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.

• MPs discussed results of a research “State Language Proficiency Testing in Latvia (2001-2012)”
• All groups of free-of-charge Latvian language courses in Riga filled in three days

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday, the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee discussed results of a research “State Language Proficiency Testing in Latvia (2001-2012).” According to the statistics, 90,883 persons got tested for Latvian language proficiency from 2001 to 2012, and 9,625 persons in 2013. The biggest number of persons who received state language proficiency certificates was in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, more than 10,000 people got tested. Such record is connected with the economic crisis when many people lost their job and needed language proficiency certificate in order to find a new job. The MPs noted that many ethnic non-Latvians have the certificate yet cannot speak Latvian and discussed whether such people should be retested. The representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis said that the main problem regarding language issues in Latvia is self-sufficiency of Russian language. Mr Kursitis said that the way how to solve the existing situation is transfer all state funded education into Latvian language only.

All groups of free-of-charge Latvian language courses funded by the Riga City Council got filled in three days. As reported, the City Council granted funding for Latvian language courses for 1,200 Riga residents. Latvijas Avize