Minority Education in Latvia: 2nd Conference of Parents (2001)
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Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:32:12 +0300 (EEST)
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Subject: Minority Education in Latvia: 2nd Conference of Parents (2001)
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Igor Pimenov <[email protected]>
Minority Education in Latvia: 2nd Conference of Parents
(2001)
Brief Abstract about 2nd Conference of Parents of Latvia "To Study in
Mother Tongue"
The Conference was organised by the non-government organisation LAShOR
(Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of
Instruction) and was held in Riga on 24 November, 2001 in the Riga
Hall of Congresses.
The objectives of the Conference were:
- to unite the parents of Latvia who want that the school instruction
in the Russian language is maintained and developed within the wide
framework of the integration of the society of Latvia;
- to display to the society of Latvia and international community that
there is a strong demand for the education in the Russian language in
the country;
- to offer an alternative reform of education for minorities in Latvia
that provides the domination of the native language of the minorities
in the education in line with the high level of mastering of the state
(Latvian) language as well as the effective integration of minority
children in the society and the reproduction of minority ethnic and
cultural identity.
The participants of the Conference adopted the Decision, which
comprises 11 resolutions and the Address to the Residents of Latvia.
1,204 people registered at the Conference, among them 926 from Riga
(the capital city), 92 from Yelgava, 52 from Daugavpils, 22 from
Rezekne, 22 from Ventspils, 22 from Valmiera, as well as from towns of
Aizkraukle, Bauska, Tsesis, Dobele, Yekabpils, Kraslava, Liepaya,
Livani, Ogre, Sigulda, Valka and from Riga district.
862 people registered as parents of schoolchildren (from 104 schools),
189 as schoolteachers and schoolmasters (from 70 schools), 102 as
school pupils (of 32 schools), 40 as students (of 11 higher schools).
Together with the guests of the Conference and those who have not
registered about 1300 people were participants of the Conference.
Please note:
According to the census, in March, 2000 the population of Latvia was
about 2,450,000 people. The Russian ethnic minority amounted to 29,6%
of the population, that is about 70% of all minority population. 36.1%
of the population were those who named the Russian language as their
native language.
The total number of schools financed by the state in Latvia enlisted
by the Ministry of Education and Science in the school year 2000-2001
was 998. Among them 159 schools implemented instruction in Russian
(attended usually by Russian-speakers) and 126 schools with both
Latvian and Russian languages of instruction (mixed schools, where
classes are held both for Latvian-speakers and for Russian-speakers
within the same school).
----------------------------
Conference Decision
1. Resolution on confirming the demands of the First Conference of
Parents of Latvia
The Conference expresses regrets because of the fact that Saeima
Deputies and the Cabinet of Ministers ignore suggestions of the First
Conference of Parents of Latvia and once again confirms the demands
included in its documents:
1. Address to the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic
of Latvia On educational policy of the State in Latvia concerning
national minorities of Latvia,
2. Address to the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia On guarantees for
education in mother tongue
3. Address to the Latvia - Russia Intergovernmental Committee.
---------
>From the moderator: For the documents of the 1st Conference, see
MINELRES posting of 27 March 2001 at
http://racoon.riga.lv/minelres/archive//03272001-10:49:56-14234.html
Boris
---------
2. Resolution on cancellation of transition of secondary school into
Latvian language
The Conference demands cancellation of the provision of the LR
Education Law which stipulates that 'on September 1, 2004 in the 10th
grade of state and municipal general education institutions and in the
1st year of state and municipal vocational education institutions
studies shall begin only in the state (i.e. Latvian) language'
(division 3 of Article 9 of the Transitional Provisions of the Law)
3. Resolution on principles of school education of minorities in
Latvia
The Conference stands for such school education, which in the context
of integration of the society in Latvia would guarantee safeguarding
and development of minorities' mother tongues in Latvia.
The Conference supports the following principles of school education
of minorities in Latvia:
1. Domineering of the mother tongue in the school education as the
condition for providing natural, harmonious development of the
student, as well as for reproducing ethnic and cultural identity of
the minority; teaching general education subjects mostly in students'
mother tongue;
2. Latvian language acquisition primarily at the Latvian language
lessons, using modern effective methods of teaching and dividing the
classes into small groups; as well as using the Latvian language as
the language of instruction for study subjects connected with history
and culture of Latvia;
3. Introducing a block of subjects, providing students with knowledge
about Latvia and their integration into the society of Latvia;
4. Introducing a block of subjects, providing students with knowledge
about the country of origin of the language and culture of the
minority, its cultural heritage and place in the world history.
The Conference asks the LR Ministry of Education and Science, LR
Naturalization Board, LR Ministry of Justice, Soros Foundation -
Latvia to support the Models of Programmes of Primary and Secondary
education for national minorities elaborated by Latvian Association
for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR)
on the basis of these principles and to promote the development of
standards of new subjects of the suggested Programmes.
4. Resolution on minimum number of students in national minority
classes
The Conference demands the LR Ministry of Education and Science to
determine that the minimum number of students, necessary for forming a
class in primary school, which provides educational programme for
national minority, is 6 (six) students, but in secondary school - 12
(twelve).
5. Resolution on the status of national school
The Conference finds it necessary to determine the status of national
school, which would guarantee the school can choose the languages of
instruction and the proportions between them.
6. Resolution on changes in state policy of integration of the society
The Conference considers it unacceptable to use transition of
state-funded schools to the Latvian language as a means for
"integrating the society".
The Conference demands to include into the concept and the state
programme "Integration of the Society in Latvia" the provision that
would recognize teaching in primary and secondary schools of the
minorities of Latvia primarily in the language of the minority as
necessary condition for integration of the society.
7. Resolution on ratification of the Framework Convention of the
Council of Europe
The Conference demands that the Republic of Latvia immediately and
fully ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities.
8. Resolution on Latvia-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement
The Conference asks the governments of the Republic of Latvia and
Russian Federation to speed up signing the Intergovernmental
agreement, which would promote development of education in minority
languages in the Republic of Latvia and Russian Federation.
9. Resolution on international protection of educational possibilities
for minorities
The Conference suggests that the United Nations Organisation,
Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European
Union should work out and adopt international agreements that would
provide that while reforming the education states do not worsen
educational possibilities for minorities, including those for the
groups which acquired the status of minority as the result of
political changes and changes of state borders.
10. Resolution on the rights of linguistic minorities
The Conference suggests that the European Commission and the European
Parliament should work out and adopt legal norms, providing rights for
linguistic minorities in the members states of the European Union.
11. Resolution on LAShOR authorisations
The Conference authorises LAShOR to voice the interests of
Conference's participants and authorises LAShOR to represent their
interests in communication with the state institutions, legislative
institutions and implementing authorities of the Republic of Latvia,
as well as international organisations.
The Conference commissions LAShOR to submit the documents of the
Conference to the respective authorities and institutions of the
Republic of Latvia and international institutions and reach the
implementation of Conference's resolutions.
Address to the Residents of Latvia
The Conference condemns the decision of the state of Latvia to divide
the population of the country into citizens and non-citizens. This
decision has abruptly decreased the possibility for minorities to
protect their rights, including the right to education in their mother
tongue, with parliamentary methods.
At the same time the Conference appeals to all the non-citizens to
actively use their right for naturalization and adopt the citizenship
of the Republic of Latvia.
The Conference appeals to the citizens of Latvia to actively use their
right to vote and support on the LR Saeima elections those political
parties that promote reaching the fulfillment of the demands of the
Conference of Parents of Latvia.
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