Most young people are confident that they will be able to independently solve everyday issues after reaching adulthood. However, the students themselves admit that the educational program still lacks practical knowledge about how adult life is structured.
From the age of 14, teenagers in Latvia can independently approach medical institutions, and after reaching adulthood, even more responsibilities fall on them — from communicating with banks to entering into various contracts.
Latvian Radio investigated how prepared young people are for these tasks. Students from the Riga 3rd State Gymnasium generally believe that they can handle such issues on their own.
According to 18-year-old Rihards Balinš, the modern generation is used to quickly searching for the necessary information and is not afraid to face new challenges. He believes that even if young people do not know something, they can quickly figure it out thanks to the internet, consultations with specialists, and other available sources of information.
At the same time, students note that some life skills could become part of the educational program. Student Ronja Ozola believes that many teenagers would benefit from special classes dedicated to everyday issues — for example, visiting a doctor, interacting with banks, or filling out various documents. In her opinion, such knowledge is especially important for children who do not always receive the necessary explanations at home.
The student also notes that independence should be developed gradually, starting in adolescence. This way, the transition to adult life after 18 years will not come as a surprise or a stress.
What is important to know: today, some practical topics are already covered in individual lessons. For example, biology classes inform students about various medical specialties and explain when to consult a particular doctor. However, the students themselves admit that there are few such topics in the curriculum.
At the same time, they positively assess the readiness of teachers to assist in solving specific questions and provide additional explanations when necessary.
The discussion about how much school should prepare children for the domestic and financial aspects of adult life has been ongoing in Latvia for several years. In recent years, there have been increasing calls to pay more attention to financial literacy, legal fundamentals, interaction with government institutions, and other practical skills.
While young people generally demonstrate confidence in their abilities, they also acknowledge that a few additional lessons about real life after school would not be superfluous.
