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.

• Ministry of Education and Science decides to review a model of primary education curriculum developed by the LASHOR
• Protest action against the education reform in Latgale
• Russian language press comments on the protest actions in Strasbourg
• Another pro-minority NGO will be formed in September
• TV series in regional TV programmespromote social integration in Latvia

In order to improve the dialogue with minorities concerning the education reform, the Ministry of Education and Science decided to review a primary education curriculum developed by the LASHOR. The model was offered to the Ministry 2-3 years ago, nevertheless, the Ministry refused to discuss it then. Now the Ministry decided to discuss it because, in its opinion, it would help to build a dialogue with minority schools and organizations. If the model is accepted, it will be offered to minority primary schools as another alternative besides already four existing models. The model developed by the LASHOR offers teaching more subjects in Latvian and bilingually.

In order to improve the dialogue with minorities concerning the education reform, the Ministry of Education and Science decided to review a primary education curriculum developed by the LASHOR. The model was offered to the Ministry2-3 years ago, nevertheless, the Ministry refused to discuss it then. Now the Ministry decided to discuss it because, in its opinion, it would help to build a dialogue with minority schools and organizations. If the model is accepted, it will be offered to minority primary schools as another alternative besides already four existing models. The model developed by the LASHOR offers teaching more subjects in Latvian and bilingually. Diena

Members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools organised another protest action “Against the Reform!” For two days 15 cars decorated with posters and flags agitating against the implementation of the education reform toured cities and towns of the Eastern part of Latvia.

Members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools organised another protest action “Against the Reform!” For two days 15 cars decorated with posters and flags agitating against the implementation of the education reform toured cities and towns of the Eastern part of Latvia. Chas

Vesti Segodnya and Telegraf report on the arrival of members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools who took part in protest actions against the education reform in Strasbourg. Newspaper comment that students were very satisfied with the achieved success: during their stay the protest action was the key event in Strasbourg and many members of the European Parliament were interested in discussions about the course of the education reform in Latvia. According to students, many MPs supported their stance and advised “not to give up!”

Members of Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools

Members of Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools believe that an organisation, planned to be formed in September, with the goal to defend the interests of the Russian community in Latvia, will be the biggest non-governmental organisation in Latvia. It is planned that at the initial phase about 30,000 people will be involved in the activities of the organisation and in two three years the number of members could grow to 100,000 members. Neatkariga

Last year a number of local TV stations produced and showed a series of short shows under the slogan “We are different, however, we are together.” Vladimirs Reiskarts, director of the Riga TV station TELE-1, states that the goal of the series was to learn how tolerant people belonging to different nationalities are towards each other, as well as to have a look at social integration issues from the perspective of average people and not politicians and civil servants. He concludes that in general there are no differences between Latvians and Russians and that is why day-to-day relations between Russians and Latvians are good. 

Last year a number of local TV stations produced and showed a series of short shows under the slogan “We are different, however, we are together.” Vladimirs Reiskarts, director of the Riga TV station TELE-1, states that the goal of the series was to learn how tolerantpeople belonging to different nationalities are towards each other, as well as to have a look at social integration issues from the perspective of average people and not politicians and civil servants. He concludes that in general there are no differences between Latvians and Russians and that is why day-to-day relations between Russians and Latvians are good.