RIGA - The outgoing Saeima has the opportunity to make a historic decision on the transition to education only in the state language, thus "finally putting an end to the division of society", President Egils Levits said to the parliament today.
In his address in the final sitting of the Saeima's spring session today, the president pointed out that there are political forces in Latvia that have always consistently advocated this, while there are other forces that have considered this step premature or not necessary at all.
According to Levits, the issue was partially addressed by the 2004 reform, which stipulates that Russian schools must provide part of their education in the state language. In 2011, an attempt was made to organize a referendum that would have envisaged a complete transition to education in the state language, but this referendum initiative did not receive sufficient support.
"Now this issue will be closed after more than 30 years of restored independence. It should be noted that the opportunity to learn the language and culture of one's own minority as a separate subject remains," the President emphasized.
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