Education Ministry proposes letting students take professional qualification exams and present graduation papers in any official EU language

RIGA - Students should be allowed to take professional qualification exams and present graduation papers in any official EU language in which the given study program is taught, according to draft amendments proposed by the Latvian Education and Science Ministry to the Education Law.

According to the Education and Science Ministry's proposals, students would be able to take professional qualification exams in the official EU language in which the given study program is taught or in Latvian if the study program is not taught in any official EU language. Also, the diploma papers and other work necessary for obtaining bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees would have to be written and presented in the official EU language in which the given study program is taught or in Latvia if the study program is not taught in any official EU language.

Citing the National Development Plan 2014-2020 envisages, the Education and Science Ministry argued that Latvia needs internationally competitive higher education institutions that would employ internationally renowned and highly qualified academic staff. Higher education has become a widely popular export service of Latvia, and study programs are provided in accordance with Latvia's national language policy - primarily in Latvian, but also in official EU languages.

The Education and Science Ministry's amendments to the Education Law have been submitted for the second reading in Saeima.