Science curriculum to get a push

On June 2 a discussion will be held at Latvia’s Ministry of Education and Science concerning the popularization of mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics and the natural sciences in schools, the ministry's representative Edite Olipe said, reports LETA.

Representatives from the Employers' Confederation of Latvia, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees, "Latvijas izglitibas vaditaju asociacija," Teachers' Council of Latvia, the program "Possible Mission," Natural Sciences and Mathematics Education Center of University of Latvia have been invited to participate in the discussion.

Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete (Unity) believes that an exam is not always the best motivation for studying a given subject. "If we enhance students' understanding about the importance of chemistry, physics and biology, the number of those students who wish to take exams in these subjects will grow," she said.

According to Druviete, it is important to support schools so that young people would be more interested in hard sciences. The modernization of school infrastructure must be continued and teachers' must be supported and their competence levels increased, as well as various events organized to help high school students choose their future career goals.