The EF English Proficiency Index released its 2020 results November 20, ranking Latvia on the lower border of the ‘high proficiency’ category in 29th place.
Education
If the incidence of Covid-19 continues to increase in Latvia, the government may also decide on the transition of grades 5 and 6 to remote learning, said Minister for Education and Science Ilga Šuplinska, Rus.lsm.lv reported November 19.
The government might decide on remote learning for younger children on Tuesday. Some parents hope that this decision will not be made, Latvian Radio reported November 17.
For the first time, Latvia's best scientists will receive funding for individual research projects, the Education and Science Ministry (IZM) said November 12.
Remote learning process is still not available to many disadvantaged families, Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS) said November 12.
The Latvian central bank (Latvijas Banka, LB) has announced its annual Competition of Student Scientific Research Papers to promote research and analysis of Latvia's and euro area's macroeconomic issues among talented young economists.
During the pandemic, pupils and parents' interest in distance education secondary schools is increasing, Latvian Radio reported November 6.
Unable to cope with the increased workload caused by changes of management of education institutions due to COVID-19, more teachers than ever have resigned since September, Latvian Television reported November 3.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, there is a possibility of having to extend the school year, the head of the State Service for Education Quality, Inita Juhņēviča, said in an interview to Latvian Radio November 2.
The Constitutional Court has found unconstitutional the provision of the Law on Higher Education which provides for an annual increase in funding for higher education and science by 0.25% of gross domestic product (GDP), Latvian Radio reported October 29.
The Latvian Association of Local Government (LPS) said October 27 that most Latvian pupils do not have access to a computer or sufficient Internet connection, or both.
If COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in educational establishments it will be necessary for all pupils to learn remotely, Health Minister Ilze Viņķele told Latvian Television October 26.
Some students haven't received the government-promised increased stipends, Latvian Radio reported October 19.
New amendments to the Law on Higher Schools may possibly exclude Latvian colleges from this category. College students and alumni are not satisfied with this potential future, Latvian Radio reported October 12.
In the week after the autumn holiday, studies will be remote for all grade 7-12 pupils in Latvia, Education Minister Ilga Šuplinska told Latvian Television October 13.
Education Minister Ilga Šuplinska told Latvian Radio September 28 that with the COVID-19 situation deteriorating, schools might have to shift towards more remote learning.
Development of University of Latvia's (LU) Academic Center campus is important in an international context, said Indriķis Muižnieks, LU rector, to Latvian Radio September 24.
Tens of pupils and teachers in several of Latvia's schools are currently working remotely after contact with COVID-19 has been confirmed, said Latvian Radio September 23.
In some Latvian universities, the number of foreign students has decreased, whereas at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) it has increased, Latvian Radio reported September 22.
The rector of the University of Latvia (LU), Professor Indriķis Muižnieks, has signed an agreement with the full company “RERE BMV” on the design and construction of the LU House of Letters, LU said September 22.
Latvian Television reported September 21 that Latvian high school pupils' team of five have all come on top at the International Economics Olympiad.
Many schools lack mathematics teachers. At Rīga Secondary School No.40, not a single math lesson has taken place for the sixth-graders this year, Latvian Television reported September 17.
Latvian Education and Science Workers Union (LIZDA) head Inga Vanaga told Latvian Television September 15 that the Union thinks schools should decide on their own whether to ask pupils' families to sign claims whether they have been abroad.
Data compiled by the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) show that the total number of foreign students in Latvia's higher education institutions this year has fallen. Many are yet to arrive; those who are here, self-isolate in dormitories or rented apartments, Latvian Radio reported September 9.
On September 1, another school year has begun in Latvia - with flowers and best clothes as usual but uncertainty lingering in the air. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools, parents, teachers and children are unsure how learning process will go and for how long.
Several hundred teachers are lacking in Latvian schools, said the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) August 27 to Latvian Radio.
The first consortium of universities in Latvia is working on a new concept. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Liepāja University and Daugavpils University will join in. The main objective is to use resources more effectively, Latvian Radio reported August 26.
The majority of Riga schools will resume on-site learning, but at least one day per week the oldest classes will be provided with remote learning, according to data from the Riga City Council's survey of educational institutions, Latvian Radio said August 24.
Education platform Edurio has conducted a survey on the availability of technology for learning process for pupils in Latvia; the study found only a third of pupils had sufficient technological equipment, head of Edurio Gatis Narvaišs said August 20.
This year, safety measures to limit COVID-19 will present additional difficulties for pupils and educators. The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) has developed recommendations on how to organize teaching, but the best model will be chosen by each school itself, Latvian Radio said August 19.