Latvia and France reach agreement on training French language teachers

RIGA - Latvia and France will cooperate to promote the learning of the French language, paying special attention to the training of French language teachers, LETA was told at the Latvian Education and Science Ministry. 

Education and Science Minister Anda Caksa (New Unity) met this week with Franck Riester, France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, Francophonie and French Nationals Abroad, to discuss the two countries' education cooperation, specifically the training of French language teachers. 

The ministers agreed to launch a joint program to enhance the language and didactic skills of teachers who wish to obtain an additional qualification as French teachers, as well as those of future French teachers. Innovative modules will also be offered for teaching media literacy and digital skills, as well as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching. The French Institute in Latvia will launch the program in September and will train 60 new French teachers over three years.

As LETA reported, Latvia has reached a similar agreement with Germany to prepare teachers for teaching the German language in Latvia's schools. On Wednesday, Caksa and German Ambassador to Latvia Christian Heldt signed a joint declaration of intent on an accelerated training of German language teachers.

Starting the school year 2026/2027, Russian will be gradually phased out as the second foreign language taught in Latvia's schools. Russian will have to be replaced with some official language of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), or a foreign language the learning of which is regulated by intergovernmental agreements on education.