The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

General Education Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

(1) Terms used in the Law correspond to those terms used in the Education Law unless specified otherwise in this Law.

(2) The following terms are used in this Law:

1) certificate of basic education - an education document attesting to the completion of the basic education programme;

2) diploma of general secondary education - an education document attesting to the completion of the general secondary education programme;

3) certificate - a document attesting to the completion of part of the basic education or general secondary educational programme;

4) [9 July 2013];

4¹) field of learning - a set of subjects related in terms of content, comprising the most important knowledge, skills and attitudes in the important directions of human activity;

4²) form of learning organisation - cooperation between a teacher and an educatee according to a specific procedure, which governs the joint activity of the teacher and the educatee and is to be implemented as a lesson, play class, practical class, game, play, outdoor class or field trip;

5) subject - a system of knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed according to the field of science, technology, and art to be acquired within the framework of a particular educational programme, taking into account scientifically justified peculiarities of the age group of the educatee. Subjects are combined into fields of learning;

6) lesson (class) load - the number of lessons of regular attendance per study week included in an educational programme;

7) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions];

8) social correction - an educational programme methodologically and organisationally adjusted to persons of compulsory school age with socially deviant behaviour;

9) extended-day group - the possibility provided by an educational institution for educatees to receive pedagogical assistance and to spend their leisure time outside mandatory classes in an organised way;

10) report card - a document attesting to the learning achievements of an educatee in subjects;

11) certificate of basic education or general secondary education - a document attesting to the learning achievements of an educatee in a subject in which a centralised examination is organised;

12) centralised examination - an examination developed according to a special methodology and organised according to uniform procedures at the national level for the assessment of the learning achievements of educatees in a particular subject of a basic education and general secondary education programme;

13) assessment - an attestation of the acquired level of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are set out in an educational programme;

14) special needs - a necessity to receive such support and rehabilitation which creates an opportunity for an educatee to complete an educational programme, taking into account his or her health condition, abilities, and level of development;

14¹) special education development centre - a special educational institution founded by a local government to which the status of a special education development centre has been granted and in which consultative and methodological support is provided to educatees with special needs, including children of pre-school age, their legal representatives, and teachers;

15) international testing authority - an authority which ensures an examination in a foreign language and issues a document on the results of the examination which are aligned with the language proficiency levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

[11 October 2007; 1 July 2011; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 38 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 2. Purpose of this Law

The purpose of this Law is to govern the activities of persons in State and local government educational institutions and other persons involved in the process of implementing general education, to specify their rights and obligations, and also to create an environment for the development of a creative and comprehensively educated individual, for uninterrupted continuation of the education of educatees, for the acquisition of a profession, and for independent orientation in public and State life.

Section 3. Levels and Types of General Education

(1) General education shall be implemented at the following levels of general education:

1) pre-school education;

2) basic education;

3) secondary education.

(2) Specific types of general education shall be the following:

1) special education;

2) social correction;

3) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions].

[21 June 2018]

Chapter II
Organisation of General Education

Section 4. Competence of the Cabinet

The Cabinet shall:

1) determine the procedures for the licensing and accreditation of general education programmes;

2) found, reorganise, and liquidate State general education institutions, as well as State special education institutions upon a proposal of the Minister for Education and Science;

3) [16 June 2009];

3¹) determine the procedures by which the earmarked grant from the State budget shall be calculated and allocated for the remuneration of teachers of local government general basic and general secondary education institutions, and also general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions;

3²) determine the procedures by which the grant from the State budget shall be calculated and allocated for remuneration of pre-school education teachers of local government educational institutions employed in the education of children from five years of age;

3³) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance the remuneration of teachers who implement pre-school education programmes provided for children from five years of age until commencing the acquisition of basic education in private educational institutions.

4) [16 June 2009];

5) determine the criteria and procedures for granting and annulling the status of State gymnasium;

6) determine the criteria by which the pedagogical medical commission shall provide an opinion on the educational programme most appropriate for the needs of an educatee with special needs;

7) determine the criteria and procedures for granting the status of special education development centre to special educational institutions;

8) determine the competence of the pedagogical medical commissions of State and local governments and the professional requirements for members of the commission;

8¹) determine the content of the information system of State and local government pedagogical medical commissions, and the procedures for its creation, maintenance, and updating;

9) determine the procedures for exempting educatees from State examinations;

10) [16 June 2005];

11) determine the State general education standards;

11¹) determine names of the fields of learning in general education;

12) each school year determine the time and procedures for the course of State test works according to the State general education standards;

12¹) determine the procedures by which a centralised foreign language examination in a general secondary education programme shall be replaced with an examination in a foreign language of an international testing authority, and approve the list of international testing authorities, determine the conformity of the assessment of the examinations indicated in the documents issued by these testing authorities with the assessment of a centralized foreign language examination;

13) determine the procedures for the assessment of learning achievements in special education programmes;

14) [16 June 2009];

15) determine the procedures by which educatees suffering from a long-term illness shall be educated outside an educational institution;

16) determine the beginning and end date of the academic year and study semester, as well as the dates of holidays;

17) determine the mandatory documentation necessary for the organisation of pedagogical process in general education institutions;

18) determine the procedures for enrolling educatees in general education programmes and discharging from them, as well as the mandatory requirements for moving educatees up into the next grade in such programmes;

18¹) determine the procedures for organising competitions in subjects;

19) fulfil other functions related to general education that are specified in this Law and the Education Law.

[20 June 2000; 31 October 2002; 16 June 2005; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 1 July 2011; 15 December 2011; 18 June 2015; 21 June 2018; 14 May 2020 / See Paragraph 28 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 5. Competence of the Ministry of Education and Science

The Ministry of Education and Science shall:

1) develop models for general education programmes and subject curricula;

2) [16 June 2005];

3) [16 June 2005];

4) organise the development of the content and methodology for general education;

5) evaluate and approve the educational literature to be used in the learning process;

6) [16 June 2005];

7) [16 June 2005];

8) [16 June 2005];

9) [11 October 2007];

10) [16 June 2005];

11) [16 June 2005];

12) [16 June 2005];

13) [16 June 2005];

14) [16 June 2005];

15) [16 June 2005];

16) [16 June 2005];

17) [16 June 2005];

18) fulfil other functions specified in this Law and the Education Law.

[23 September 1999; 20 June 2000; 14 September 2000; 31 October 2002; 16 June 2005; 11 October 2007; 1 July 2011]

Section 6. Competence of Local Governments

The Education Law and other laws and regulations determine the competence of local governments in the implementation of general education.

Chapter III
General Educational Institution

Section 7. Founding, Reorganisation, and Liquidation of a General Education Institution

(1) A general education institution shall be founded by the State, local governments, State higher education institutions, as well as private individuals. State higher educational institutions shall found a general secondary education institution.

(2) A general education institution shall be reorganised and liquidated by its founder. A State or local government general education institution, as well as a general secondary education institution of a State higher education institution shall be reorganised and liquidated upon an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science.

[18 June 2015]

Section 8. Legal Basis for the Activities of a General Education Institution

The legal basis for the activities of a general education institution shall be this Law, the Education Law, other laws and regulations, as well as the by-laws of the general education institution.

Section 9. By-laws of a General Education Institution

(1) The by-laws of a general education institution shall include:

1) the name and legal address of the educational institution;

2) the founder of the educational institution and the legal status of the founder;

3) the objectives, main directions of activity, and tasks of the educational institution;

4) the educational programmes to be implemented in the educational institution;

5) the organisation of the educational process;

6) the rights and obligations of educatees;

7) the rights and obligations of teachers and other employees;

8) [9 July 2013];

9) the procedures for the establishment and the competence of the self-government of the educational institution;

10) the procedures for the establishment and the competence of the pedagogical council of the educational institution;

11) the procedures for accepting internal regulatory enactments of the educational institution and the institution or administration official to whom a private individual, upon submitting the relevant submission, may contest an administrative act issued by the educational institution or an actual action thereof;

12) the economic activity of the educational institution;

13) the sources and procedures for financing the educational institution;

14) the procedures for reorganising and liquidating the educational institution;

15) the procedures for accepting the by-laws of the educational institution and its amendments;

16) other important regulations which are not in contradiction with this Law, the Education Law, and other laws and regulations.

(2) The by-laws of a general education institution shall be approved by the founder.

[16 June 2005; 9 July 2013]

Section 10. Activities of a General Education Institution

(1) The basic task of a general education institution is the implementation of general education programmes. A general education institution may implement one or several educational programmes.

(2) In accordance with this Law, the Education Law, and other laws and regulations, as well as the by-laws approved by the founders of the general education institution, a general education institution shall independently:

1) organise and implement the educational process;

2) select educational work methods and forms.

(3) A general education institution is entitled to take the following actions independently:

1) implement interest-related education programmes, further education programmes, and other educational programmes;

2) develop the internal regulations of the institution;

3) provide catering services;

4) provide services for official accommodation facilities, boarding schools;

5) perform economic activities and other types of activities if it does not interfere with the implementation of the general education programme.

[16 June 2005]

Section 11. Management of a General Education Institution

(1) A general education institution shall be managed by the head of the institution.

(2) The head of a general education institution shall be responsible for:

1) the implementation of educational programmes;

2) the provision of the educational institution with educators;

3) the identification of the special needs of educatees and their education according to special education programmes;

4) ensuring the operations of the educational institution and fulfilment of the tasks of the institution;

5) rational use of the financial and material resources of the educational institution;

6) the compliance with the laws and regulations in the operations of the educational institution.

(3) The head of a general education institution shall be hired for the position and released therefrom by the founder of the corresponding educational institution.

[20 June 2000]

Section 12. Pedagogical Council of an Educational Institution

(1) A pedagogical council shall be formed in basic and general secondary education institutions for addressing different issues related to learning and pedagogical processes. The pedagogical council shall be chaired by the head of the educational institution, and its composition shall include all educators employed in the educational institution and the medical practitioner of the educational institution. Meetings of the pedagogical council shall be convened at least once every six months and its course shall be recorded in the minutes.

(2) The pedagogical council shall:

1) analyse the pedagogical process and develop proposals for the improvement of its results;

2) discuss organisational issues of the pedagogical process and pedagogical experience;

3) form a unified pedagogical position on the basic organisational issues of the pedagogical process;

4) [21 June 2018];

5) develop a draft plan for the operation of the educational institution.

[16 June 2005; 21 June 2018]

Section 13. Council of an Educational Institution

[9 July 2013]

Chapter IV
Content of General Education

Section 14. Documents Governing General Education

Acquisition of general education, the content and organisation thereof according to the type, level, and target group of education shall be determined in the following documents:

1) the State general education standard;

1¹) the guidelines for the State pre-school education;

2) [21 June 2018];

3) general education programmes;

4) curricula of general education subjects.

[1 December 2009; 21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 28 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 15. State General Education Standard

(1) The State general education standard shall, in accordance with the level of education, determine:

1) the main objectives and tasks for the implementation of the content of general education;

2) the values to be included in the content of general education;

3) the compulsory content of general education, the outcomes planned for its acquisition in the fields of learning, and principles for its implementation;

4) the basic principles for the assessment of the learning achievements of educatees and procedures for the assessment of the acquired education.

(2) The State general education standard shall be compulsory for everyone who develops and implements general education programmes, except for pre-school education programmes.

[31 October 2002; 21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 28 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 15.¹ Guidelines for the State Pre-school Education

(1) The guidelines for the State pre-school education shall determine:

1) the main objectives and tasks of the implementation of the content of pre-school education;

2) the values to be included in the content and process of pre-school education;

3) the compulsory content of pre-school education, the planned outcomes of its acquisition in the fields of learning, and principles for its implementation;

4) the basic principles for the assessment of pre-school education.

(2) The guidelines for the State pre-school education shall be compulsory to anyone who develops and implements pre-school education programmes.

[1 December 2009; 21 June 2018 / Amendments to Paragraph one, Clause 1, and also the new wording of Clauses 2 and 3 shall come into force on 1 September 2019. See Paragraph 31 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 16. Standard for a Subject of the General Education

[21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 28 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 17. General Education Programme

(1) General education programme is a document which shall specify the following in accordance with the Education Law, Cabinet regulations and the State general education standard or the guidelines for the State pre-school education:

1) the objectives and tasks for the implementation of the educational programme;

2) the content of education and the outcomes planned for its acquisition in a field of learning or a part of a field of learning;

3) the requirements in relation to the previous education (except for the pre-school education programmes);

4) the organisational principles and implementation plan of the pedagogical process, including in accordance with the subjects;

5) characterisation of the learning environment;

6) procedures for the assessment of the learning achievements of educatees;

7) the evaluation and justification of the personnel, financial and material resources necessary for the implementation of the educational programme.

(2) General education programmes may be developed by their implementers in conformity with the classification of educational programmes.

(3) During completion of general education programme, the implementers thereof shall ensure educatees with a systemic support for the development of the social and emotional competence.

[31 October 2002; 1 December 2009; 21 June 2018; 9 January 2020; 29 September 2022]

Section 18. Licensing, Accreditation, and Registration of General Education Programmes

(1) A general education institution may implement only licensed general education programmes.

(2) General education programmes shall be licensed, accredited, and registered in the Register of Educational Programmes in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Education Law.

(3) [21 June 2018]

(4) The decision on the accreditation of general education institutions and general education programmes shall be taken within six months from the day of submitting the relevant application.

[31 October 2002; 1 July 2011; 21 June 2018]

Section 19. Curriculum of a General Education Subject

(1) The curriculum of a subject shall be a component of the general education programme and shall include:

1) the objectives and tasks of the subject;

2) the content of the subject;

3) the order in which the learning content shall be acquired and the time provided for its acquisition;

4) the forms and methods for the assessment of learning achievements;

5) the list of the teaching aids and methods to be used for the acquisition of the learning content.

(2) Teachers have the right to develop subjectʼs curriculum according to the State general education standard and the general education programme which includes the subject, or to select subjectʼs curriculum from the model subject curricula.

[31 October 2002; 1 July 2011; 21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 28 of Transitional Provisions]

Part V
Pre-school Education

Section 20. Pre-school Education Programme

(1) Pre-school education programme shall ensure the preparation of an educatee for the acquisition of basic education, comprising in terms of the content:

1) the development of individuality;

2) the intellectual, physical and social development;

3) the development of initiative, inquisitiveness, independence, and creative activity;

4) strengthening of health;

5) psychological preparation for the commencement of the acquisition of basic education;

6) acquisition of the basic skills for using the official language.

(2) Pre-school education programme shall be completed by children up to seven years of age.

(3) The educational institutions which implement pre-school education programmes shall provide individualised and personalised support for the acquisition of the official language to the educatees who need it.

[20 June 2000; 31 October 2002; 1 December 2009; 21 June 2018; 14 May 2020; 29 September 2022]

Section 20.¹ Compulsory Nature of the Preparation of a Child of Pre-school Age

(1) Completion of the pre-school education programme shall be compulsory for children from five years of age.

(1¹) The educational institution shall perform the assessment of special needs of each educatee who commences compulsory education in the pre-school education programme implemented by the educational institution in compliance with the methodology for the assessment of special needs of educatees stipulated by the Cabinet and shall ensure the required support measures and assistance in acquiring the learning content to the educatee with special needs.

(2) Local governments shall ensure the preparation of children from five years of age for the acquisition of basic education in their administrative territory.

[1 December 2009; 21 June 2018; 14 May 2020 / Paragraph 1.¹ shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 43 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 21. Access to Pre-school Education

(1) Local governments shall ensure equal access to pre-school education institutions in their administrative territory to children from eighteen months of age.

(2) Local governments are obliged to ensure the opportunity to complete the pre-school education programme in the official language at all pre-school education institutions subordinate thereto.

[1 July 2011; 14 May 2020]

Section 21.¹ Compulsory Nature of the Preparation of a Child of Pre-school Age

[16 June 2009]

Section 22. Implementation of the Pre-school Education Programme

The pre-school education programme shall be implemented in a pre-school education institution or another educational institution, as well as in a family by receiving methodological support in the education institution implementing a licensed pre-school education programme or in the pre-school education advisory centre.

[1 December 2009]

Section 23. State Pre-school Education Centre

[16 June 2009]

Section 24. Pre-school Education Advisory Centres

(1) Pre-school education advisory centres shall provide advisory and methodological support to parents and educational institutions for the education of children of pre-school age and for the preparation of children from five years of age for school.

(2) The pre-school education advisory centre shall be founded as a unit of a pre-school education institution or as an independent education support institution.

(3) The procedures according to which parents shall receive advisory and methodological support from the pre-school education advisory centre shall be determined by the founder.

[16 June 2005; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009]

Section 25. Conditions for the Founding of a Pre-school Education Institution

(1) A local government may found a pre-school education institution for not less than 10 children of pre-school age who live in the administrative territory of the local government if it is requested by parents.

(2) [21 June 2018]

[21 June 2018]

Section 26. Enrolment of Educatees in Pre-school Education Institutions

(1) Educatees shall be enrolled in the general pre-school education institutions of local governments in accordance with the procedures specified by the founder of the educational institution, taking into account the provisions of the Education Law and other laws.

(2) Educatees shall be enrolled in and discharged from special pre-school education institutions and groups in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

(3) The procedures for enrolling educatees in private pre-school education institutions shall be determined by the founder.

(4) Pre-school education institutions may not organise entrance examinations.

[20 June 2000; 11 October 2007; 21 June 2018]

Section 27. Number of Educatees in a Group of a General Pre-school Education Institution

[16 June 2005]

Section 28. Lesson Load for Educatees in Pre-school Age

[1 December 2009]

Chapter VI
Basic Education

Section 29. Basic Education Institutions

(1) Basic education institutions are educational institutions which implement basic education programmes. Depending on the structure of the educational institution and the organisation of the learning process at the educational institution, the types of educational institutions are as follows:

1) primary school;

2) elementary school.

(2) The basic education programme may also be acquired at a special education institution, social correction education institution, secondary school, including such to which the status of State gymnasium has been granted, and an art education competence centre subordinated to the Ministry of Culture. In the cases specified in the Vocational Education Law, the basic education programme may be acquired at a technical school and vocational secondary school.

[21 June 2018; 29 September 2022]

Section 30. Implementation of the Basic Education Programme

(1) Complete basic education programme shall be implemented within nine years.

(2) [16 June 2005]

(2¹) The basic education programme may be implemented in two stages. The educational programme of the first stage of basic education shall be implemented from grades 1 to 6, and the educational programme of the second stage of basic education shall be implemented from grades 7 to 9.

(3) Educational programmes of the first stage of basic education shall be implemented in primary schools.

(4) Elementary schools shall implement complete basic education programmes.

(5) The basic education programme may be combined with an educational programme for ethnic minorities, including therein the native language of an ethnic minority and learning content related to the identity of ethnic minorities and the integration of ethnic minorities into Latvian society.

(6) An educational institution may implement a basic education programme developed thereby which determines higher planned results for the acquisition of education content in any of the fields of learning or any part of a field than the planned results for the acquisition of the compulsory general education content specified in the State general education standard. The educational institution is entitled to apply for additional financing from the State budget for remuneration of the teachers involved in the implementation of such educational programme if the basic education programme and also the results achieved in the acquisition of the education content within a period of three years in the relevant field of learning conform to the requirements of the Cabinet.

(7) The Cabinet shall lay down requirements for the development of those basic education programmes which determine higher planned results for the acquisition of education content in any of the fields of learning or any part of a field than the planned results for the acquisition of the compulsory general education content specified in the State general education standard, requirements for the results to be achieved in the acquisition of the education content in a field of learning or part of a field, and also conditions and procedures for granting additional funding from the State budget for remuneration of the teachers involved in the implementation of these basic education programmes.

(8) The educational institutions which implement basic education programmes shall provide individualised and personalised support for the acquisition of the official language to the educatees who need it.

[16 June 2005; 1 July 2011; 21 June 2018; 9 January 2020; 29 September 2022 / Amendment regarding deletion of Paragraph five in relation to the implementation of general education basic education programme in grades 2, 5, and 8 shall come into force on 1 September 2024 and in relation to the implementation of general education basic education programme in grades 3, 6, and 9 shall come into force on 1 September 2025. See Paragraph 50 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 31. Enrolment of Educatees in a Basic Education Institution

(1) An educational institution implementing basic education programmes may not organise entrance examinations for the enrolment of educatees for grades 1-9, except in the cases referred to in Paragraph three of this Section.

(2) State gymnasiums, upon enrolling educatees in the educational programme of the second stage of basic education, are entitled, with the permission of the founder, to organise entrance examinations according to the State basic education standard and to determine criteria for enrolment. If there are several State gymnasiums in the territory of the local government, the local government is entitled to organise uniform entrance examinations and to determine uniform criteria for enrolment.

(3) A State educational institution in which a vocationally oriented education programme is implemented concurrently with a general basic education programme is entitled, with the permission of the founder, to determine requirements for enrolment which an educatee must meet to be able to commence the completion of a vocationally oriented education programme.

[20 June 2000; 16 June 2005; 21 June 2018]

Section 32. Compulsory Nature of Basic Education

(1) The acquisition of basic education shall be compulsory.

(2) The acquisition of basic education shall be commenced in the calendar year when the educatee attains 7 years of age.

(3) An educatee is entitled to commence the acquisition of basic education one year earlier or later depending on his or her health condition and psychological preparedness according to the wishes of parents on the basis of an opinion of the family doctor.

(4) Institutions in which educatees up to 18 years of age reside (child care institutions, orphanages, medical treatment institutions, places of imprisonment, accommodation centres for asylum seekers, etc.) shall ensure possibilities for undertaking the completion of the basic education programme.

(5) [16 June 2005]

[31 October 2002; 16 June 2005; 1 December 2009; 21 June 2018]

Section 33. Lesson Load in the Basic Education Programme

The lesson load per week in one basic education programme shall not exceed:

1) 22 lessons in grade 1;

2) 23 lessons in grade 2;

3) 24 lessons in grade 3;

4) 26 lessons in grade 4;

5) 28 lessons in grade 5;

6) 30 lessons in grade 6;

7) 32 lessons in grade 7;

8) 34 lessons in grades 8 and 9.

[16 June 2005 / Amendments to Clause 1 shall come into force on 1 September 2005, but to Clause 2 - on 1 September 2006. See Transitional Provisions.]

Section 34. Number of Lessons per Day in the Basic Education Programme

Number of lessons per day in the basic education programme shall not exceed:

1) 5 lessons in grades 1 to 3;

2) 6 lessons in grades 4 to 5;

3) 7 lessons in grades 6 to 7;

4) 8 lessons in grades 8 and 9.

Section 35. Duration of Lessons and Forms of Learning Organisation in Basic Education Programmes

(1) The duration of one lesson in grades from 1 to 9 shall be 40 minutes. Duration of one lesson before national holidays shall be 30 minutes.

(2) The forms of learning organisation and their duration, except for the duration of lessons, in grades from 1 to 6 shall be determined by the head of an educational institution, not exceeding the weekly lesson load specified in Section 33 of this Law and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 34 of this Law. The limit on the daily number of lessons shall not apply to field trips and outdoor classes.

(3) The main form of learning organisation in grades from 7 to 9 shall be a lesson. The head of an educational institution may determine other forms of learning organisation and their duration in grades from 7 to 9, not exceeding the weekly lesson load specified in Section 33 of this Law and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 34 of this Law. The limit on the daily number of lessons shall not apply to field trips and outdoor classes.

[21 June 2018 / The new wording of Section shall come into force on 1 September 2020. See Paragraph 27 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 36. Duration of the Academic Year in Basic Education Institutions

The duration of the academic year shall be:

1) 34 weeks in grade 1;

2) 35 weeks in grades 2-8;

3) 37 weeks in grade 9.

Section 37. Compulsory Content of Basic Education

The compulsory content of basic education shall be determined by the State basic education standard.

Section 38. Fee for the Completion of the Basic Education Programme

(1) State and local government basic education institutions may not specify a fee for the completion of a basic education programme.

(2) Private basic education institutions are entitled to specify a fee for learning.

Section 39. Documents on the Completion of the Basic Education Programme

(1) Educatees shall receive a certificate of general basic education, a report card, and a relevant certificate of basic education confirming completion of the general basic education programme in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(2) The certificate of basic education shall certify the assessment in the subject in which the centralised examination was organised. The assessment of learning achievements for the corresponding subject that is indicated in the certificate of basic education shall serve as the selection criteria in the competition for the enrolment of educatees in secondary level education programmes.

(3) A certificate shall be issued to an educatee for the completion of a general basic education programme if:

1) no assessment for year has been obtained in any subject;

2) assessment for year obtained in two or more subjects is lower than the mark of 4;

3) assessment in any State examination has not been obtained, except for the case when the educatee has been exempt from specific State examinations in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[31 October 2002; 1 July 2011; 20 April 2023]

Chapter VII
General Secondary Education

Section 40. General Secondary Education Institutions

(1) Depending on the structure of an educational institution and the organisation of the learning process in the educational institution, the types of general secondary education institutions shall be as follows:

1) secondary schools;

2) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions];

3) State gymnasiums.

(2) The main purpose of a secondary education institution is to implement basic and general secondary education programmes.

(3) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 29 of Transitional Provisions]

(4) The status of State gymnasium shall be granted to an educational institution by the Cabinet. The basic task of a State gymnasium is to implement general secondary education programmes. The State gymnasium is also entitled to implement an educational programme of the second stage of general basic education or a complete basic education programme, as well as an international baccalaureate programme. In addition to the implementation of the abovementioned educational programmes, a State gymnasium shall fulfil the functions of the regional methodological centre and the centre for further education of teachers.

(5) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

(6) The basic task of a general secondary education institution of a State higher education institution is the implementation of general secondary education programmes.

[1 July 2011; 18 June 2015; 21 June 2018 / The new wording of Paragraph one, Clause 3 and amendment regarding the deletion of Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 29 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 41. Enrolment of Educatees in General Secondary Education Institutions

(1) Every person regardless of his or her age who has acquired a school report on basic education is entitled to undertake the completion of a general secondary education programme.

(2) Upon enrolling educatees in a general secondary education programme, the State, local government general secondary education institutions and general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions are entitled, with the permission of the founder, to organise entrance examinations according to the State basic education standard and to determine criteria for enrolment. General secondary education institutions are not entitled to organise entrance examinations in those subjects in which educatees are taking centralised examinations.

[18 June 2015; 21 June 2018]

Section 42. Directions of General Secondary Education Programmes

(1) [21 June 2018]

(2) [22 March 2018]

[22 March 2018; 21 June 2018 / See Paragraphs 25 and 38 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 42.¹ General Secondary Education Programme

Educational institutions shall implement the general secondary education programme in accordance with the model curriculum provided for in the State general secondary education standard. Educational institutions may design an education programme and specify subjects where the number of lessons exceeds the minimum number of lessons determined in the model State general secondary education curriculum for the corresponding subject and include other additional subjects not specified in the model curriculum.

[21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 38 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43. Content of General Secondary Education Programmes

(1) The compulsory content of general secondary education programmes shall be determined in the State general secondary education standard.

(2) An educational institution may, by not exceeding the weekly lesson load and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 44 of this Law, additionally include in a general secondary education programme subjects not specified in the State general secondary education standard, including native languages of national minorities and educational content related to the identity and integration of the national minorities into Latvian society.

[22 March 2018 / See Paragraph 25 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 44. Lesson Load in a General Secondary Education Programme

(1) The lesson load in one general secondary education programme in grades 10-12 may not exceed 36 lessons per week.

(2) The number of lessons in one general secondary education programme shall not exceed 8 lessons per day.

Section 45. Duration of Lessons and Forms of Learning Organisation in General Secondary Education Programmes

(1) The duration of a lesson in general secondary education programmes shall be 40 minutes. Duration of one lesson before national holidays shall be 30 minutes.

(2) The main form of learning organisation in general secondary education programmes shall be a lesson. The head of an educational institution may establish other forms of learning organisation and their duration in secondary educational programmes, not exceeding the weekly lesson load and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 44 of this Law. The limit on the daily number of lessons shall not apply to field trips and outdoor classes.

[21 June 2018 / The new wording of Section shall come into force on 1 September 2020. See Paragraph 27 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 46. Duration of the Academic Year in General Secondary Education Institutions

The duration of the academic year in general secondary education institutions shall be:

1) 35 weeks in grades 10 and 11;

2) 38 weeks in grade 12.

Section 47. Fee for the Completion of the General Secondary Education Programme

(1) State, local government general secondary education institutions, as well as general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions may not determine a fee for the completion of secondary education programmes.

(2) Private secondary education institutions are entitled to specify a fee for learning.

[18 June 2015]

Section 48. Documents on the Completion of the General Secondary Education Programme

(1) Upon completion of the general secondary education programme, educatees shall, in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, receive a diploma of general secondary education, a report card, a relevant certificate of general secondary education, and a document issued by an international testing authority regarding the assessment in an examination in a foreign language if the centralised examination in a foreign language has been replaced with an examination of this authority.

(2) The certificate of general secondary education shall certify the assessment in the subject in which the centralised examination was organised. If the centralised examination in a foreign language is replaced with an examination of an international testing authority in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, the assessment of the examination indicated in the document issued by such authority shall replace the assessment in the centralised examination in a foreign language and there shall be no restriction on the term of validity for such document.

(3) The assessments indicated in the certificates of general secondary education for subjects and the assessment in the examination of an international testing authority, if the centralised examination in a foreign language has been replaced with an examination of an international testing authority, shall serve as the selection criteria in the competition for the enrolment of an educatee in educational programmes of higher level.

(4) A certificate shall be issued to an educatee for the completion of a general secondary education programme if:

1) no assessment has been obtained in any subject;

2) the assessment obtained in a subject is lower than the mark of 4;

3) assessment in any State examination has not been obtained, except for the case when the educatee has been exempt from specific State examinations in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[18 June 2015; 20 April 2023]

Chapter VIII
Special Education

Section 49. Special Education Programmes

(1) Special education programmes shall ensure the possibility of acquiring general education for educatees with acquired or hereditary functional disorders according to their special needs.

(2) [1 July 2011]

(3) The main objectives and tasks, the compulsory content, the implementation plan for a special education programme, and the requirements for the previous education shall be determined in conformity with the State general education standard in accordance with special needs of educatees.

[11 October 2007; 1 July 2011]

Section 50. Implementation of Special Education Programmes

(1) Special education programmes shall be implemented, taking into account the objectives, tasks, and compulsory content for the implementation of the general education content specified in the State education standard, according to the type of developmental disorder, abilities, and health condition of educatees.

(2) Special education programmes for educatees with serious mental development disorders or several serious developmental disorders are provided for nine years, and they shall be implemented by drawing up an individual plan for the implementation of the educational programme for each educatee. Depending on the health condition of the educatee and the possibilities of the educational institution, the educational programme may be implemented in a longer period of time, but not longer than 12 years.

(3) Special education programmes for educatees with mental development disorders shall be provided for a period of nine years. If the implementer of a programme provides the possibility to acquire vocational education, the programme may be implemented in a longer period of time, but not longer than 12 years.

(4) Educatees with special needs may also complete vocational education programmes within one to three years in a special education institution after acquisition of basic education or general secondary education.

(5) Special education programmes for educatees with mental development disorders and visual or hearing impairments may last 10 years, but special education programmes for deaf educatees with mental development disorders - 11 years.

(6) For deaf educatees undertaking the completion of a special education programme for educatees with hearing impairments, the acquisition of basic education may last 11 years, but the acquisition of secondary education - three years.

(7) Completion of special basic education programmes for educatees with learning disabilities or serious speech disorders may last 10 years.

(8) Special education programmes for educatees with physical development disorders, mental health disorders, or somatic symptom disorders for the acquisition of basic education are provided for nine years.

(9) Acquisition of basic education for partially deaf educatees who are undertaking the completion of a special education programme for educatees with hearing impairments may last 10 years, but the acquisition of secondary education - three years.

(10) A special basic education programme for educatees with visual impairments may last 10 years, but the acquisition of secondary education - three years.

[1 July 2011; 21 June 2018]

Section 51. Special Education Institutions and Classes

(1) Educatees with special needs may complete special education programmes at general education classes, special classes or groups of general education institutions, or special education institutions. Educatees with special needs may complete special education programmes also at a technical school and vocational secondary school which implement general education programmes in cooperation with the Prison Administration.

(2) There shall be the following special education institutions:

1) [21 June 2018];

2) special education institutions of the local governments;

3) private special education institutions.

(3) A special education class shall be a class in a general education institution in which educatees with special needs study. A special education class may also be opened in an educational institution implementing vocational education programmes.

(4) A special education institution shall be granted the status of special developmental centre in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

(5) A special education institution shall implement special basic education programmes for educatees with mental health disorders, mental development disorders, severe mental development disorders or several severe developmental disorders. Special education institutions may additionally implement special pre-school education, special basic education and special secondary education programmes for educatees with visual or hearing impairments, but special pre-school education programmes for educatees with mixed developmental disorders, mental health disorders, mental development disorders, severe mental development disorders or several severe developmental disorders, as well as vocational basic education programmes provided for in Section 50, Paragraph four of this Law.

[20 June 2000; 16 June 2005; 21 June 2018; 29 September 2022]

Section 52. Enrolment of Educatees in and Their Discharge from Special Education Institutions

Enrolment of educatees in special education institutions and their discharge therefrom shall be conducted according to the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

[20 June 2000 / See Transitional Provisions.]

Section 53. Enrolment of Educatees with Special Needs in General Education Programmes

(1) Educatees with special needs may be enrolled in general education programmes. The requirements to be imposed on general education institutions so that educatees with special needs would be enrolled in the general education programmes implemented thereby shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The educational institutions shall ensure the availability of appropriate support measures to educatees with special needs who have been enrolled in a general education programme. The educational institutions shall draw up an individual plan for the completion of an educational programme for each enrolled educatee with special needs.

[1 July 2011; 21 June 2018]

Section 54. Pedagogical Medical Commission

(1) There shall be a State pedagogical medical commission and pedagogical medical commissions of the local governments. The State pedagogical medical commission shall be established by the Minister for Education and Science. The pedagogical medical commissions of the local governments shall be established by the local governments.

(2) Information regarding opinions of State and local government pedagogical medical commissions shall be aggregated in the information system of the State and local government pedagogical medical commissions. In addition, information regarding the results of pedagogical and psychological study of an educatee, data on the health condition of an educatee, and the legal representative of a minor educatee who is participating in the meeting of the commission shall be included in such information system. The information system shall be created and used in accordance with the laws and regulations governing personal data protection.

[20 June 2000; 16 June 2005; 1 July 2011; 21 June 2018]

Section 55. Assessment of Learning Achievements in Special Education

(1) Achievements attained by an educatee with special needs in his or her learning process shall be assessed according to the requirements of the special education programme and taking into account the health condition, skills, and development of the educatee.

(2) The completion of a special education programme shall be assessed descriptively for educatees with moderately serious and serious mental developmental disorders.

[11 October 2007]

Section 56. Lesson Load per Week and Number of Lessons Per Day in a Special Education Programme

The lesson load per week and the number of lessons per day in a special education programme shall conform to the provisions of Sections 33 and 34 of this Law.

Section 57. Duration of Lessons and Forms of Learning Organisation in Special Education Programmes

(1) Duration of a lesson in special education programmes shall be 40 minutes. Duration of one lesson before national holidays shall be 30 minutes. Duration of one lesson in special education programmes for educatees with severe mental development disorders or several severe developmental disorders in grades from1 to 9 shall be 30 minutes. Duration of one lesson before national holidays shall be 20 minutes.

(2) The forms of learning organisation and their duration, except for the duration of lessons, in special education programmes in grades from 1 to 6 shall be determined by the head of the educational institution, not exceeding the weekly lesson load specified in Section 33 of this Law and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 34 of this Law. The limit on the daily number of lessons shall not apply to field trips and outdoor classes.

(3) The main form of learning organisation in special education programmes in grades from 7 to 12 shall be a lesson. The head of an educational institution may establish other forms of learning organisation and their duration in special education programmes in grades from 7 to 12, not exceeding the weekly lesson load specified in Section 33 of this Law and the daily number of lessons specified in Section 34 of this Law. The limit on the daily number of lessons shall not apply to field trips and outdoor classes.

[21 June 2018 / The new wording of Section shall come into force on 1 September 2020. See Paragraph 27 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 58. Documents on the Acquisition of Special Education

Educatees who have completed special education programmes shall be issued a certificate for the acquisition of basic education or a diploma for the acquisition of secondary education and a report card.

Chapter IX
Social Correction

[21 June 2018 / Amendment to the title of the Chapter regarding the deletion "and pedagogical" shall come into force on 1 September 2019. See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 59. Social Correction Education Institutions

Social correction education institutions are general education institutions which implement social correction education programmes for educatees with socially deviant behaviour, ensuring them with acquisition of education or improving the quality of the acquisition of education.

[21 June 2018 / The new wording of Section shall come into force on 1 September 2019. See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 60. Founding of Social Correction Education Institutions and Enrolment of Educatees

(1) Social correction education institutions shall be under subordination of the Ministry of Education and Science.

(2) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

(3) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

(4) An educatee shall be enrolled in a social correction education institution in accordance with the procedures laid down in the law On Application of Compulsory Measures of a Correctional Nature to Children.

(5) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

(6) [21 June 2018 / See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

[31 October 2002; 16 June 2005; 21 June 2018 / The new wording of the title of the Section and amendment regarding the deletion of Paragraphs two, three, five, and six shall come into force on 1 September 2019 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2019. See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 61. Education Documents

The acquisition of education for educatees who have completed social correction education programmes shall be certified by education documents attesting partial or total completion of an educational programme at a particular educational level.

[21 June 2018 / Amendment regarding the deletion "or pedagogical" shall come into force on 1 September 2019. See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter X
Financing of General Education

Section 62. Sources of Financing of General Education Institutions

(1) The sources of financing of general education institutions shall be determined in this Law, the Education Law, other laws and regulations, and the by-laws of the relevant educational institution.

(2) Accredited special education programmes shall be financed from the State budget in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

(3) Earmarked grants from the State budget shall cover the following:

1) expenses of the remuneration for teachers and specialists considered equivalent thereto related to the educational process in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet in general education institutions of local governments implementing general basic education or general secondary education programmes and in general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions implementing general secondary education programmes;

2) [16 June 2009].

[5 August 1999; 31 October 2002; 16 June 2009; 18 June 2015 / Amendments to Paragraph three, Clause 1 (regarding the remuneration for teachers and specialists considered equivalent thereto of general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions) shall come into force on 1 January 2016. See Paragraph 24 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 63. Procedures for the Financing of General Education Institutions

(1) The procedures for the financing of general education programmes and general education institutions shall be specified in this Law, the Education Law, other laws and regulations, and the by-laws of the relevant educational institution.

(2) State gymnasiums shall be granted additional financing from the State budget for the fulfilment of the functions specified in Section 40, Paragraph four of this Law.

Transitional Provisions

1. The Minister for Education and Science shall ensure the development of laws and regulations related to this Law and submit them for approval to the Cabinet within six months from the day of coming into force of this Law.

2. The first sentence of Section 48, Paragraph three of this Law shall come into force in the 2002/2003 academic year, but the second sentence - in the 2003/2004 academic year.

[31 October 2002]

3. [16 October 2008]

4. [5 August 1999]

5. The Cabinet shall, by 1 September 2000, develop regulations for the financing of boarding schools and special education institutions.

[20 June 2000]

6. A gymnasium implementing basic education programmes at the moment this Law comes into force is entitled to continue implementation of the relevant educational programme until 1 September 2003.

[20 June 2000]

7. Section 4, Clauses 6, 7, and 8 shall come into force on 1 September 2001.

[20 June 2000]

8. Amendments to Section 26, Paragraph two of this Law (regarding the enrolment of educatees in special education institutions or in special groups), amendments to Section 51, Paragraph four of this Law (regarding the conferring of the status of special education development centre), amendments to Section 52 of this Law (regarding the enrolment of educatees in special education institutions), amendments to Section 54 of this Law (regarding the pedagogical medical commission) shall come into force on 1 September 2001.

[20 June 2000]

9. Section 39, Paragraph three and Section 48, Paragraph two of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2003.

[31 October 2002]

10. Amendments to Section 33, Clause 1 (regarding lesson load in grade 1) shall come into force on 1 September 2005, but to Clause 2 (regarding lesson load in grade 2) - on 1 September 2006.

[16 June 2005]

11. In accordance with this Law, the remuneration specified in State and local government authorities (salary, bonuses, gratuities, allowances, etc.) in 2009 shall be determined in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities in 2009.

[12 December 2008]

12. The educational institutions implementing pre-school education programmes shall, by 1 January 2011, ensure the conformity of the pre-school education programmes with the guidelines for the State pre-school education and submission thereof for licensing.

[1 December 2009]

13. In 2011, bonuses shall not be paid to teachers of educational institutions founded by the State and local governments, but they shall be materially incentivized and allowances shall be disbursed thereto in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

[23 December 2010]

14. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2011, issue the regulations provided for in Section 4, Clause 8 of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of this Regulation, but not later than until 31 December 2011 Cabinet Regulation No. 1263 of 3 November 2009, Regulations Regarding the Competence of the State Pedagogical Medical Commission and of Pedagogical Medical Commissions of Local Governments, shall be applicable.

[1 July 2011]

15. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2011, issue the regulations provided for in Section 4, Clause 18 of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of this Regulation, but not later than until 31 December 2011 Cabinet Regulation No. 822 of 1 November 2005, Regulations Regarding the Compulsory Requirements for Enrolling and Moving of Educatees up into Next Grade in General Education Institutions (Except for Boarding Schools and Special Education Institutions), shall be applicable.

[1 July 2011]

16. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in Section 4, Clause 18.¹ of this Law until 31 December 2011.

[1 July 2011]

17. Amendment to Section 39, Paragraph three (regarding issuance of a certificate to an educatee for the completion of a general basic education programme, if the assessment for year in two or more subjects or in a State examination according to the procedures for the assessment of the learning achievements of an educatee specified in the State education standard is lower than the mark of 4) and the amendment to Section 48, Paragraph two of this Law (regarding the issuance of a certificate to an educatee for the completion of a general secondary education programme, if the assessment in a subject for a year or in a State examination according to the procedures for the assessment of the learning achievements of an educatee specified in the State educational standard is lower than the mark of 4) shall come into force on 1 September 2011.

[1 July 2011]

18. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2011, issue the regulations provided for in Section 53 of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of this Regulation, but not later than until 31 December 2011 Cabinet Regulation No. 579 of 21 October 2003, Regulations Regarding the Provision of General Basic Education and General Secondary Education Institutions According to Special Needs, shall be applicable.

[1 July 2011]

19. In 2012, bonuses shall not be paid to teachers of educational institutions founded by the State and local governments, but they shall be materially incentivized and allowances shall be disbursed thereto in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

[15 December 2011]

20. In 2013, a severance benefit shall be disbursed to teachers in educational institutions founded by the State and local governments in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

[15 November 2012]

21. The Cabinet shall, by 30 September 2015, issue the regulations referred to in Section 4, Clause 12.¹ of this Law.

[18 June 2015]

22. The new wording of Section 48 of this Law (in relation to the documents regarding the completion of the general secondary education programme) shall come into force on 1 November 2015.

[18 June 2015]

23. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 30 September 2015, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 913 of 6 November 2006, Procedures for the Issuance of State-recognised General Education Documents, determining the procedures by which documents regarding the completion of the general secondary education programme shall be issued.

[18 June 2015]

24. Amendments to Section 62, Paragraph three, Clause 1 of this Law (regarding the remuneration for teachers and specialists considered equivalent thereto of general secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions) shall come into force on 1 June 2016.

[18 June 2015]

25. Amendments to Section 42 of this Law regarding the deletion of its Paragraph two and regarding the rewording of Section 43 shall come into force:

1) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of a secondary education programme in grades 10 and 11;

2) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of a secondary education programme in grade 12.

[22 March 2018]

26. Educational institutions implementing pedagogical correction education programmes shall not enrol educatees in such educational programmes from 1 September 2018. Educational institutions are entitled to continue the implementation of the commenced pedagogical correction education programmes until 30 June 2019.

[21 June 2018]

27. Section 1, Paragraph two, Clauses 4.¹ and 4.², Section 4, Clause 11.¹ of this Law, the new wording of Sections 35 and 45 (regarding the duration of a lesson and the forms of learning organisation in basic education and general secondary education programmes), as well as the new wording of Section 57 (regarding the duration of a lesson and the forms of learning organisation in special education programmes) shall come into force on 1 September 2020.

[21 June 2018]

28. Amendments to Section 4, Clause 11 (regarding deletion of the subject standard) of this Law, amendments regarding the deletion of Section 14, Clause 2, the new wording of Section 15, Paragraph one (regarding the new provisions of the State general education standard), amendments regarding the deletion of Section 16, amendments to Section 17, Paragraph one which were adopted on 21 June 2018 (regarding the new provisions of the general education programme content), amendments to Section 17, Paragraph one, Clause 2 in the wording of the Law as of 1 February 2020 (regarding the planned results for the acquisition of education content in a field of learning or a part of a field), and to Section 19, Paragraph two (regarding deletion of the subject standard) shall come into force on:

1) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10;

2) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 2, 5, 8, and 11;

3) on 1 September 2022 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12.

[21 June 2018; 9 January 2020]

29. Amendments to Section 4, Clause 5 of this Law (regarding the deletion of the words "gymnasium and"), the new wording of Section 40, Paragraph one, Clause 3, and amendments to this Section (regarding the deletion of Paragraph three) shall come into force on 1 September 2021. From 1 August 2018, the status of gymnasium shall not be granted to an educational institution.

[21 June 2018]

30. The new wording of Section 40, Paragraph four of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2018.

[21 June 2018]

31. Amendments to Section 15.¹, Paragraph one and Section 20, Paragraph one of this Law (regarding the contents to be specified in the guidelines for the State pre-school education and the pre-school education programme) shall come into force on 1 September 2019.

[21 June 2018]

32. Local governments which have gymnasiums under their subordination shall, by 28 February 2019, take a decision in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law on the change of the name of gymnasiums or on the completion of the liquidation or reorganisation thereof until 31 August 2021, ensuring further education of educatees in a corresponding educational programme, as well as shall, by 31 August 2021, take all the necessary actions to make corresponding amendments to the Register of Educational Institutions. The names of the reorganised educational institutions shall conform to the requirements of Section 26 of the Education Law.

[21 June 2018]

33. Amendments to Section 40, Paragraph one, Clause 2 and Paragraph five of this Law [regarding the deletion of evening (shift) secondary schools] shall come into force on 1 September 2020. From 1 August 2018, evening (shift) secondary schools shall not be founded.

[21 June 2018]

34. Local governments which have evening (shift) secondary schools under their subordination shall, by 28 February 2019, take a decision in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law on the change of the name of evening (shift) secondary schools or on the completion of the liquidation or reorganisation thereof until 31 August 2020, ensuring further education of educatees in a corresponding educational programme, as well as shall, by 31 August 2020, take all the necessary actions to make corresponding amendments to the Register of Educational Institutions. The names of the reorganised educational institutions shall conform to the requirements of Section 26 of the Education Law.

[21 June 2018]

35. Amendments to Section 1, Paragraph two, Clause 7, Section 3, Paragraph two, Clause 3, Section 29, Paragraph two, to the title of Chapter IX, and Sections 59, 60, and 61 (regarding the deletion of pedagogical correction as the special type of general education) shall come into force on 1 September 2019.

[21 June 2018]

36. Section 51, Paragraph five of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2020.

[21 June 2018]

37. Local governments which have rehabilitation centres and special pre-school education institutions under their subordination shall, by 28 February 2019, take a decision in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law on the change of the name of rehabilitation centres and special pre-school education institutions or on the completion of the liquidation or reorganisation thereof until 31 August 2020, ensuring further education of educatees in a corresponding educational programme, as well as shall, by 31 August 2020, take all the necessary actions to make corresponding amendments to the Register of Educational Institutions. The names of the reorganised educational institutions shall conform to the requirements of Section 26 of the Education Law.

[21 June 2018]

38. Amendments to Section 1, Paragraph two, Clause 5 of this Law (regarding the combining of subjects in fields of learning), amendments regarding the deletion of Section 42, Paragraph one and the supplementation of the Law with Section 42.¹ shall come into force:

1) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 10;

2) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 11;

3) on 1 September 2022 - in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12.

[21 June 2018]

39. Educational institutions which are implementing pre-school education programmes or have commenced new development of such programmes on the day of coming into force of the amendments made to Section 15.¹, Paragraph one and Section 20, Paragraph one of this Law shall ensure the conformity of the relevant programmes with the requirements of the abovementioned legal norms by 31 August 2019.

[21 June 2018]

40. Educational institutions which are implementing general basic and general secondary education programmes or have commenced new development of such programmes on the day of coming into force of the new wording of Section 15, Paragraph one, Section 17, Paragraph one of this Law, and Section 42.¹ shall ensure the conformity of the relevant programmes with the requirements of the abovementioned legal norms by 31 August 2019.

[21 June 2018]

41. Section 30, Paragraph six of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2023. The Cabinet shall issue the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 30, Paragraph seven of this Law by 31 March 2020.

[9 January 2020]

42. The educational institutions which, as at 1 February 2020, implement basic education programmes of a vocationally oriented discipline and basic education programmes with in-depth acquisition of subjects and receive additional funding from the State budget for the remuneration of the teachers involved in the implementation of these programmes are entitled to continue to receive this funding until 31 August 2023 in accordance with the legal framework which is in force on 31 January 2020.

[9 January 2020]

43. Section 20.¹, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2021.

[14 May 2020]

44. Local governments shall ensure the opportunities provided for in Section 21, Paragraph two of this Law at all pre-school education institutions subordinate thereto no later than by 1 September 2021.

[14 May 2020]

45. Special education institutions which have received the status of a special education development centre before 15 May 2020 and which do not meet the requirements of Section 51, Paragraph five of this Law (for educational programmes implemented by special education institutions and educational programmes that special education institutions may implement additionally) may keep this status until 31 August 2023 if they meet the criteria provided for by Cabinet Regulation No. 187 of 29 March 2016, Provisions Regarding the Criteria and Procedure for Granting the Status of a Special Education Development Centre to Special Education Institutions (in the wording in force on 15 May 2020), including on 15 May 2020 they are implementing at least one special education programme referred to in Section 51, Paragraph five of this Law. From 1 September 2020 until 31 August 2023, maintenance costs at such special education institutions shall be covered from the State budget grant for educatees in the educational programmes referred to in Section 51, Paragraph five of this Law.

[14 May 2020]

46. The Cabinet shall, no later than by 30 April 2022, amend Cabinet Regulation No. 187 of 29 March 2016, Regulations Regarding the Criteria and Procedures by which the Status of a Special Education Development Centre is Granted to Special Education Institutions, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51, Paragraph five of this Law. In order to ensure improvement of the operation of special education development centres, the status of a special education development centre shall not be granted to special education institutions until 31 May 2023.

[14 May 2020]

47. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2020, issue the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 4, Clause 5 of this Law (regarding the criteria and procedures for granting and annulling the status of a State gymnasium), providing for a gradual application of the criteria included therein to educational institutions to which the status of a State gymnasium has been granted by a decision of the Cabinet adopted before 31 May 2020. In order to ensure improvement of the operation of State gymnasiums, the status of a State gymnasium shall not be granted to educational institutions until 31 December 2023.

[14 May 2020]

48. An educational institutions which has begun its operation until 10 June 2020 is entitled, in order to fulfil the requirements for obtaining the status of a State gymnasium provided for in the General Education Law in the wording in force until 10 June 2020 and the regulations issued on its basis and by agreeing thereupon with the founder of the educational institution, to lodge a submission to the Ministry of Education and Science by 31 May 2021, requesting to grant the status of a State gymnasium to the educational institution. At the same time, documents certifying that the educational institution meets the following criteria shall be submitted:

1) according to data as on 1 September 2019, the educational institution has had in grades from 10 to 12:

a) at least 250 educatees - in Rīga;

b) at least 180 educatees - in cities, excluding Rīga;

c) at least 120 educatees - in administrative territories, excluding cities

2) in the academic year 2019/2020, the educational institution has implemented at least two general secondary education programmes and at least one of them - in the direction of mathematics, natural sciences and technologies;

3) in the academic year 2019/2020, the educational institution has implemented two or more basic education programmes, one of them - in the direction of mathematics, natural sciences and technologies;

4) the mean percentage for the assessment of the learning achievements of the educatees at the educational institution in centralised examinations in academic year 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 was:

a) at least 10 percent higher than the mean percentage in the State;

b) at least five per cent higher than the mean percentage in the planning region;

5) the educational institution has fulfilled the following functions of the methodological centre and the centre for further education of teachers in the planning region in academic year 2019/2020:

a) provided general education institutions and teachers with methodological support in the organisation of the education process concerning teaching and school administration;

b) provided access to the information and literature available at the library of the educational institution to educatees and teachers;

c) supported cooperation of educatees in national and international research;

d) organised the improvement of professional competence for teachers working in general education institutions;

6) in academic year 2019/2020, the teachers of the educational institution were involved in the making of the national education policy and education development strategy (evaluation of State examinations, creation of education content, evaluation of educational literature) at the local government and national level.

[4 February 2021]

49. The Ministry of Education and Science, within a month after the receipt of the documents referred to in Paragraph 48 of the Transitional Provisions for this Law, shall evaluate the conformity of the educational institution to the criteria and provide a motivated response to the founder of the educational institution. If the educational institution conforms with the requirements in Paragraph 48 of the Transitional Provisions for this Law, the Cabinet, upon a proposal of the Minister for Education and Science, shall grant the educational institution the status of a State gymnasium, considering the funding provided for in the budget.

[4 February 2021]

50. Amendment regarding the deletion of Section 30, Paragraph five of this Law shall come into force:

1) on 1 September 2023 - in relation to the implementation of a general education basic education programme in grades 1, 4, and 7;

2) on 1 September 2024 - in relation to the implementation of a general education basic education programme in grades 2, 5, and 8;

3) on 1 September 2025 - in relation to the implementation of a general education basic education programme in grades 3, 6, and 9.

[29 September 2022 / The abovementioned amendment shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2023, 1 September 2024, and 1 September 2025]

51. In enrolling educatees in a general secondary education programme for the academic year 2023/2024, general secondary education institutions of the State, local governments, and State higher education institutions are entitled, with the permission of the founder, to implement measures in order to perform an in-depth assessment of the knowledge and skills of educatees in subjects in which educatees have taken centralised examinations.

[20 April 2023]

52. In enrolling educatees in a general secondary education programme for the academic year 2024/2025, the following shall apply in addition to the selection criteria in the competition specified in Section 39, Paragraph two of this Law:

1) general secondary education institutions of the State, local governments, and State higher education institutions, including State gymnasiums, are entitled, with the permission of the founder, to organise entrance examinations in order to, according to the State basic education standard, perform an in-depth assessment of the knowledge and skills of educatees also in subjects in which educatees have taken centralised examinations;

2) State gymnasiums are entitled, with the permission of the founder, to determine criteria for enrolment also without organising entrance examinations;

3) general secondary education institutions of the State, local governments, and State higher education institutions which are not State gymnasiums are entitled to take into account the average assessment in subjects indicated in the education document acquired previously by the educatee also without organising entrance examinations;

4) the local government in the territory of which there are several State gymnasiums is entitled to organise uniform entrance examinations and to determine uniform criteria for enrolment, whereas the State gymnasiums in the territory of the local government are entitled to additionally organise entrance examinations only in those subjects and to additionally determine only such criteria for enrolment which have not been determined by the local government.

[21 March 2024]

53. In enrolling educatees in a general secondary education programme for the academic year 2024/2025, in general secondary education institutions of the State, local governments, and State higher education institutions, including in State gymnasiums, Paragraph 52 of the Transitional Provisions shall be applicable to the educatees who have not taken the centralised examinations, except for the selection criteria in the competition determined in Section 39, Paragraph two of this Law.

[21 March 2024]

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 10 June 1999.

President G. Ulmanis

Rīga, 30 June 1999

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2024 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)