More teachers lose jobs because of insufficient command of Latvian

RIGA - As many as 45 teachers have been fired because of a poor command of the Latvian language since the start of this school year, according to information from the State Education Quality Service. 

In late 2023, the State Education Quality Service reported that 29 teachers had been sacked because of insufficient command of the state language. 

The State Language Centre has found 87 teachers' language proficiency to be insufficiently good. Of these teachers, 30 are on sick-leaves, seven have been suspended and five have passed the state language test. 

Poor language proficiency of teachers has been reported at 20 preschools, 11 comprehensive education institutions, two sports schools, as well as one special education institution, one technical school and one college. 

Between September 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024, the State Education Quality Service evaluated 134 education institutions' success in the transition to a single language of instruction and more than half of the schools were found to be doing well or very well.