New education minister urged to get to work

RIGA - After a meeting on May 8 with newly appointed Education and Science Minister Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, Latvian President Andris Berzins told members of the press that the new education minister must begin work immediately, reports LETA. “The situation in the education sector is very complicated. He must begin to act immediately,” the president said.

The president refrained from commenting on whether he believes the minister will be able to solve the problems in the education sector, only saying that time will tell. “I can only wish him endurance and success in his job, and I urge him to get to work immediately. We will be able to make assessments later,” the president said.
Dombrovskis, new in the job, said that problems in education are very difficult, but urges teachers to “keep calm and cooperate.”

The Latvian Education and Science Workers’ Union met with Dombrovskis and other leading officials in education to discuss further cooperation in the direction of changes and raising salaries. Dombrovskis was understanding regarding the union’s patience running out, but urged it to remain calm and patient.

“I am on your side and ministry officials are also on your side. We are doing one job. All problems, of course, can be summed up in two words - insufficient funds,” said Dombrovskis.

The situation is similar in several other sectors as well. Pensioners, doctors and police officers also lack funds and the respective ministries will do everything in their power to solve these problems. Limited fiscal space does not allow to fulfill all desires, emphasized the minister.

He also called on the union to cooperate and seek common denominators, pointing out that, by working together and objectively looking at the sector’s challenges and problems, the sides will achieve success.
On May 2, Saeima confirmed the head of the Reform Party’s group at parliament, Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, as the new education and science minister.

His predecessor, Roberts Kilis, stepped down on April 30 due to health problems