Every child must be provided quality education even if in-person learning has been suspended - Levits

  • 2021-02-16
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Every child must be provided quality education, even at a time in-person learning has been suspended, President Egils Levits said during an online meeting with Education and Science Minister Ilga Suplinska (New Conservative Party) today, as Justine Deicamane from the President's Chancery told LETA.

The remote learning process has continued for longer than anticipated, but it cannot continue forever as the quality of studies is suffering and increasingly more children, parents and teachers are under psycho-emotional stress, said Suplinska. The president and the minister discussed precautionary measures that would have to be observed upon resuming in-person learning. Suplinska also said that the Education and Science Ministry had developed new methodology so in-person schooling could resume in the near future in the regions with lower Covid-19 incidence rates.

School computerization was also discussed at the meeting, as well as increasing the range of smart devices available to students. Work is under way on a new procurement project to provide schools with modern IT solutions and equipment, Suplinska said.

Levits said that remote learning should be considered from a broader perspective and, in order to ensure quality education for each remote student, inter-ministerial solutions must be considered by involving other ministries, local governments and cooperation partners.

Levits and Suplinska also discussed state research programs, higher education reforms and other matters.