Is it better to learn your native language at home?

Ironically, the Constitutional Court began to consider the complaint about the reform of educational institutions of national minorities at the moment when the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minority Issues arrived in Latvia.

There is no doubt that our authorities will reassure the commissioner – they say that the situation with ensuring the rights of national minorities is not just excellent, but amazing. The Commissioner should be especially surprised by the fact that in order to even more fully realize the rights of national minorities, the state decided to eliminate education in the languages ​​of national minorities. There are national minorities, but there is no language – isn’t this an original move?

Let us remind you that the next language reform will end with the elimination of teaching in languages ​​of national minorities in basic schools from September 1, 2026, and in kindergartens the languages ​​of national minorities have become non grata from September 1, 2023. The same democratic decision also applies to private schools and kindergartens. And the Constitutional Court is now holding hearings specifically on private educational institutions.

The lawsuit was filed by one Latvian family, whose daughter studied in a private school and proceeded from the fact that the language education reform that happened in 2019 would be the last, and it was according to this reform that the student would continue to receive education in a private school – according to the education program for national minorities . This program provides that 50 percent of the educational material is mastered in the native (Russian) language and another 50 percent in the state language. And in secondary school the proportion is already 80 percent in Latvian and 20 percent in Russian. However, the amendments adopted in 2022 do not provide for education in the languages ​​of national minorities in private educational institutions. According to the plaintiffs, this is a violation of the Constitution and international conventions, and in particular the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

On the first day of the hearings (they will continue on April 5), the representative of the Seimas, apparently understanding the awkwardness of the situation, put the main emphasis on the fact that national minorities are still given the opportunity to master their language and culture within the framework of hobby education – that is, in their free time from lessons (school ) programs time. At the same time, the state is ready to pay for such classes up to three lessons per week.

However, it is not clear exactly when children belonging to national minorities should attend these lessons? Especially considering that in almost all schools classes start at 8.20–8.30 and end at 14–16.00. But you still need to do your homework, many people go in for sports…

It is unlikely that electives (education based on interests) will be held late in the evening, at night or on weekends. Essentially, the authors of such a “reform” want to completely eliminate the languages ​​of national minorities from the educational process.

Strict restrictions on private kindergartens and schools also raised many questions among the judges of the Constitutional Court. The chairman of the court, Aldis Lavins, even asked the representative of the Seimas to comment on the conclusion of the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe on the implementation of the Framework Convention that “the adopted amendments grossly violate the provisions of the Framework Convention.” Yes, according to the convention, persons belonging to national minorities can establish educational institutions (meaning, at their own expense or at the expense of sponsors).

As one of the judges noted, what is the point of establishing such educational institutions in Latvia, if teaching (at least one subject) in the languages ​​of national minorities is still prohibited?

The “reform” affected even the smallest children. After all, it actually prohibits communication between educators (teachers) and children under 5 years of age in private kindergartens of national minorities in their native language. An exception in private educational institutions is made only for teaching in the official languages ​​of the EU.

That is, in Latvia you can study for money in Bulgarian, Hungarian, Portuguese and other “common” languages ​​in our country, but, for example, in Russian, which is native to 37 percent of the population, it will no longer be possible to study, even partially.

What do politicians ultimately want to achieve? Assimilation? However, this is a secondary issue – now it is important to find out how the Constitutional Court evaluates all this. Is such a disregard for fundamental human rights really consistent with the Constitution?

And what about Latvia’s international obligations? Apparently, we will receive answers to this question in early May, when the verdict of the Constitutional Court is expected.