Education and Science
Education and Science
Education and Science
The competence of Latvian fifteen-year-olds in mathematics and natural sciences is higher than the average level of OECD countries, but in reading – close to the average level, according to the first results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, released on Tuesday, December 5.
In 2022, the EU spent €352 billion on research & development (R&D), 6.34% more than in the previous year (€331 billion) and 48.52% more than in 2012 (€237 billion)., according to Eurostat figures published December 1.
How to better integrate Ukrainian children into society – this issue is raised by the organization “I want to help refugees” (Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem). Latvia is encouraged to choose a model practiced in neighboring countries, which provides for the mandatory inclusion of Ukrainian children in local educational institutions, Latvian Radio reported November 30.
In an audit of adult education opportunities in Latvia conducted by State Audit Office (VK), it has been found that state aid is prevalent for well-educated people, as well as functions of institutions responsible for education overlap, the VK said in a statement on November 22.
Landfill leachates, which contain enormous microorganism diversity, promote the decomposition of plastic, according to the results of a study by researchers at the University of Latvia, reports the Labs of Latvia portal.
The Council of the University of Latvia (LU) has supported the LU rector's offer to create a model of five faculties (schools or departments) instead of the current 13, the Chairman of the LU Council Ivars Kalviņš confirmed November 17.
The World Economic Forum, in partnership with Swedbank, Accenture, and the Ministries of Education and Science, and Economics, is announcing the launch of a Latvian Education Accelerator, planned at the end of November 2023.
In collaboration with the French Embassy, the French Institute in Latvia and Riga TechGirls, Riga Technical University is inviting interested persons to participate in a dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Team Latvia-Riga picked up a gold medal at the Grand Jamboree, the final event of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) – the world’s largest synthetic biology competition. It also received a nomination in the category for the best simple genetic component, reports Labs of Latvia.
Sorting out the school network is an issue where there is traditionally a lot of friction between the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) and the local governments – school founders. Now, to avoid causing anxiety, the Ministry has decided not to make the proposed school network change map public as usual, but it is known 60 schools could be affected by changes as early as next year, Latvian Television reported on November 14.
In September and October of this year, information was received from the State Language Centre (VVC) regarding 35 teachers with inadequate knowledge of the official – Latvian – language, the State Service of Education Quality (IKVD) said Monday, November 13.
Some teachers' salary for October is likely to be lower than promised, and problems are in calculations at both national, local government, and educational institutions level, Inga Vanaga, head of the Latvian Educationa and Science Workers' Association (LIZDA), said in an interview on the Latvian Television morning newscast November 13.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs announced on November 7 that he had signed and sent to the Saeima two legislative initiatives calling for amendments to the Education Law and one amendment to the Law On Holidays, Remembrance and Commemorative Days.
The Latvian Education and Science Workers' Union (LIZDA) will ask for funding in the next year's budget for the next stage of balancing teachers' loads, LIZDA Chairwoman Inga Vanaga told LETA November 3.
Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, RTU Engineering High School, Riga State Gymnasium No. 2, Riga State Gymnasium No. 3 and Riga Cathedral Choir School showed the highest performance in the centralized exams, according to the rating of the Draudzīgā Aicinājuma Foundation published November 2.
In Rēzekne, teachers' salaries might not have been calculated as provided for in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations, the Latvian Education and Science Workers' Union (LIZDA) has stated. The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) has also added to the concerns. Rezekne Head of Education does not agree with the allegations, Latvian Television reported November 1.
A new study about bullying and violence in schools commissioned by the State Chancellery concludes that more than 40% of pupils regularly experience bullying.
In order to address uncertainties in the issue of teachers' salaries, the Latvian Education and Science Workers' Union (LIZDA) met with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) October 19 but failed to reach an agreement, Latvian Radio reported.
The idea of teaching Estonian in Latvian schools is being considered in the Latvian-Estonian border area. Some parents and children in Valka's side would love to have that opportunity. The main problem is the lack of wages and teachers, Latvian Television reported October 19.
On October 18, 2023, Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation signed a 10-point Memorandum of Cooperation with Latvia's Ministry of Transportation to support Ukraine in the immediate restoration of broadband internet as well as support the country's development of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and its integration into EU and joint projects.
Four Latvian universities - Rīga Technical University, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology, and the University of Latvia - have made it into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 list but their results are not splendid.
The issue of teachers' salaries remains unclear, causing growing outrage among teachers - there is even a cut for some instead of the promised pay rise. Inga Vanaga, Chair of the Latvian Union of Education and Science Workers (LIZDA), said in an interview with Latvian Radio October 17 that salaries have not been calculated correctly possibly also due to staff changes at the Education Ministry.
While the issue of teacher salaries seemed to have been resolved this school year, disappointment set in for many teachers when payday came. For some, wages are even smaller than before. The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) says financial resources have been allocated to local governments, while in local governments say the funds are not enough, Latvian Television reported October 16.
During the night to Monday, several hundred schools and pre-schools, as well as learning centers throughout Latvia have received threat letters in their e-mails. The state police have evaluated them, and risks are considered low, according to the State Police's entry on social media Monday morning.
About 300 educational institutions across Latvia have received identical e-mails October 10 about possible security risks, the State Police (VP) said, noting that there is no reason to worry and the threat level is described as low.
Final data for 2021 indicates that the EU spent €331 billion on research & development (R&D), up 6.9% compared with the previous year (almost €310 billion), according to updated Eurostat figures.
On October 4 and 5, during European Cybersecurity Month, Rīga will host the tenth international cybersecurity conference CyberChess 2023, run by CERT.lv, Latvia's national cybersecurity agency.
The Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC) is collaborating with communications firm Tet, the Electronic Communications Office of Latvia and the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Latvia to begin work on the formation of a national quantum communications infrastructure system and network, reports Labs of Latvia.
It has been a month since classes in which lessons which were previously conducted both in Latvian and Russian now to learn only in the official language. First hurdles are also encountered, Kurzeme regional television reports October 2.
The lifelong education program “Learning for adults”, which was running for six years, has closed. In the future, it is likely to be replaced by an even wider curriculum and accessibility, LSM's Ieva Strazdiņa reports Tuesday, September 26.
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