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.

• Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approves the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014
• Education officials cannot make any comments on the effect of the minority education reform on the level of academic success of students yet
• Teachers from Russian schools talk about the minority education reform

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014. The document includes provision of Latvian language training for members of minorities.

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014. The document includes provision of Latvian language training for members of minorities. Telegraf comments that although the document provides state funding for this purpose, in 2004 the state allotted only LVL 341,000 (EUR 488,256) for teachers training, examinations of state language, etc. Telegraf

In the response to the statements of the former education minister Juris Radzevics (Latvian First Party) that the level of academic success of minority students has dropped,

In the response to the statements of the former education minister Juris Radzevics (Latvian First Party) that the level of academic success of minority students has dropped, Latvijas Avize inquires the Head of the Curriculum and Examination Centre Maris Krastins about the level of academic success of students of minority secondary schools. Maris Krastins states that according to data at the disposal of the Centre the level of academic success has neither worsened nor got better. He notes that more accurate conclusions can be drawn regarding the level of academic success in specific subjects but not regarding the whole process. While politicians argue that the Radzevics statements are ‘flirting with the Russian electorate, because they [Latvian First Party] expect their support at the forthcoming municipal elections.

Latvijas Avize talks to several teachers from Russian schools about the minority education reform. Teachers state that many of students involved in the protest actions are not aware of actual goals of the reform, and a number of them protest not against the reform, but independent Latvia in general. Teachers agree that the Russian-language media plays an important role in providing a one-sided reflection of the education reform.