those dissatisfied with the reform are not going to listen

Theory and practice

“Currently, Latvian schoolchildren study English as a first foreign language from the very beginning of education, and begin to study a second foreign language from the end of primary school. In theory, children can study French, German and other languages ​​as a second foreign language, but in practice most often Russian is taught because there are not enough teachers of other languages ​​in schools,” complains the Ministry of Education and Science (MES).

“Russian is taught as a second foreign language in almost half of Latvian schools. In some educational institutions, an alternative to the Russian language is not offered,” officials add.

Get out of class!

It would be possible to leave everything as it is, but the Latvian authorities are not looking for easy ways. The Ministry of Education intends to gradually squeeze out the Russian spirit from schools. According to the reform project proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science, from the 2026/2027 academic year, schools will have to gradually offer students one of the official languages ​​of the European Union (EU) or member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), or a foreign language, as a second foreign language at the basic education level. a language governed by intergovernmental agreements on education. Russian is not one of these languages.

The project provides for a gradual transition with an increase in the number of lessons per week in the fifth grade compared to the fourth. In the 2027/28 academic year, a second foreign language will be taught in the fifth and sixth grades, in the 2028/29 academic year in the 5th, 6th and 7th grades, in the 2029/30 academic year – in the 5th, 6th grades. -x, 7th and 8th grades, and in the 2030/31 academic year – at the entire level of basic education (grades 5–9).

For those pupils who start learning a second foreign language by 1 September 2025 that is not an official EU or EEA language or a language governed by intergovernmental agreements, schools will be required to provide it until the end of basic education. This will also apply to teaching Russian as a second foreign language.

Students who begin fourth grade on September 1, 2025 will not take a second foreign language in the 2025-26 school year.

Many are once morest

“During the public consultation, an unusually high number of objections were received from private individuals once morest the Ministry of Education’s plan,” reports LETA. Over the course of two weeks, more than 300 appeals were received from individuals and representatives of various associations, most of which were directed once morest the gradual abandonment of Russian as a second foreign language in primary schools.

The main reasons for disagreement boil down to the fact that children should not be limited in learning their native language and should decide for themselves which language to learn. Many also believe that abandoning the Russian language for political reasons is not a good idea.