Minority issues in Latvia, No. 67


May 3, 2003

       
Content

- "Education reform 2004" – the problem getting hot

- Non-citizens in the EU: Minister Muiznieks discovers "secret of Polichinelle"

- Latvian language courses: free of charge for naturalisation applicants



"Education reform 2004" – the problem getting hot

We reported repeatedly about various activities concerning the "education reform 2004". This issue 
becomes more and more topical now. Coalition of several pro-minority NGOs lead by the NGO LASHOR 
(Association for Support of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia) has started collecting signatures 
of those who protest against switch to Latvian as the sole language of instruction in state-supported 
secondary schools. Besides, the coalition is going to hold a mass rally against the reform on May 
23, a day before the Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in Riga this year. Moreover, it 
declared readiness for other actions of non-violent civil disobedience, as pro-minority political forces 
cannot achieve abolition of the "reform" by amending the education legislation: all the proposed 
amendments have been rejected.

According to the Education Law, starting from 1 September 2004 all state-supported secondary 
education must be in the state language only (para. 9, sub-para. 3 of the Transitional Provisions), 
while existing primary minority schools have to be transformed into bilingual schools. The 
Education Law permits, but does not guarantee, education in minority languages in state and 
municipal primary education establishments where "minority education programmes" are being 
implemented (Section 9 para. 2 of the Education Law). The latter programmes are stipulated but 
not defined in the law. The Ministry of Education and Science is authorised to determine the 
subjects within minority education programmes to be taught in the state language (Section 9 
para. 2 and Section 41 para. 3 of the Education Law). Another piece of legislation - the General
Education Law - allows for general secondary education programmes to be combined with "minority 
education programmes, including teaching minority languages and subjects related to the identity 
of the minority and the integration of the society of Latvia" (Section 42 para. 2). However, this 
provision says nothing about the language in which these subjects can be taught, and in no 
way can be interpreted as permitting to teach general subjects like physics, maths, etc in 
minority languages. 

Former Minister for Education and Science Karlis Greiskalns pointed out in his letter to the 
pro-minority parliamentary faction "For Human Rights in United Latvia" that the collision between 
the Education Law and General Education Law exists. He mentioned that the Education Law
contains more general norms, but the General Education Law contains less general norms. According 
to the collision norm ("one may apply a more general norm only in cases not covered by an 
incompatible less general norm") the General Education Law is to be applied in the case. 
However, the Minister did not intend to solve the collision by submitting amendments to the 
Education Law, as the collision norm could be used (see Minority issues in Latvia, No. 56).

New Minister for Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis promises that even after the reform is 
completed, it will be possible to provide instruction in minority languages within up to 40% of 
the total instruction time; each school will determine its own proportion of time within this 
framework. Corresponding amendments to the regulations on standards of general education could 
be adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on May 6. In the meantime, the government is not going 
to amend the education laws. Minister for Special Task in the Field of Integration Affairs Nils 
Muiznieks believes that the main task of the Cabinet is to inform the society that the result of 
the reform will not be teaching in Latvian only. Leader of LASHOR Igor Pimenov is sure that
not less than 70% of curricula should be taught in minority languages in minority secondary 
schools ("Diena" ("The Day"), April 30).

In spring 2003, a number of meetings of parents of minority schoolchildren were held (Riga 
secondary school No.34, Anninmuizhas school, Bishumuizas school, secondary school No.40, etc.).
Overwhelming majority of parents strongly protest against the "reform", as, in their view, 
it will drasticaly worsen the quality of education and, hence, the competitiveness of their 
children. In some cases, the parents invited to the meetings representatives of LASHOR, other
pro-minority NGOs, pro-minority political parties in order to get more information about the 
reform. The authorities perceive such activities very painfully. In particular, the Committee 
on Education, Youth and Sports of the Riga City Council addressed the minority schools'
principals demanding "not to allow political agitation and incitement of pupils' parents to 
ignoring Latvian laws". Therefore parents of some schools' pupils are forced to hold meetings 
outside of schools' premises, but principals are held personally liable for the criticism ("Vesti 
Segodnya", April 12,).

Nationalistic ruling party "For Fatherland and Freedom"/LNNK has asked the General Prosecutor's 
Office to evaluate activities of Dr. Paed. Jakov Pliner, MP from the pro-minority People's 
Harmony Party. Mr Pliner stated that secondary education in Latvia should not be in Latvian 
only during the meeting of parents in the Riga secondary school No. 34 (see Minority issues in 
Latvia, No. 66). Similar request of vice-speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) Eriks Jekabsons (the 
First Latvian Party) is addressed to the Parliament in respect of Nikolai Kabanov, MP from the 
pro-minority coalition "For Human Rights in United Latvia", who wrote in his media comment 
that the problem "should be brought into the city blocks" ("Vechernyaya Riga" ("The Evening 
Riga"), April 29). 

The party "For Fatherland and Freedom"/LNNK decided also to submit amendments to the Criminal 
Law, which will envisage criminal punishment for public criticism of Latvian laws ("Telegraf" 
("The Telegraph"), April 30). 

Our commentary

In our view, the issue of secondary education in minority languages is crucial for the integration 
of the Latvian society now. The decision to start the transition adopted in 1998 was purely 
political. Now it is rather popular among ethnic Latvians, as they believe that such transition 
will strengthen role of the Latvian language. In the meantime, the bulk of ethnic Latvians are 
not aware of the content of the "reform". Therefore, the ruling coalition is not ready to amend 
the laws, as it could be perceived as "concession" by nationalistically minded voters. In the 
meantime, without amendments to the education laws even doubtful proportion "40%-60%" 
cannot be introduced. The main problem in this situation remains the persistent and even articulate 
refusal by authorities to engage in a dialogue with pro-minority NGOs and political parties. 
Instead, they try to restrict criticism of the quot;reform" by minority schoolchildren parents, 
and most radical government's parties even try to introduce criminal punishment de facto for 
dissenting views and advocating minority rights.

In our view, a series of measures should be taken by the government in order to solve the problem:


We believe that this open discussion is indispensable to ease rapidly growing tensions, which 
will inevitably aggravate after the beginning of envisaged mass rallies in late May. 



Non-citizens in the EU: Minister Muiznieks discovers "secret of Polichinelle"

"We have summed up all available information and drawn a conclusion, that everything is clear: 
non-citizens will not have the rights, that citizens of EU will have", Minister for Special Task 
in the Field of Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks told at the end of the second (and last) 
meeting of representatives of different ministries on the question of Latvia's non-citizens' 
rights in the European Union. Non-citizens will have the status of third countries' nationals, 
which means that existing rules for entry to the EU countries will remain in force for them: 
visas (of all kinds), limited residence permits with no right to employment, as well as no 
freedom of movement in the EU until Latvia enters the Schengen zone. Mr Muiznieks noted that 
the final report of the working group will be available in a month ("Telegraf" ("The Telegraph"), 
April 15). 



Latvian language courses: free of charge for naturalisation applicants

The Naturalisation Board organises Latvian language courses free of charge for naturalisation 
applicants. LVL 50,000 (approx. EUR 78,700) are received by the Board from the state budget 
for the courses this year. Courses are organised in Latvia's seven biggest cities. Two flows
are created: first, from May till June, and, second, from September till December. Selection 
will take place in regional units of the Board, where applicant's language skills will be checked 
free of charge ("Telegraf" ("The Telegraph"), April 15).




Compiled by:

Alexei Dimitrov
Tatyana Bogushevitch
Yuri Dubrovsky


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