Zverev K. A.

Russian Education in Independent Latvia:  Reforms of the 1990s–2010s P. 80-

UDC 37(=161.1)(474.3)«1990/2010»

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2021.70.1.009

Abstract. The article treats the development of Russian minority schools in independent Latvia from 1992 to 2020. It also focuses on education reforms promoted by the Latvian government. When

Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union, the country had the system of bilingual education which enabled people to acquire primary, secondary and tertiary education in both the Latvian and Russian languages. When in the 1990s nationalists rose to power and the Soviet occupation was denounced, Russian minority schools underwent some changes. First amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act were introduced in 1995. It was stipulated that Russian minority schools should teach some of the subjects in Latvian. More profound reforms were introduced in 2004. The new law stipulated that in secondary schools a minimum of 60 percent of teaching hours should be in Latvian. 2017 saw another wave of reforms. Senior schoolchildren were expected to get their education in Latvian, while middle-school students were expected to study only some of the subjects in Latvian. The Latvian authorities claim that the reforms, which will be completed in 2021, are expected to motivate ethnic minority groups to learn the state language. The present research is aimed at the examination of the reform of minority education. The article analyzes statistical data provided by public organizations and the Latvian Ministry of Education and some other sources in the Latvian language.

 

Keywords: Russian-speaking minority in Latvia, Russian education, educational reforms, minority schools.

References

 

  1. Buhvalov V. A., Pliner Ja. G. Problemy i perspektivy integracii uchashhihsja shkol nacional’nyh men’shinstv v latvijskoe obshhestvo [Problems and Prospects of National Minority Integration in Latvia]. Riga, Experiment Publ., 2000, 72 p. (In Russian).
  2. Buhvalov V. A., Pliner Ja. G. Reforma shkol nacmen’shinstv v Latvii: analiz, ocenka, perspektivy [Reforms of Minority Schools in Latvia: Analysis, Assessment, Prospects]. Riga, Tatyana Zhdanok’s Russian Education Foundation Publ., Education and Culture Council of the Latvian Russian Union Publ., 2008, 140 p. (In Russian).
  3. Gluhih-Poleshhuk A. Novaja shkol’naja reforma v Latvii. Mozhno li sohranit’ russkie shkoly? [New School Reforms in Latvia. Can we Protect Russian Schools?]. Mode of access : https://rus.delfi.ee/daily/abroad/novaya-shkolnaya-reforma-v-latvii-mozhno-li-sohranit-russkie-shkoly?id=79914026 (accessed 29.05.2020). (In Russian).
  4. Gaponenko A. (ed.). Diskriminacija russkih v stranah Baltii: prichiny, formy, vozmozhnosti preodolenija [Discrimination in Baltic Countries: Causes, Forms, Solutions]. Moscow, Riga, Moscow Bureau of Human Rights Publ., 2012, 238 p. (In Russian).
  5. O zajavlenii Gosudarstvennoj dumy Federal’nogo sobranija Rossijskoj Federacii “O nedopustimosti likvidacii shkol’nogo obrazovanija na jazykah nacional’nyh men’shinstv Latvii” : postanovlenie Gosudarstvennoj dumy ot 03.04.2018 No 3732–7 GD. [About the Statement of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation “On the Inadmissibility of Eliminating Minority Language Education in Latvia: Decree of the State Duma of 03.04.2018 no. 3732–7 GD]. Mode of access : https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/428978-7 (accessed 30.05.2020). (In Russian).
  6. Zverev K. A. Historical State Policy in Modern Latvia. Problemy nacional’noj strategii [National Strategy Issues]. 2020, no. 1 (58), pp. 163–177. (In Russian).
  7. Zverev K. A. The Politics in the Republic of Estonia: Russian Minority Schools (1992–2007). Jaroslavskij pedagogicheskij vestnik [Yaroslavl Pedagogical Bulletin]. 2014, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 112–115. (In Russian).
  8. Issledovanie: russkie shkol’niki hotjat uchit’sja po-latyshski [An Investigation: Russian Schoolchildren Want to Get their Education in Latvian]. Mode of access : https://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/latvia/issledovanie-russkie-shkolniki-hotyat-uchitsya-po-latyshski.d?id=36865757 (accessed 24.05.2020). (In Russian).
  9. Lejshkalne G. K. Russian Speakers in Latvia: Social Integration. Sociologicheskie issledovanija [Sociological Research]. 2005, no. 9 (257), pp. 86–90. (In Russian).
  10. Malashonok A. Nacional’naja shkola i nacional’nyj vopros [Minority Schools and National Identity]. Mode of access : https://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/versions/aleksandra-malashonok-nacionalnaya-shkola-i-nacionalnyj-vopros.d?id=37298343 (accessed 24.05.2020). (In Russian).
  11. Novejshie reformy. Integracija obshhestva v Latvii [Contemporary Reforms. Society Integration in Latvia]. Mode of access : https://www.mfa.gov.lv/ru/novosti/integraciya-obshestva-v-latvii/novejshie-reformy (accessed 30.05.2020). (In Russian).
  12. Ob obrashhenii Gosudarstvennoj dumy Federal’nogo sobranija Rossijskoj Federacii “K Sejmu Latvijskoj Respubliki” : postanovlenie ot 4 dekabrja 1998 goda No 3330–11 GD [About the Address of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia]. Mode of access : http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?doc_itself=&nd=102056813&page=1&rdk=0&link_id=1#I0 (accessed 23.05.2020). (In Russian).
  13. Obrazovanie nacional’nyh men’shinstv [Minority Education]. Mode of access : https:// www.mfa.gov.lv/ru/novosti/integraciya-obshestva-v-latvii/obrazovanie-nacionalnyh-menshinstv (accessed 30.05.2020). (In Russian).
  14. Opros: shkol’niki, roditeli i uchitelja protiv reformy obrazovanija [A Questionnaire: Schoolchildren, Parents and Teachers against Education Reforms]. Mode of access : https://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/latvia/opros-shkolniki-roditeli-i-uchitelya-protiv-reformy-obrazovaniya.d?id=8936513&all=true (accessed 22.05.2020). (In Russian).
  15. Perechen’ osnovnyh pretenzij i rekomendacij mezhdunarodnyh organizacij i NPO k Latvii po pravam nacional’nyh men’shinstv (spravochnaja informacija) [A List of Major Complaints and Recommendations Issued by International Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations Concerning Minority Rights in Latvia (references)]. Mode of access : https://www.mid.ru/foreign_policy/rso/-/asset_publisher/0vP3hQoCPRg5/content/id/492850 (accessed 23.05.2020). (In Russian).
  16. Pliner Ja. G. My ne Ivany, ne pomnjashhie rodstva [We Know our Roots and Respect our Heritage]. Mode of access : https://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/versions/yakov-pliner-my-ne-ivany-ne-pomnyaschie-rodstva.d?id=42115592 (accessed 24.05.2020). (In Russian).
  17. Poleshhuk V. V. (ed.). Problemy prav nacional’nyh men’shinstv Latvii i Jestonii [The Issues of Minority Rights in Latvia and Estonia]. Moscow, Russian Panorama Publ., 2009, 243 p. (In Russian).
  18. Programma osvoenija latyshskogo jazyka [Studying the Latvian Language: a Curriculum]. Mode of access : https://www.mfa.gov.lv/ru/novosti/integraciya-obshestva-v-latvii/programma-osvoeniya-latyshskogo-yazyka (accessed 22.05.2020). (In Russian).
  19. Zepa B. Šūpule I., Kļave E. (eds.). Ethnopolitical Tension in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution. Riga, Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Publ., 2005, 119 p. (In Latvian).
  20. Izglītības likums. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 1998, 17.11, no. 343/344. (In Latvian).
  21. Grozījumi Izglītības likumā. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 2004, 13.02, no. 24. (In Latvian).
  22. Grozījumi Izglītības likumā. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 2018, 02.04., no. 65. (In Latvian).
  23. Grozîjumi Latvijas Republikas Izglîtîbas likumā. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 1995, 17.08, no. 123. Grozījums Ministru kabineta 2000.gada 5. decembra noteikumos Nr. 463 “Noteikumi par valsts vispārējās vidējās izglītības standartu”. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 2003, 13.05, no. 74. (In Latvian).
  24. Latvijas Republikas Satversmes tiesa Spriedums vārdā 2005. gada 13. Maijā Nr. 2004-18-0106. Mode of access : http://www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2004-18-0106_Spriedums.pdf (accessed 23.05.2020). (In Latvian).
  25. Latvijas Republikas Satversmes tiesa Spriedums vārdā 2019. gada 23. Aprīlī lietā Nr. 2018-12-01. Mode of access : https://www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-12-01_pdf (accessed 29.05.2020). (In Latvian).
  26. Latvijas tauta Pēc 2000.gada tautskaites. Latvijas Vēstnesis. 2002, 30.04, no. 65. (In Latvian).
  27. gada tautas skaitīšanas Latvijā galvenie rezultāti. Mode of access : http://www.csb.
    gov.lv/sites/default/files/publikacijas/nr_13_2011gada_tautas_skaitisanas_rezultati_isuma_12_00_lv.pdf (accessed 30.05.2020). (In Latvian).
Uncategorized