Organisation of the education system in Latvia 2009/2010 LV European Commission EURYBASE LATVIA 1. Political, Social and Economic Background and Trends ................................................ 7 1.1. Historical Overview.......................................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies .............................................................................................. 9 1.2.1. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies. Saeima ........................................................................ 9 1.2.2. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies. Cabinet of Ministers ................................................... 10 1.2.3. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies. President ................................................................... 10 1.2.4. Main Executive and Legislative Bodies. Court System ............................................................. 11 1.3. Religions ....................................................................................................................................... 12 1.4. Official and Minority Languages ..................................................................................................... 12 1.5. Demographic Situation.................................................................................................................. 13 1.5.1. Demographic Situation. Urbanization.................................................................................... 14 1.5.2. Demographic Situation. Migration ........................................................................................ 14 1.5.3. Demographic Situation. National composition of population ................................................. 14 1.5.4. Demographic Situation. Life expectancy................................................................................ 15 1.6. Economic Situation........................................................................................................................ 15 1.6.1. Economic Situation. Economic development ......................................................................... 16 1.6.2. Economic Situation. Employment and Unemployment .......................................................... 17 1.7. Statistics........................................................................................................................................ 18 1.7.1. Population ........................................................................................................................... 18 1.7.2. Economic activity of the population ...................................................................................... 19 1.7.3. Religion................................................................................................................................ 21 2. General Organisation of the Education System and Administration of Education......... 23 2.1. Historical Overview........................................................................................................................ 23 2.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments .................................................................................. 23 2.3. Fundamental Principles and Basic Legislation ................................................................................. 25 2.4. General Structure and Defining Moments in Educational Guidance.................................................. 27 2.5. Compulsory Education................................................................................................................... 28 2.6. General Administration.................................................................................................................. 29 2.6.1. General Administration at National Level............................................................................... 29 2.6.2. General Administration at Regional Level .............................................................................. 32 2.6.3. General Administration at Local Level.................................................................................... 32 2.6.4. Educational Institutions, Administration, Management .......................................................... 33 2.7. Internal and External Consultation.................................................................................................. 34 2.7.1. Internal Consultation ............................................................................................................ 34 2.7.2. Consultation involving Players in Society at large................................................................... 35 2.8. Methods of Financing Education .................................................................................................... 36 2.8.1. Methods of Financing Education. Pre-school Education ......................................................... 37 2.8.2. Methods of Financing Education. Basic and Secondary Education........................................... 37 2.8.3. Methods of Financing Education. Vocational Education ......................................................... 37 2.8.4. Methods of Financing Education. Higher Education ............................................................... 37 2.9. Statistics........................................................................................................................................ 38 2.9.1. Pre-school education............................................................................................................ 38 2.9.2. General education – basic, secondary and special education .................................................. 39 2.9.3. Vocational education............................................................................................................ 40 2.9.4. Higher education.................................................................................................................. 40 3. Pre-primary Education............................................................................................. 41 1 EURYBASE LATVIA 3.1. Historical Overview........................................................................................................................ 41 3.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments .................................................................................. 42 3.3. Specific Legislative Framework....................................................................................................... 43 3.4. General Objectives......................................................................................................................... 43 3.5. Geographical Accessibility.............................................................................................................. 43 3.6. Admission Requirements and Choice of Institution/Centre .............................................................. 44 3.7. Financial Support for Pupils’ Families.............................................................................................. 44 3.8. Age Levels and Grouping of Children.............................................................................................. 45 3.9. Organization of Time ..................................................................................................................... 45 3.9.1. Organization of the Year ....................................................................................................... 45 3.9.2. Weekly and Daily Timetable .................................................................................................. 45 3.10. Curriculum, Types of Activity, Number of Hours............................................................................. 45 3.11. Teaching Methods and Materials .................................................................................................. 46 3.12. Evaluation of Children.................................................................................................................. 46 3.13. Support Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 46 3.14. Private Sector Provision................................................................................................................ 47 3.15. Organizational Variations and Alternative Structures..................................................................... 47 3.16. Statistics...................................................................................................................................... 47 4. Single Structure Education....................................................................................... 49 4.1. Historical Overview........................................................................................................................ 49 4.2. Ongoing Debates and Future Developments .................................................................................. 50 4.3. Specific Legislative Framework....................................................................................................... 51 4.4. General Objectives......................................................................................................................... 52 4.5. Geographical Accessibility.............................................................................................................. 52 4.6. Admission Requirements