved in favour of the leader of the Unity Solvita Aboltina who initially stayed outside the list of candidates elected in the Saeima. Juris Vilums, in his turn, gave the oath in Latgalian language. The Saeima’s Speaker reproached Mr Vilums saying that the oath should be given in literal Latvian language and refused to allow him to sign the oath. However, the Saeima’s Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee took decision to approve Vilums’ mandate.  The Saeima elected member of the National Union Inara Murniece as the Speaker of the Saeima. The President Andris Berzins, in his turn, nominated the Unity member Laimdota Straujuma for the post of the Prime Minister.

• LTV7 programme “Private Affair”: the Ombudsman distorted the translation of the Article 13 of the Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities

The Ombudsman presented a study “Bilingual Education”. LTV7 programme “Private Affair” reporting about the study drew attention to the fact that the Ombudsman’s distorted translation of the Article 13 of the Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities. The translation of the Article 13 into Latvian by the Ombudsman’s Office says that the number of school subjects taught in state language should be "substantially increased" in secondary schools and the research findings suggest that the more "progressive" the increase, the better for the child. However, the official text of the Recommendation in English language use the word “gradual” in regards to the increase of state language in secondary schools: “(…) the number of subjects taught in the State language, should gradually be increased. Research findings suggest that the more gradual the increase, the better for the child.” Established OSCE translation into Latvian also uses the term "gradual", not "substantial". In an interview with LTV7, the Ombudsman Juris Jansons refused to admit that the Latvian translation is misleading. He also claims that the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors agrees with his position on education of national minorities. Vesti Segodnya

 

• Government adopted guidelines for state language policy 2015-2020
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a journalist and initiator of the movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins

• Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion on the current mood of Russian residents in Latvia

Yesterday, the government has adopted guidelines for state language policy 2015-2020 elaborated by the Education and Science Ministry. According to the Education Minister Ina Druviete, despite that situation with positions of Latvian language has improved it is still difficult for Latvian language to compete with other languages. Therefore, Latvia should care about language’s protection. The guidelines include commitment to increase usage of Latvian language by ethnic non-Latvians in communication with state institutions. As a positive aspect, the guidelines mention the fact that number of persons receiving the state language proficiency certificate increased during past 15 years. Regarding the education system, guidelines say that competitiveness level of Latvian language proficiency can be ensured by the existing ethnic minority education system. At the same time, some aspects of the education system – for instance curriculum for bilingual education - should be improved. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a journalist and initiator of the movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins. Commenting results of the recent parliamentary elections, Mr Vatolins says that a big role which affected the choice of voters in the elections belongs to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and his policy as it has facilitated consolidation of ethnic Latvian electorate to vote for so-called “ethnic Latvian parties” - the Unity, the Greens and Farmers, and the National Union. Mr Vatolins also believes that ethnic Russian electorate became more passive and many ignored the elections. As one of the problems, he mentions that there is still a lack of political nation in Latvia and part of residents feel alienated. Mr Vatolins believes that a challenge for Latvia’s democracy is to overcome ethnic voting. He also says that Russian language in Latvia should be granted special status such as status of regional or ethnic minority language. Thus, the state would acknowledge that Russian language along with Latvian language represents the wealth of Latvia, and this could also benefit the country.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion on the current mood of Russian residents in Latvia organised by Information business centre of Sankt-Petersburg in Riga. Participants of the discussion - Russian community activists, shared their opinion why the activity of Russian residents in Latvia is low and how to preserve identity of Russians in Latvia. Some participants agreed that one of the reasons of low activity is the formation of middle class of Russian speakers who are stable voters of the Concord Centre and who are almost impossible to engage in the public activities. The participants also discussed that today people are more concerned about their daily problems and that Russian NGOs are too fragmented.