This year, the transition to a unified school was completed, and those students who previously studied programs for national minorities now learn only in Latvian, writes Diena.
Although an increasing number of children for whom Latvian is not a native language use it outside of the educational process, about one-fifth speak Latvian only at school, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). The ministry notes that the full results of the transition will be visible in the 2030/2031 academic year, when the 9th grade will be completed by children who have been learning in Latvian since the 1st grade.
The survey, conducted by the MES in collaboration with the company "Edurio," involved 24 municipalities, 100 schools, and 163 preschool institutions, 3007 students from 7th and 9th grades (for 84% the native language is Russian), 1407 teachers and school leaders, and 1335 teachers and leaders of preschool institutions, as well as 2701 parents of schoolchildren and 1844 parents of preschoolers. Almost all respondents positively assessed the transition to a unified school.
When evaluating various factors affecting the quality of this process, the role of the school leader, the professionalism of teachers, the ability to adapt teaching, the availability of support, cooperation with parents, and accessible funding for educational institutions were most frequently mentioned. When asked about the usefulness of the knowledge gained in school regarding the Latvian language, 88% of students responded that it helps them in life outside of school, for example, in stores, cinemas, cafes, or other public places.
Students are increasingly using information in Latvian on the internet (31%), communicating in Latvian in sports schools and during training (30%), and in conversations with friends (20%). At the same time, 21% of respondents admitted that they use the Latvian language only at school. Proficiency in the language largely depends on how many years the child has been learning it.
Self-assessment of language knowledge among 9th and 7th grade students varies: 77% of ninth graders, who have been learning in Latvian for three years, mostly or fully understand what is being said in class, while among seventh graders, who are learning in Latvian for the first year, this figure is 71%. Accordingly, 21% and 27% of students only partially or with difficulty grasp the educational material, while 2% do not understand anything at all.
Communication within the educational process when working in pairs or groups does not always occur in Latvian: 41% of students primarily communicate in Russian, 16% in Latvian, and the rest use both Latvian and Russian. With teachers and school staff during breaks, 47% of students speak Latvian, 8% communicate in Russian, and the rest use both languages.
