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.

• More comments on the meeting of the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics with the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools
• Government and municipal officials on participation of teachers and minority schools students in the protest actions against the education reform
• Different opinions on the protest actions against the education reform
• Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry denies the ‘Russian connection to the protest actions against the education reform in Latvia
• Education reform issues are being discussed in Daugavpils
• Teachers of the Rigasecondary schools No. 40 call to the large discussion on the education reform
• Interview with the deputy chairman of the Yakuts National Culture Society Choron Inokentijs Ustinovs

Newspapers write about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with the representatives of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR), who have repeatedly submitted proposals for amendments to the Law on Education, including rights for minority schools to determine the subjects to be taught in Latvian or bilingually, increase of the amount of the Latvian language and literature lessons in minority schools, establishment of the department on the issues of minority education within the Ministry of Education and Science . During this meeting Juris Radzevics has called parents to keep their children back from participation in the spontaneous protest actions, as no one is can guarantee security for the children.

Newspapers write about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with the representatives of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR), who have repeatedly submitted proposals for amendments to the Law on Education, including rights for minority schools to determine the subjects to be taught in Latvian or bilingually, increase of the amount of the Latvian language and literature lessons in minority schools, establishment of the department on the issues of minority education within the Ministry of Education and Science . During this meeting Juris Radzevics has called parents to keep their children back from participation in the spontaneous protest actions, as no one is can guarantee security for the children. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Diena features different statements about participation of the teachers and minority schools students in the protest actions against the education reform. Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics has stated that he does not support the protest actions, but is not going to persecute anybody, as he respects the choice of minority students and parents. Officials of the Education State Inspection and Riga City Councils Education, Youth Affairs and Sports department are of a different opinion, believing that school non-attendance due to participation in the protest actions should be regarded as unjustified. Moreover, teachers participation in the unapproved protest actions can be regarded as a violation of the labor legislation.

Vesti Segodnya features different statements about protest actions against the education reform in response to the opinion expressed by the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, that the protest actions will not bring any solution to the problems. The observer from Latvia to the European Parliament Boris Tsilevitch points to the necessity of the protest actions, believing that it is the only possibility for minorities to achieve amendments to the Law on Education. Political scientist Mihails Rodins says it is not likely that the protest actions will force governing majority to cancel the reform.

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has made a statement, denying any connection of Russia to the protest actions against the education reform in Latvia.

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has made a statement, denying any connection of Russia to the protest actions against the education reform in Latvia. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about discussion on the education reform in Daugavpils. Chairman of the Daugavpils Bilingual Education Supporting Centre Silvija Mickevica has stated that minority students opinion poll shows that 39,4% of them support the acquisition of school subjects in Latvian, 43,6% - support it partly, but 11,3% do not want to study in Latvian. According to the chairman, during the last year students motivation to study in Latvian has decreased due to the protest actions against the education reform. At the end of the discussion a resolution condemning activities of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, which split up the Latvian society and do not promote the naturalization process, was adopted.

Vesti Segodnya features an open letter of the teachers of Rigasecondary schools No. 40, who call for a large discussion about education in Latvia in the XXI century, and suggest entrusting the reformation of education, including minority education, to the professionals, i.e., teachers. According to the authors of the letter, education reforms implementation should be suspended until such discussion takes place.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the deputy chairman of the Yakuts National Culture Society Coron Inokentijs Ustinovs.