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.

• Minister of Education Ina Druviete: further preservation of minority schools separately should be reassessed, starting with minority kindergartens
• Director of Russian language school: new language reform in ethnic minority schools is political provocation

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of the Minister of Education Ina Druviete and the Advisory Council on Ethnic Minority Education of the Ministry of Education. According to Mrs Druviete, increase of the proportion of education provided in Latvian language in ethnic minority schools is necessary in order to continue improving state language proficiency of students. Mrs Druviete asserted that the language proportion in ethnic minority schools might be 80% of subjects in Latvian language and 20% in Russian (subjects concerning native language and culture). The Minister rejected the worries of teachers that such system is aimed at assimilation of non-Latvian children and said that “we should help child to grow up as citizen.” School directors and representative of the Latvian Language Agency voiced their concerns that not all teachers in minority schools will be ready for such reform. Introduction of 60/40 proportion in 2004 was also met with fervent protests by the parents and students and the Minister believes that if the government conveys its message, there will be no unrest. Mrs Druviete also stated that further preservation of minority schools separately should be reassessed, starting with minority kindergartens.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with a director of Russian language secondary school in Riga Anna Vladova. The director believes that the idea to transfer almost all content of education in ethnic minority schools is a politicized process and it would harm the education quality. Mrs Vladova believes that the existing language proportion 60/40 is effective and it is enough for preservation of own culture, identity and language. Mrs Vladova believes that such idea is a very dangerous provocation before the upcoming parliamentary elections.