• Results of hotline on bilingual education in national minority schools 

Vesti Segodnya reports about the results of its hotline on the quality of bilingual education in national minority schools. Parents complain that several subjects are taught bilingually already in the elementary school and the books are in the state language thus the children are not able to do the homework themselves, but wait for the parents to translate in the evenings. Besides, some books lack rules and include outdated words which are no longer used in Latvian. Some schools allow only 30% subjects in native language as early as in 7th grade, and thus subjects such as algebra, physics, chemistry, biology are taught in the state language. German language teacher refuses Russian and thus children and parents are forced to make triple translation: the children "rebelled" against the teacher and parents formally complained, yet nothing changed. Russian literature book does not have Russian authors and only include Russian translations of Latvian authors. To help the children, parents buy books from Russia and are forced to hire private teachers, but very few can afford it. The secondary school students are very sceptical about education opportunities in Latvia, because not only books, but also their own notes are required in Latvian, they should not mix up the terms in Latvian such as šķautne and skaldne, and as a result they lack knowledge of subjects and fluency in the state language. Many secondary school students would stay in Latvia if they had access to higher education in Russian or at least in English, which is easier for them than Latvian. 

• Mayor of Kraslava is worried by agitation in Latgale; other mayors are sceptical
• Research into the history of individual Latvia’s Russian families
• Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau contacted schools which participated in Russian language literacy event "Total dictation" 

Mayor of Kraslava (city close to Byelorussian border) Gunars Upenieks believes activists are disseminating booklets and are talking about opportunities which would be realised had Latgale (eastern region of Latvia) joined Russia. Mr. Upenieks highlights that those residents who have a job and own a car – are not susceptible, yet poor people may respond to such agitation. Leaders of other municipalities (Ludza, Zilupe, Rezekne) in Latgale are sceptical and emphasise that people are patriots. The mayor of Rezekne Aleksandrs Bartasevics is surprised by the information from Kraslava and highlights that in Rezekne no such facts were observed. He suggests the rumours about agitation of Latgale joining Russia could be a "made-up story" in order to justify increase in military spending. He also reminds that both Mr Upenieks and the Minister of Defence Raimonds Vejonis represent the same political party (The Union of Greens and Farmers). Diena (11.11.2014), Vesti Segodnya 

The Institute of Russian cultural heritage of Latvia conducts research on the history Russians in Latvia, paying attention to the history of individual families, some of which trace their roots to Latvia since XVII century. The research also reveals that many prominent Latvia’s Russians perished during Stalinist repressions. The Institute publishes its results online at www.russkije.lv Vesti Segodnya 

According to the organiser of Russian language literacy event "Total dictation" in Latvia Aleksandrs Filejs, the schools which participated in the "Total dictation" in 2014, received a letter from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) requesting to report about the details of the work. Mr. Filejs insists participation in the "Total dictation" is voluntary. Vesti Segodnya 

• 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.