Article 3. Right to Education

Every citizen of Latvia and a person who is entitled to the alien's passport issued by the Republic of Latvia, a person who has received a permanent residence permit, as well as citizens of European Union countries who have received temporary residence permits as well as their children shall be equally entitled to acquire education irrespective of his/her social or financial status, race, ethnicity, sex, membership in religious and political organisations, status of health, occupation and the place of residence.

Article 9. Language of acquiring of education

(1) At state and municipal education institutions education shall be acquired in the state language.

(2) Education may be acquired in another language:

(3) Every person to be educated, in order to acquire primary or secondary education, shall master the state language and take examinations of the state language to the extent and in accordance with a procedure set by the Ministry of Education and Science.

(4) Examinations for professional qualification shall be taken in the state language.

(5)Papers necessary for qualifying for an academic degree (Bachelor's or Master's degree) and a scientific degree (Ph.D.) shall be written and presented in the state language, except for cases provided for by other laws.

(6) Raising of professional qualification and changing of a profession which is financed from the state or a municipal budget, shall be in the state language.

Article 10. Education and Religion

(1) The educational system provides freedom of conscience. Pupils may choose to acquire religious studies and/or ethics.

(2) Relations between education establishments and religious organisations are regulated by the Law on Religious Organisations.

Article 38. Types of Education Programs

(1) Types of education programs are as follows: general, vocational and academic, further education and interest education programs.

(2) Special types of education programs are:

Article 41. Programs of Education for National Minorities

(1) Education institutions shall prepare education programs for national minorities in accordance with state standards of education, using as a basis general education models which have been approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.

(2) Minority education programs shall include in addition the necessary content [required ] for acquiring the appropriate ethnic culture and integration of the minority in Latvia [into Latvian society].

(3) The Ministry of Education and Science shall determine the subjects for study in minority education programs which are to be studied in the state language.

Article 48. Right to work as a pedagogue

(1) A person who has pedagogical education or is acquiring pedagogical education, corresponding with qualification requirements set by the Ministry of Education and Science, has right to work as a pedagogue.

(2) For starting a private practice in pedagogy, a person shall receive a certificate from the Ministry of Education and Science.

(3) All pedagogues working at education institutions or practising privately shall be registered in the Register of Pedagogues.

Article 50. Restrictions on Working as a Pedagogue

A person:
1) who has been convicted for an intentional crime and has not been rehabilitated;
2) whose capability to act is limited by normative acts;
3) at state or municipal educational institutions - who does not possess a certificate about the command of the state language on the highest level, except for the academic staff of higher educational institutions and citizens of other states or stateless persons who participate in implementation of education programs on grounds of an international agreement, as well as pedagogues working at an education institution or a branch founded by a foreign country,
4) who by court decree has been deprived parental rights,

shall not be permitted to work as a pedagogue.

Article 56. Right of Orphans and Children left without parental care in sphere of education.

(1) A child-orphan or a child left without parental care shall be entitled to education at any education institution established by the state or a municipality.

2) A child-orphan and a child left without parental care shall receive education in the state language.

Article 59. Financial Sources of Education System

(2) Private education institutions are financed by their founders. The State and municipalities may participate in financing of private education institutions if these institutions implement state accredited education programs in the state language.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

9. Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2 subparagraph 2 of Article 9 of this Law comes into force gradually:

13. Amendments to Section 59, Paragraph two of this Law regarding the financing of private educational institutions (that implement accredited basic education and general secondary educational programmes in the official language) in compliance with the minimum costs for implementation of the educational programmes per one educatee, specified by the Cabinet, shall come into force on 1 September 2001.
[Amendment of 11 May 2000]

The President of State G.Ulmanis
Riga, 17 November 1998

Source: Unofficial translation