The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) has developed principles for the launch of a new school year, which provides for the organization of onsite learning even if Covid-19 morbidity in the country is high.
Education
A group of sceptics and opponents of Covid-19 restrictions has decided to set up their own school where students wouldn't have to worry about restrictions or mandatory vaccination against Covid-19, as the school would employ distance learning, Latvian Radio reported July 23.
In the next school year, when it is planned to require mandatory Covid-19 safety certificates for educators, about 1,000 teachers could leave the education system, Minister of Education Anita Muižniece (New Conservative Party) said in an interview with TV3 July 22, the LETA newswire reported.
Schools in Latvia are still unsure whether work will take place onsite or online when they return to work in September. Meanwhile, the Latvian Association of Education Leaders (LIVAO) will try to convince Saeima to postpone the requirement for mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 for teachers, the association's chair Rūdolfs Kalvāns told Latvian Radio July 23.
A month and a half is left until the new school year, and most schools in Latvia are unaware of what is going to happen and how to prepare for the learning process, Latvian Television reported July 17.
The Education, Culture and Sport Committee and the Finance Committee of the Riga City Council have supported the granting of EUR 1,725,000 to motivate employees of educational institutions to vaccinate against Covid-19, LETA reported July 16.
The electronic application for undergraduate studies at Latvian universities has finished. This year, more than 16,000 applications have been received by 13 higher education establishments. Latvian Radio surveyed the demand for studies in general and for specific study programs.
Unmanned aircraft, or drones, are already used in many areas, but it appears that they may also be assistants in potato cultivation, as researchers from Vidzeme university claim. Initial studies are being carried out, Latvian Radio reported July 12.
A series of short films is being published online providing an introduction to the Livonian language, indigenous to a few remaining parts of Latvia and considered one of the most endangered languages in the world.
Rīga City Council could pay money awards to Rīga schools where at least 80% of teachers are vaccinated against Covid-19, Rīga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis said in an interview to Latvian Radio July 8.
Starting from September, the minimum monthly wage for teachers in general education schools will be raised to EUR 830, and for preschool teachers - to EUR 872, the LETA newswire reported July 6.
The lack of teachers has long been a concern, but this year there is a significantly higher number of teacher vacancies, Latvian Radio reported July 6.
The renowned scientific journal New Scientist has reported on new research that identifies the earliest known plague victim as a Latvian resident.
The Latvian central bank (Latvijas banka) on June 22 announced the winners of its annual student scientific research papers competition.
More and more children with special needs in Latvia go to general education schools. 67% of municipal schools are implementing inclusive education, but there are still many schools who refuse to enroll these children for various reasons, Latvian Radio reported June 14.
It will be very difficult to ensure onsite learning if teachers do not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19, said Anita Muižniece, new Minister for Education and Science (New Conservative Party) to Latvian Television June 10.
Three Latvian universities - Rīga Technical University, Rīga Stradiņš University and the University of Latvia - have made it into the QS World University Rankings 2022 list published June 9 but their results compared to previous years are not splendid.
On Tuesday, June 8, the Latvian Saeima approved the amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions in the third reading in order to implement a management reform.
May 31 is the final school day for years 1 to 11. Some pupils will receive their grade reports remotely this year, some onsite. The unusual school year brought challenges and benefits, Latvian Radio reported.
On Thursday, May 27, the Saeima ratified the agreement between the Latvian and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) regarding the granting of the status of CERN associated Member State to Latvia, the Saeima press service said.
On the final day of the academic year, May 31, pupils in 36 municipalities can go to school on-site, according to information published by Disease Prevention and Control Center May 27.
Thousands of pupils could face a prolonged school year, repetition of the year or expulsion from school, as the grades in remote learning are slipping, Latvian Television reported May 23.
Starting next week, 33 municipalities may open schools for pupils in grades 1-6 and 12, according to Disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC) information published May 19.
Lithuania and Latvia have the highest proportion of women in science and technology in the European Union, with Estonia not far behind, according to new data from Eurostat.
Different classes, including fitness, will be allowed to be held outside with participation of up to 20 people, the government decided Tuesday, May 18.
Tālis Juhna, Vice-Rector of Riga Technical University has been appointed to the United Nations high-level group supporting the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, according to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
A number of public officials signed a “Computer for Every Child” cooperation memorandum, which aims to provide an adequate computer for learning process to every pupil and teacher by 2025, the President's Chancellery said May 14.
The State Police, along with the State Education Content Center (VISC), on Tuesday, May 11, inspected four schools on the first day of the centralized examination without identifying signs of leakage of the exam content, police said May 12.
Starting next week, 31 municipalities may open schools for pupils in grades 1-6 and 12, according to Disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC) May 12.
On 4–5 May 2021, the United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation Forum convened in a virtual session co-chaired by the Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovičs, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohammad Koba, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release.