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

Education Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

The following terms are used in this Law:

1) academic education - studies of the theoretical basis of sciences and the result of such;

1¹) remote learning - a component of full-time education process where educatees learn without being physically present in the same room or venue as the teacher, which also includes the use of information and communication technologies;

2) higher education - the level of education at which academic qualification is acquired in conformity with the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth level of the Latvian Qualifications Framework;

2¹) formal education - a system which includes the levels of basic education, secondary education and higher education the completion of the programmes of which is attested by an education or professional qualification document recognised by the State, and also an education and professional qualification document;

3) interest-related education - implementation of the individual educational needs and desires of a person regardless of age and previously acquired education;

4) education - a process of systematic acquisition of knowledge and skills and development of attitudes, and result thereof. The education process includes teaching and upbringing activities. The result of education is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes;

5) education support institution - an institution founded by the State, local governments and other legal or natural persons, which ensures methodological, psychological, scientific, informative, and other intellectual support to teachers, educatees, parents of educatees, and educational institutions;

6) education document - a document which attests to the education acquired by a person according to a particular level, type, and programme of education, or to partial acquisition of such education;

7) educational institution - an institution founded by the State, local governments, State higher education institutions or other legal or natural persons with the task of implementing educational programmes, or a commercial company for which the implementation of educational programmes is one of the types of activity;

7¹) education quality - educational process, content, environment, and management which provides everyone with inclusive education and the possibility to reach high quality results according to the objectives brought forward by the society and specified by the State;

7²) accreditation of an educational institution - regular assessment of the quality of the operation of an educational institution and granting the right to an educational institution to issue a State-recognised education document for the acquisition of education corresponding to a specific educational programme;

8) level of education - a completed stage of education which includes organised and successively implemented acquisition of education;

9) education administration institution - a State or local government institution or a local government unit which fulfils the functions of education administration;

10) [14 July 2022];

11) licensing of an educational programme - assessment of the quality of an educational programme and granting the right to an educational institution to implement a certain educational programme;

12) educatee - a child, pupil, trainee, student, or listener who is completing an educational programme at an educational institution or with a teacher working in private practice;

12¹) career - interaction of education, work, and private life during the life of a person;

12²) career education - measures integrated in the education process to ensure the acquisition and development of career management skills of educatees, including awareness of one's interests, abilities, and opportunities for the selection of the direction of further education and professional career;

12³) career development support - a set of measures which includes access to information, career education, and individual consultations for educatees for the determination and planning of career objectives, upon making a choice in relation to education and work;

12⁴) full time - form of completion of education where an educatee acquires the education content by attending an educational institution, including remote learning, according to the educational programme implemented by the educational institution;

12⁵) teaching aids - the following to be used in implementation of an educational programme and acquisition of the education content:

a) study literature (textbooks, work exercise-books considered as equivalent thereto, and other editions provided for the acquisition of the education content which are used in the study process in the guidelines for the State pre-school education, in the acquisition of the education content specified in the State basic education, general secondary education, vocational secondary education, and industrial education standards) in printed or digital form (also online);

b) electronic resources - textual, visual, or audio information summarised in an electronic environment for learning purposes;

c) interactive learning platforms (specially organised electronic courses for learning purposes, which include the content required for the implementation of the educational programme and provide for active learning opportunities);

d) printed and digital games (including online), toys and accessories;

e) learning management platforms (interactive learning platforms designed for the management of the study process for groups or wider audiences with opportunities for extensive cooperation between a teacher and educatees in the study process);

f) methodological aids in printed or digital form (including online) (methodological recommendations and other study editions designed for the working needs of the teacher);

c) additional literature (reference literature, cartographic editions, music editions, fiction, including children's literature and other periodicals and non-periodicals necessary for the implementation of educational programmes) in printed or digital form (also online),

h) visual aids (including natural study objects, and also mock-ups and models, including printed or digital (including online));

i) learning and communication software;

j) handouts (exercises, schemes, worksheets, examples, samples, robotic components and other materials intended for each educate while personalising the study process), including printed or digital (including online));

k) technical teaching aids (technical equipment used in the study and communication process, including information and communication technologies, devices, robotic components and software, including technical equipment, devices and software for educatees with special needs);

l) educational materials (substances, raw materials, objects, and software which are used for the acquisition of the education content, carrying out practical tasks),

m) installations and equipment (devices, tools, instruments, objects, and accessories, including sports equipment with the aid of which the acquisition of the education content is ensured);

n) individual learning accessories (objects and aids for personal use of educatees which are used as teaching aids or in relation to the provision of learning opportunities: stationary, clothing and footwear, specific clothing, footwear and hygiene accessories necessary for the acquisition of the compulsory content of individual subjects (sports, housekeeping, and technologies, etc.), aids using which the pupil creates and object or product for his or her own needs in the learning process);

13) programme of a subject or course - a component of an educational programme which includes the objectives and tasks of a subject or course, its contents, a plan for acquiring the contents, the criteria and procedures for the assessment of the acquired education, and also a list of methods and resources necessary for the implementation of the programme;

14) [20 September 2018];

14¹) non-formal education - educational activities conforming to the interests and demand organised outside of formal education;

14²) extramural studies - the form of acquisition of education in which an educatee acquires part of the contents of the educational programme implemented by an educational institution independently;

15) basic education - the level of education at which preparation for the level of secondary education or for professional activity takes place, the basic knowledge and skills necessary for life in society and individual life of a person are acquired, and where value-orientation and involvement in public life is developed;

16) self-education - education acquired outside an educational institution;

16¹) local government education ecosystem - a system created by a local government in order to ensure the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the inhabitants throughout their lives. The local government shall develop a set of authorities working under the leadership and supervision thereof in a purposeful way by cooperating in the field of education with local government, private and public educational institutions, employers, social partners, non-governmental organisations, other local governments and educational institutions located in the territories thereof, coordinating the implementation of education in all educational programmes and at all levels;

16²) teacher - a natural person who has the education and the professional qualifications specified in this Law or in other laws governing education, and who participates in the implementation of an educational programme at an educational institution or in certified private practice;

17) adult education - a multi-dimensional educational process of persons which ensures the development of the individual and his or her ability to compete in the labour market during the lifetime of a person;

18) pre-school education - the level of education at which multi-dimensional development of the child as an individual, strengthening of his or her health and preparation for the acquisition of primary education takes place;

19) private educational institution - an educational institution founded by a legal or natural person, except for a State, local government educational institution or educational institution of a State higher education institution, and also a commercial company with a capital share of a State, local government, or State higher education institution, for which the implementation of educational programmes is one of the types of activity;

20) vocational education - practical and theoretical preparation for activity in a specific profession, for the acquisition of professional qualification, and for the improvement of professional competence;

20¹) vocationally oriented education - systematised acquisition of knowledge and skills, and also the formation of value orientation in art, culture, or sports concurrently with the basic education or secondary education level which provides a possibility to prepare for the acquisition of a vocational education in the selected direction;

21) professional qualification - assessment of education and professional skill with respect to a particular profession, confirmed by documentary evidence;

22) [9 July 2013];

23) professional qualification document - a document which attests to the professional qualification of a person and grants the right to apply for holding a position corresponding to a specific profession and level of qualification or for the receipt of the relevant certificate for employment in private practice;

24) special education - general and vocational education adapted for persons with special needs and health problems, or with special needs or health problems;

25) further education - continuation of the previously acquired education and improvement of professional skill according to the requirements of the specific profession;

26) distance learning - the form of the acquisition of education in which an educatee acquires the contents of an educational programme implemented by an educational institution independently and individually, using specially structured study materials offered by the educational institution, different technical and electronic means of communication. Achievements of the educatee are assessed according to the requirements of the relevant educational programme;

26¹) [5 May 2016];

27) State education standard - a document which determines the main objectives and tasks of educational programmes, the compulsory basic content of education, basic criteria for the assessment of the acquired education, and general procedures according to the level and type of education;

28) secondary education -the level of education at which multi-dimensional growth of an individual, purposeful and profound development in an intentionally chosen general and vocational education, or general or vocational education stream, preparation for studies at the highest level of education or professional activity, and involvement in public life takes place;

29) general education - the process of cognition of the multi-dimensionality and oneness of a human beings, nature, and society, and the process of development of a humane, free, and responsible individual, and the result thereof.

[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 13 November 2008; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 5 May 2016; 20 September 2018; 12 November 2020; 8 April 2021; 14 July 2022; 15 September 2022; 20 October 2022]

Section 2. Purpose of this Law

The purpose of this Law is to ensure that every resident of Latvia has the opportunity to develop his or her mental and physical potential in order to become an independent and a fully developed individual, a member of the democratic State and society of Latvia. According to the age and needs of an educatee, he or she shall be ensured an opportunity to:

1) acquire knowledge and skills in the field of humanities, social, natural, and technical sciences;

2) acquire knowledge, skills, and experience in relationships in order to participate in the life of the State and society;

3) have moral, aesthetic, intellectual, and physical development, by promoting the development of a knowledgeable, skilful, and socialised individual.

Section 3. Right to Qualitative and Inclusive Education

(1) Everyone has the right to qualitative and inclusive education.

(2) A minor child of an asylum seeker and a minor asylum seeker has the right to basic education and secondary education, and also the right to continue the commenced education after attaining the age of majority.

(3) A minor third-country national or stateless person who has no legal basis to reside in the Republic of Latvia has the right to acquire basic education during the time period specified for voluntary exit or during the time period for which the expulsion is suspended, and also during his or her detention.

[4 March 2010; 8 April 2021]

Section 3.¹ Prohibition of Differential Treatment

(1) The persons referred to in Section 3 of this Law have the right to acquire education regardless of the material and social status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, religious and political affiliation, health condition, occupation, and place of residence.

(2) Differential treatment towards a person due to the conditions referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be permitted if it is objectively substantiated with a legal purpose the means selected for the achievement of which are proportionate.

(3) An educational institution established by a religious organisation is entitled to base on the person's religious affiliation, readiness, and capability to act in good faith and loyalty in relation to the dogma (doctrine) of the particular religion, and also a set of moral and behavioural norms, principles, and ideals which form the basis of the conviction of the believers thereof.

(4) It is prohibited to directly or indirectly create unfavourable consequences for a person if he or she maintains his or her rights with a view to prevent differential treatment.

(5) If, in the event of a dispute, a person points to factors which could be the basis for his or her direct or indirect discrimination due to the conditions referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, the implementer of the educational programme has the obligation to prove that the prohibition of differential treatment has not been violated.

(6) If the prohibition of differential treatment or the prohibition to create unfavourable consequences is violated, a person has the right to request elimination of the violation, to receive legal assistance in accordance with the Ombudsman Law, and also to bring an action to the court. A person has the right to request compensation for losses and remuneration for moral detriment. In the event of a dispute, the amount of remuneration for moral detriment shall be determined by a court at its discretion.

(7) The prohibition of differential treatment in relation to teachers and other persons employed in the education system shall be governed by other laws.

(8) The term "discrimination" used in this Section and types thereof shall conform to the terms used in the Consumer Rights Protection Law.

[4 March 2010]

Section 4. Compulsory Nature of Education

Preparation of children from the age of five for the acquisition of basic education and the acquisition of basic education, or the continuation of the acquisition of basic education until attaining 18 years of age shall be compulsory.

[5 July 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009]

Section 4.¹ State System for Ensuring the Education Quality

(1) The State system for ensuring the education quality is a systematic set of policies, guidelines, procedures, activities, and resources for the planning, achievement, maintenance, supervision, and continuous improvement of the education quality.

(2) The State shall create a system for ensuring the education quality and determine the rights and obligations, and also responsibility for the education quality of educational institutions, their founders, State and local government institutions. The founder of an educational institution and the implementer of the education process shall ensure the education quality in the educational institution.

[8 April 2021]

Section 5. Levels of Education

(1) The following levels of education are specified:

1) pre-school education;

2) basic education;

3) secondary education;

4) higher education.

(2) An educatee has the right to acquire education at each subsequent level, successively proceeding from one level of education to the next.

Section 6. Types of Education

The types of education are as follows:

1) general education;

2) vocational education;

3) academic education.

Section 7. Education Target Groups

Education target groups are aggregates of persons with similar specific needs, interests, and abilities who wish to acquire education or for whom the acquisition of compulsory education has been specified in law. Target groups for primary education consist of::

1) children of pre-school age;

2) children and young persons of the compulsory education age;

3) young persons;

4) persons with special needs;

5) adults.

Section 8. Forms of Acquisition of Education

(1) The forms of acquisition of education shall be as follows:

1) full-time studies;

2) extramural studies;

3) distance learning;

4) self-education;

5) education in the family.

(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement the completion of educational programmes in the form of full-time studies, extramural studies, and also distance learning. Pre-school education programmes shall be implemented in the form in full-time studies. General basic education and general secondary education programmes shall be implemented in the form of extramural studies and distance learning in conformity with the criteria and procedures for the implementation of general education programmes stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3) An educatee may acquire the contents of an educational programme in the form of self-education. Assessment of an educational programme completed in such a manner can be obtained by taking examinations at the educational institution which implements the relevant programme.

(4) Paragraph three of this Section shall not apply to higher education programmes.

[5 February 2004; 20 September 2018; 8 April 2021]

Section 8.¹ Latvian Qualifications Framework

(1) The Latvian Qualifications Framework is an eight-level system which encompasses all levels of educations (basic education, secondary education, higher education) and all types of education (general education, vocational education, academic education), and also the professional qualification acquired outside of the formal education system. The Latvian Qualifications Framework is referenced to the European Qualifications Framework.

(2) Levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework are characterised by the learning outcomes to be achieved on the relevant level. Each subsequent level includes the knowledge, skills, and competence specified for the previous level.

(3) The levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework are as follows:

1) the first level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate elementary knowledge and to use it for the performance of elementary practical tasks under supervision of a specialist;

2) the second level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate basic knowledge and to use it for the performance of simple practical tasks in a specific field semi-independently under supervision of a specialist;

3) the third level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate general knowledge and to use it for the performance of different tasks in a constant and stable environment assuming responsibility for the work result;

4) the fourth level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and to independently plan and organise work in the relevant field by assuming responsibility, working individually, in a team or managing the work of other people;

5) the fifth level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate comprehensive and specialised knowledge corresponding to the relevant field; the ability to use analytical approach towards solving of practical problems in the relevant profession in a changing environment; the ability to understand the field of one's activity in a wider social context, to participate in the development of the relevant sector, to evaluate one's own activity and activity of other people;

6) the sixth level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate basic and specialised knowledge in the sector and to use it for the performance of professional, artistic, innovative, or research activity; the ability to use scientific approach for problem-solving, to assume responsibility and initiative; the ability to take decisions and to find creative solutions in changing conditions;

7) the seventh level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate advanced and extensive knowledge in the relevant field of science or professional area; the ability to independently use the theory, methods, and problem-solving skills for the performance of research, artistic, or highly qualified professional activity in changing conditions; the ability to independently formulate and critically analyse complicated scientific and professional problems, to integrate the knowledge of different fields, to contribute to the creation of new knowledge;

8) the eighth level of qualification - the ability to demonstrate extensive research knowledge and skills; the ability to show having good knowledge and understanding of the most topical scientific theories and statements, having good command of the research methodology and modern research methods in the relevant field of science or professional area and at the interface between fields; the ability to independently improve one's scientific qualification and to implement large scientific projects; the ability to solve significant scientific and innovative tasks by making independent, critical analysis, synthesis, and assessment.

[18 June 2015]

Section 9. Language in which Education is Acquired

(1) Education at State, local government educational institutions and educational institutions of State higher education institutions shall be acquired in the official language.

(1¹) In private educational institutions general education and vocational education at the level of basic education and secondary education shall be acquired in the official language.

(2) Education may be acquired in another language:

1) in educational institutions which are implementing educational programmes according to the bilateral or multilateral international agreements of the Republic of Latvia;

2) [29 September 2022];

2¹) in educational institutions in which study subjects of general education programmes are completely or partially implemented in a foreign language in order to ensure the learning of other official languages of the European Union in conformity with the conditions of the relevant State education standard;

3) in educational institutions specified in other laws.

(2¹) In educational institutions implementing special education programmes for educatees with hearing impairments, and also in other educational institutions in which learning environment suitable for the acquisition of education in the Latvian sign language is ensured, education may also be acquired in the Latvian sign language.

(3) In order to acquire basic or secondary education, each educatee shall learn the official language and take examinations testing his or her proficiency in the official language to the extent and in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3¹) The study programmes of higher education institutions and colleges shall be implemented in the official language. Implementation of a study programme in a foreign language shall be determined by the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(4) [15 April 2021]

(5) [15 April 2021]

(6) Raising of qualifications and re-qualification that is funded from the State budget or local government budgets shall be carried out in the official language.

[4 March 2010; 15 March 2012, 18 June 2015; 22 March 2018; 20 September 2018; 15 April 2021; 29 September 2022]

Section 10. Education and Religion

(1) The education system shall ensure freedom of conscience. Educatees shall have the option to learn the Christian religious instruction or ethics, or Christian religious instruction and ethics concurrently.

(2) The Law on Religious Organisations shall govern the relations between educational institutions and religious organisations.

Section 10.¹ Ensuring Moral, Aesthetic, Intellectual, and Physical Development in the Education Process

(1) The education system shall ensure the moral, aesthetic, intellectual, and physical development of an educatee in accordance with the values enshrined in and protected by the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, in particular such values as life, human dignity, freedom, family, marriage, work, nature, culture, the Latvian language, and the State of Latvia.

(2) An educational institution, except for higher education institutions, shall protect an educatee from the use of such information and such teaching tools and materials and also such methods in the process of education and upbringing which are inconsistent with the aim of this Law to ensure the moral, aesthetic, intellectual, and physical development of an educatee in order to promote the formation of a knowledgeable, skilful, and socialised individual.

[20 October 2022]

Section 11. Education Documents

(1) Educatees, upon acquisition of a particular level (except for the level of pre-school education) and type of education, shall be issued the relevant education document: a certificate, a document attesting to the education, or a diploma.

(2) A State-recognised education document shall be issued to the educatee who has acquired education in an accredited educational institution that corresponds to a licensed educational programme.

(3) An educational institution may issue a document for partial completion of an educational programme.

[14 July 2022]

Section 11.¹ Recognition in Latvia of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries

(1) Expert-examination of education documents issued in foreign countries shall be carried out on the basis of an application of the holder of the education documents, the relevant educational institutions, State authorities, employers, or professional organisations. The expert-examination of education documents issued in foreign countries shall be carried out by the Academic Information Centre.

(2) The expert-examination of education documents issued from 1 January 2016 in a country of the European Union, a country of the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation, or a foreign country determined by the Cabinet in accordance with the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region (hereinafter - the Lisbon Convention) shall be carried out by a higher education institution if it has acquired the right to carry out the expert-examination of the abovementioned documents (hereinafter - the higher education institution which has acquired the right to carry out the expert-examination of education documents), provided that the holder of the education document has submitted the application for commencing or continuing studies at the relevant higher education institution in compliance with that laid down in Paragraph four of this Section.

(3) A copy of the education document issued in a foreign country which has been certified in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, a copy of a personal identification document, and translation of such documents into Latvian or in any other official language of the European Union, unless such documents have been drawn up in any of the abovementioned languages, shall be appended to the application referred to in Paragraph one or two of this Section.

(4) If the holder of the education document has submitted an application for commencing or continuing studies in Latvia at one or more higher education institutions which have obtained the right to carry out the expert-examination of education documents, he or she shall indicate in the application the institution to which the documents shall be submitted for expert-examination in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph one or two of this Section.

(5) After the expert-examination of the documents, the applicant shall be issued with a statement on the education document issued in Latvia or the degree to be awarded in Latvia, or the level of the Latvian Qualifications Framework to which the education document issued abroad corresponds or may be equalled.

(6) The decision to recognise an education document shall be taken on the basis of a statement specified in Paragraph five of this Section:

1) for continuing education at the level of secondary education - the educational institution where the holder of the education document wishes to commence or continue studies in Latvia;

2) for commencing or continuing studies in Latvia - the higher education institution where the holder of the education document wishes to commence or continue studies in Latvia. The higher education institution may make an additional expert-examination and set additional requirements;

3) for hiring employees in the professions in which the professional activity or the education required for it is not governed by the laws and regulations regarding regulated professions and the recognition of professional qualification - by the employer.

(7) The provisions of Paragraphs one, two, three, four, five, and six of this Section shall not be applied if the education document has been issued to the person in a foreign country with which Latvia has concluded an international agreement for the mutual recognition of education documents and it provides different procedures for the recognition of education documents.

(8) For a person of legal age to whom the refugee status or alternative status has been granted or for whom the status of temporary protection has been determined in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Asylum Law or other laws and regulations, the Academic Information Centre shall, for a fee, carry out an expert-examination and prepare the statement on education acquired abroad based on the available information and the information provided by the person, and in accordance with the Lisbon Convention, documents of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in this field if due to objective reasons the person is unable to provide documentary evidence of the education acquired. The statement shall be informative and of recommendatory nature when submitted to a higher education institution or a college, or to the employer.

(9) The higher education institution referred to in Paragraph two of this Section shall conclude an agreement with the Academic Information Centre on the cooperation in the recognition of education documents in order to ensure compliance with and application of the measures laid down in the Lisbon Convention.

(10) The Academic Information Centre shall post on its website a list of higher education institutions which have obtained the right to carry out expert-examination of education documents in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(11) The services provided within the scope of the expert-examination of education documents issued in foreign countries shall be free of charge. The Cabinet shall determine the price list for paid services provided within the scope of the expert-examination of education documents, including in the cases where it is not possible to provide documentary evidence of the education acquired.

[14 July 2022]

Section 11.² Register of the Statements on Expert-examination of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries

(1) The information on the statement referred to in Section 11.¹, Paragraph five of this Law shall be entered in the Register of the Statements on Expert-examination of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries, if the Academic Information Centre or a higher education institution has carried out an expert-examination on the basis of Section 11.¹ of this Law.

(2) The Register of the Statements on Expert-examination of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries shall form a part of the State Education Information System and shall be maintained and the data entered by a higher education institution shall be supervised by the Academic Information Centre.

(3) The following information shall be included in the Register of the Statements on Expert-examination of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries:

1) given name, surname, personal identity number or, if not granted to the person, other information identifying the person to whom an education document was issued in a foreign country;

2) the date of issue of the education document issued in a foreign country a copy of which has been submitted for expert-examination and other information on this document;

3) the statement referred to in Section 11.¹, Paragraph five of this Law.

(4) The procedures for the inclusion of information in the Register of Statements on Expert-examination of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries, and also the procedures for ensuring availability of the data included shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[14 July 2022]

Section 11.³ Recognition of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries for Professional Activities in Professions Regulated in Latvia

Recognition of education documents issued in foreign countries for professional activities in professions regulated in Latvia shall be determined in the laws and regulations regarding regulated professions and the recognition of professional qualification.

[14 July 2022]

Section 12. Fee for the Acquisition of Education

(1) Fee for the acquisition of pre-school education, basic education, and secondary education at a State or local government institution, and also at a secondary education institution of State higher education institutions shall be covered from the State budget, local government budgets, or budgets of State higher education institutions in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. A private educational institution may determine a fee for the acquisition of education.

(2) In higher education programmes, the State shall cover the fee for the acquisition of education for a specified number of student positions according to the State order specified for the relevant year; for the remaining student positions each higher education institution or college may determine a fee for the acquisition of education.

(2¹) In its binding regulations, a local government may provide a partial fee as co-financing for the acquisition of education in the vocationally oriented education institutions established by the local government.

(3) A student may receive State credit for studies in higher education programmes. The obtained credit shall be re-paid or extinguished in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(4) A foreigner or a stateless person shall pay for the completion of higher education programme according to the contract concluded with the relevant educational institution.

(5) For the persons referred to in Section 3, Paragraph one, Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and also Paragraphs two and three of this Law, the fee for the acquisition of basic education and secondary education shall be determined and covered according to the same procedures as for a citizen of Latvia and non-citizen of Latvia.

[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]

Section 13. International Co-operation in Education

(1) Co-operation of the Republic of Latvia with other states and international organisations in the field of education shall be determined by international agreements.

(2) An educational institution is entitled to co-operate with foreign educational institutions and international organisations.

Section 13.¹ Guidelines for Educational Development

(1) The guidelines for educational development is a document which determines a uniform State policy and development strategy in education for the next seven years and includes the basic principles, overarching objectives and sub-objectives of the education policy, including objectives for the education quality, the main measures for the achievement of the specified objectives, the results to be achieved and the performance indicators in conformity with the principles specified in the laws and regulations governing the development planning system.

(2) The guidelines for educational development shall be developed by the Ministry of Education and Science and submitted to the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima. After the support of the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima is received, the Ministry of Education and Science shall send the guidelines to the Cabinet for approval.

(3) Corresponding action plans shall be developed for the achievement of the goals put forward for the following seven years in the guidelines for educational development: for the first three years, for the following two years, and for the remaining two years.

(4) The action plans shall be developed by the Ministry of Education and Science and, before approval by the Cabinet, shall be submitted for evaluation to the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima.

[3 September 2020; 8 April 2021]

Chapter II
Organisation of Education

Section 14. Competence of the Cabinet in the Field of Education

The Cabinet shall:

1) determine the forms for the State-recognised education documents, the criteria and procedures for the issuance of education documents;

1¹) determine descriptions of knowledge, skills, and competences corresponding to the levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework;

2) [5 July 2001];

3) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance the basic education and secondary education programmes implemented by private educational institutions;

4) determine the procedures for the receipt, repayment, and extinguishing of a credit in higher education programmes;

5) determine the procedures for the registration of children who have attained the compulsory school age;

6) approve the constitution of the National Defence Academy of Latvia and higher education institutions founded by private individuals;

7) found, reorganise, and liquidate State educational institutions and State education support institutions upon a proposal of the Minister for Education and Science or other Ministers;

7¹) [8 April 2021 / See Paragraph 93 of Transitional Provisions];

8) determine the procedures for the registration and accreditation of educational institutions, including extraordinary accreditation and cancellation of accreditation;

8¹) determine the requirements for systemic ensuring of the education quality, and also the structure of and the procedures for the submission of the report of the local government education administration institution on the education quality in the relevant local government;

8²) approve an annual assessment report on the education quality;

9) [16 June 2009];

10) govern the rules and procedures for the accreditation of higher education institutions;

11) determine the procedures for licensing educational programmes and cancellation of a license;

11¹) determine the procedures for issuing permits for the implementation of non-formal education programmes;

12) confirm the list of pedagogical professions and positions;

12¹) determine the procedures and criteria for the assessment of the professional activity of the heads of educational institutions (except for higher education institutions and colleges), including for extraordinary assessment and cancellation of the assessment;

12²) determine the procedures and evaluation conditions for the selection of candidates for the positions of the heads of State and local government educational institutions (except for higher education institutions and colleges) and heads of local government educational boards;

13) confirm, according to pedagogical professions, the requirements for the required education and professional qualifications of teachers;

13¹) determine the procedures by which a certificate for the commencement of a private practice of a teacher shall be issued, its term of validity shall be extended, or it shall be cancelled;

14) [5 July 2001];

15) determine the procedures by which the State and local governments shall finance the purchase of teaching aids for educational institutions;

15¹) determine the procedures for the evaluation and approval of the conformity of the educational literature with the State basic education and general secondary education standard;

16) determine the procedures for the payment of remuneration to teachers and its amount, including the lowest monthly salary rate for a teacher;

17) determine the procedures for the financing in special education institutions and in special education classes and groups of general education institutions;

18) approve guidelines for educational development for the following seven years;

18¹) determine the guidelines for the State pre-school education which include model educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of such guidelines;

19) determine State standards in education which include model educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of such standards, except for model vocational education programmes and model academic education programmes;

20) determine the minimum costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one educatee;

20¹) determine the procedures by which an educational institution (except for higher education institutions and colleges) shall ensure library and information services;

21) determine the procedures for ensuring prophylactic health care, emergency medical assistance, and also the safety of educatees in educational institutions and the events organised by such institutions;

21¹) determine the methodology for the assessment of special needs of educatees for pre-school education institutions;

22) determine the amount of workload for teachers;

23) determine the types of scholarships, the criteria and procedures for receiving scholarships, and also the minimum and maximum amount of scholarships for the educatees of higher education programmes who have been enrolled according to competitive procedures according to the number of State financed places, and for the educatees of vocational education programmes who have been enrolled according to the number of State or local government financed places;

24) determine the procedures for financing interest-related education programmes and interest-related education institutions of national significance;

24¹) determine the criteria and procedures for granting and cancelling the status of an interest-related education institution of national significance;

25) govern the organisation of children's camps and activity regulations;

26) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance vocationally oriented education programmes;

27) determine the authority which keep the registers of teachers and educational programmes, and also the procedures by which they are kept and maintained;

28) determine the authority which shall licence educational programmes, except for the interest-related education programmes;

29) [8 April 2021];

30) determine the content of the State Education Information System and the procedures for its maintenance and updating;

31) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance non-formal education programmes, further education programmes, and professional competence improvement in adult education, and also the criteria for the receipt of the relevant financing;

32) determine the procedures for the improvement of the professional competence of teachers;

33) determine the procedures by which State examinations shall take place in educational programmes implemented by accredited educational institutions;

34) determine the support measures for employers in additional educating of employees, including the criteria for the receipt of such support and the procedures for the implementation of support measures;

35) determine the procedures by which an educational institution shall inform parents (persons who exercise custody) of educatees, local government or State institutions, if an educatee fails to attend educational institution without a justifying reason;

36) determine the methodology according to which a local government shall determine the average costs necessary per educatee in a pre-school education programme (from the age of one and a half years up to the commencement of acquisition of basic education) at local government educational institutions, and the procedures by which a local government shall, according to the average costs necessary per educatee specified thereby in the educational institutions of the relevant local government, cover the costs of a pre-school education programme for a private educational institution;

36¹) determine the procedures for keeping and maintaining a register of educatees registered for the acquisition of pre-school education programmes at the educational institution;

37) determine the directions for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of teachers, the description of the levels of the quality of the professional activity of teachers, and the procedures by which the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of teachers shall be organised;

38) determine guidelines for the upbringing of educatees, also national and moral upbringing, in educational institutions, except for higher education institutions, including govern the provisions for the use of the national symbols of Latvia - national flag, national anthem, and the State coat of arms - at an educational institution and the events organised thereby regardless of the legal status of the educational institution, taking into account the requirements of laws and regulations. The educational institution may use the large State coat of arms within the scope of national upbringing. The Cabinet shall determine the events to be organised for celebrating public holidays at educational institutions, except for higher education institutions;

39) determine the procedures by which the conformity of information, including teaching aids and materials, and also study and upbringing methods with ensuring of the moral development of an educatee included in the purpose of this Law shall be evaluated, and also the criteria for such evaluation;

40) [1 January 2021 / See Paragraph 62 of Transitional Provisions]

41) determine the quality criteria, the minimum admissible number of educatees, and the criteria for the determination of the maximum admissible number of educatees in a grade or group of grades at the level of secondary education in general education institutions of local governments, State higher education institutions, and in private general education institutions. The founder of the educational institution shall take into account the abovementioned criteria upon determining the maximum admissible number of educatees in a grade or group of grades;

42) determine the criteria and procedures by which the State, including taking into account the minimum acceptable number of educatees at the level of secondary education, shall participate in the financing of the remuneration for teachers who are involved in the implementation of general education programmes in general education institutions of local governments, State higher education institutions, and private general education institutions, if an educational institution does not meet the quality criteria stipulated by the Cabinet;

43) determine the procedures by which an educational institution shall implement general basic and general secondary education programmes in the form of extramural studies and distance learning;

44) determine the procedures for the calculation, granting, and use of the resources intended in the State budget for the catering of such educatees who are acquiring basic education programmes in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 in full-time studies, and the amount of the State budget funds for one educatee per day;

45) determine the procedures for organising and implementing remote learning;

46) determine the procedures by which founders of educational institutions shall evaluate the professional activity of the heads of educational institutions;

47) determine a model interest-related education programme for the minority language and cultural history and the guidelines for the implementation thereof;

48) determine the criteria and procedures by which the State participates in financing the remuneration of teachers involved in the implementation of the interest-related education programme for the minority language and cultural history and in financing the purchase of teaching aids.

[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 3 December 2015; 5 May 2016; 23 November 2016; 27 July 2017; 22 November 2017; 20 September 2018; 14 November 2019; 14 May 2020; 3 September 2020; 12 November 2020; 8 April 2021; 14 July 2022; 15 September 2022; 29 September 2022; 20 October 2022]

Section 15. Competence of the Ministry of Education and Science in the Field of Education

The Ministry of Education and Science shall:

1) implement a unified State policy and development strategy in education;

2) develop draft policy planning documents and draft laws and regulations in the field of education;

2¹) be responsible for the implementation of the purpose specified in the Education Law;

2²) manage the implementation of the unified State policy and development strategy in education established in the guidelines for educational development and coordinate it with other institutions involved in the education process;

3) ensure the maintenance and updating of the State Education Information System and the State Examination Information System;

4) [16 June 2009];

5) [16 June 2009];

6) organise educational and professional skill improvement work for teachers, coordinate the research and methodology work;

7) develop the guidelines for the State pre-school education, State education standards, and also model educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of the guidelines for the State pre-school education or State education standards;

8) develop proposals and, according to the specified procedures, submit a request for the allocation of the State budget funds to education, science, sports, development of the official language, and upbringing of the youth in accordance with the purpose of this Law;

9) control lawful use of the State budget funds provided for education at the educational institutions subordinate thereto;

10) coordinate the co-operation in education between the State educational institutions, foreign countries and international organisations;

11) develop model programmes for study subjects or courses (except for higher education programmes) according to the requirements of the State education standards;

12) develop model by-laws for educational institutions and education support institutions;

13) organise State order for the preparation and publication of teaching aids corresponding to basic education programmes;

14) coordinate the procedures for the acquisition of education and improvement of professional competence for teachers;

15) [16 June 2009];

16) [4 March 2010];

17) organise the development of electronic educational resources and teaching aids conforming to the education standards;

18) monitor the results of the learning process of State-funded educational institutions, develop and implement measures for the improvement of the quality of the learning process;

18¹) plan, bring forward, and improve objectives for the education quality, including them in the guidelines for educational development and in action plans, and also make policy for ensuring and monitoring the education quality;

18²) carry out monitoring of the education quality, collect and accrue data on the education quality, analyse and evaluate the performance of educational institutions, coordinate and organise research, inform of the results;

18³) identify and evaluate risks, develop and approve guidelines for the improvement of the education quality;

18⁴) introduce and develop digital tools for the assessment and analysis of education quality;

18⁵) prepare an annual assessment report on the education quality and submit it for approval to the Cabinet. The report shall include the quality assessment of the process, content, environment, and management of all education levels and adult education;

19) [4 March 2010];

20) [11 May 2000];

21) [15 March 2012];

22) [18 June 2015];

23) submit proposals to the Cabinet regarding the foundation, reorganisation, and liquidation of State educational institutions and education support institutions, agreeing thereupon with the relevant local governments;

24) [18 June 2015 / See Paragraph 43 of Transitional Provisions];

25) hire and dismiss heads of educational institutions (except for higher education institutions) subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science;

26) propose the dismissal from work of the heads of local government educational institutions and heads of secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions;

27) [18 June 2015];

28) develop the methodology for the assessment of special needs of educatees for pre-school education institutions.

[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 21 March 2019; 14 May 2020; 3 September 2020; 8 April 2021]

Section 16. Competence of Other Sectoral Ministries in Education

(1) Other sectoral ministries shall:

1) submit the Cabinet proposals for the foundation, reorganisation, or liquidation of State educational institutions, agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and Science;

2) develop the study content in professional subjects;

3) [11 May 2000];

4) ensure the operation of the educational institutions subordinate thereto, and also organise and finance publication and purchase of teaching aids corresponding to the standards for professional subjects;

5) control the financial and economic activities of the educational institutions subordinate thereto;

6) [4 March 2010];

7) [18 June 2015 / See Paragraph 43 of Transitional Provisions].

(2) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall develop the methodology according to which a local government shall determine the average costs necessary per one educatee in the pre-school education programme (from the age of 18 months until commencing the acquisition of basic education) at local government educational institutions, and the procedures by which a local government shall, according to the average costs necessary per educatee specified thereby in the educational institutions of the relevant local government, cover the costs of a pre-school education programme for a private educational institution.

(3) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall keep and maintain a register of educatees (from 1.5 years of age until the start of basic education) where parents (persons who exercise custody) can register a child electronically for the acquisition of pre-school education programmes at an educational institution.

(4) The Ministry of Economics shall, at least once every two years, update the medium-term and long-term job market forecast which are used for developing the guidelines for educational development.

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 18 June 2015; 3 December 2015; 20 September 2018; 14 May 2020; 3 September 2020]

Section 17. Competence of Local Governments in Education

(1) Each local government has an obligation to ensure that the children whose declared place of residence is in the administrative territory of the local government have the opportunity to acquire pre-school education and basic education at the local government educational institution closest to the place of residence of the child, to ensure that young persons have the opportunity to acquire secondary education, and also to ensure the opportunity to implement interest-related education and to support extracurricular activities, also children's camps.

(2) In order to ensure that a child whose place of residence is declared in the administrative territory of the local government has the opportunity to attend an educational institution of his or her free choice, but who is attending an educational institution which is located in the administrative territory of another local government, the local government has an obligation to enter into a contract in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet for the participation in the financing of the maintenance expenditures of an educational institution subordinate to the relevant local government.

(2¹) If a local government does not ensure a place in a pre-school education programme implemented by the local government educational institution to a child who has attained the age of 18 months and whose place of residence is declared in the administrative territory of the local government (from the age of 18 months until commencing the acquisition of basic education) and the child is acquiring the pre-school education programme in a private educational institution, the local government shall cover the costs for such private service provider in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. Costs shall be covered in the amount that corresponds to the average costs necessary for one educatee in the pre-school education programme in educational institutions of the respective local government. If the educatee acquires a pre-school education programme implemented in educational institutions selected by the local government in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Public Procurement Law, the costs shall be covered in the amount which is determined as a result of the public procurement.

(2²) The local government shall, according to the methodology stipulated by the Cabinet, determine the average costs necessary for one educatee in the pre-school education programme (from the age of 18 months until commencing the acquisition of basic education) at educational institutions of the respective local government. The local government shall publish the abovementioned average costs and the procedures for calculating them on its website.

(2³) Where a local government covers the costs of the pre-school education programme in the cases specified in Paragraph 2.¹ of this Section, it shall continue to cover such costs for a private educational institution if an offer has been made to the educatee in writing of a place at the local government educational institution in which he or she has been registered for enrolment, but the lawful representative of such educatee has refused the offered position, and the educatee continues completion of the pre-school education programme in the private educational institution.

(2⁴) In its binding regulations, a local government shall determine the procedures by which it shall ensure the covering of the costs specified in Paragraphs 2.¹ and 2.³ of this Section, and also the conditions for the determination of a higher amount of the support according to the budgetary possibilities of the local government.

(2⁵) [23 November 2020]

(3) The local government shall:

1) by agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and Science, found, reorganise, and liquidate general education institutions, including special education institutions and grades, and also pre-school educational groups for children with special needs and interest-related education institutions, but, by agreeing thereupon with the relevant sectoral ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science, found, reorganise, and liquidate vocational education institutions;

1¹) in accordance with the objectives specified in the guidelines for educational development approved by the Cabinet, develop an educational development strategy, provide support for ensuring the education quality of educational institutions, collect and analyse information on the education quality (except for higher education) in its territory;

1²) ensure accessible and qualitative education in its territory in accordance with the objectives specified by the State and the needs of the person;

1³) [20 October 2022];

2) hire and dismiss from work heads of general education institutions subordinated thereto, including special education institutions, vocational education institutions, interest-related education institutions, and vocationally oriented education institutions;

3) determine the procedures by which the educational institutions subordinate thereto shall be financed from the budget;

4) participate in the financing of State and other local government educational institutions on the basis of mutual agreements;

5) may participate in the financing of private educational institutions on the basis of mutual agreements;

6) allocate local government budget resources to educational institutions and control their use;

7) maintain the educational institutions subordinate thereto, except for the special education institutions implementing special education programmes at the level of basic education or secondary education and ensure services of a boarding school, and also the special education institutions - development centres, taking into consideration that the financial provision of such institutions may not be less than that stipulated by the Cabinet, and control the use of such financial resources;

8) [20 October 2022];

9) ensure the distribution and approval of the State budget financing allocated for teachers' remuneration in educational institutions subordinated thereto;

10) ensure the remuneration for the economic, technical, and medical employees of educational institutions subordinated thereto, except for the remuneration of employees of the special education institutions implementing special education programmes at the level of basic education or secondary education and ensure services of a boarding school, and also the special education institutions - development centres;

11) take care of preventive health care of educatees and ensure emergency medical assistance for educatees of the educational institutions subordinated thereto in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Cabinet, and also determine such educatees for whom the costs for catering shall be covered thereby;

12) ensure the acquisition of education for educatees with special needs (according to the health condition which affects the type of acquisition of education) in special education institutions, pre-school educational groups for children with special needs, special education classes in accordance with the procedures and in the amounts stipulated by the Cabinet;

13) ensure catering in special education institutions, pre-school educational groups for children with special needs, special education classes subordinate thereto in accordance with the procedures and in the amounts stipulated by the Cabinet;

14) ensure transport for educatees to commute to the educational institution and back to their place of residence if the public transport cannot be used;

15) [20 October 2022];

16) issue licences for the implementation of interest-related education and permits for the implementation of non-formal education programmes;

17) ensure protection of the rights of children in the field of education;

18) provide advisory assistance in the upbringing of children, and also ensure support measures for educatees and their families;

19) ensure the operation of the local government pedagogical-medical commission and the accessibility thereof for children with special needs;

20) register children who have attained the age of compulsory schooling in accordance with procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

21) determine the amount of benefits and material support of another kind and the procedures for granting thereof to educatees in the educational institutions subordinate thereto;

22) develop and implement policy in adult education, ensure the distribution of the financing for adult education;

23) finance from its own budget the acquisition of teaching aids conforming with the guidelines for the State pre-school education, the State basic education, general secondary education, vocational secondary education and industrial education standards - additional literature, visual aids, handouts, technical teaching aids, study materials, devices and equipment, toys and accessories; may also finance the acquisition or subscription to electronic resources, interactive learning platforms and learning and communication software for the education institutions subordinate thereto;

23¹) promote the possibility for educational institutions to use the unified library information system;

24) [20 October 2022];

25) be entitled to agree with an educational institution on the payment of tuition fee and study places from the local government budget funds;

26) [20 October 2022];

27) [20 October 2022];

27¹) to ensure the opportunity to attend an educational institution of personal choice for a child whose place of residence is declared in the administrative territory of the local government but who is acquiring a general basic education programme at an accredited private educational institution in the administrative territory of their place of residence or outside of it, shall, in conformity with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, enter into a contract for the participation in the financing of the maintenance expenditures of the relevant private educational institution if this private service provider is a public benefit organisation or a social enterprise where at least 10 per cent of the educatees involved in the education process are from social target groups determined by the Cabinet and whose tuition fee is covered by the relevant educational institution;

28) fulfil the functions of local governments in the field of education specified in other laws and regulations.

(4) [13 November 2008]

(5) [13 November 2008]

(6) The functions referred to in Paragraph three of this Section or parts thereof may be performed by a local government education administration institution, another local government institution or unit, and also by a private service provider if the local government has determined the implementation of the abovementioned functions.

[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 5 February 2004; 13 November 2008; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 3 December 2015; 22 November 2017; 20 September 2018; 14 May 2020; 12 November 2020; 23 November 2020; 15 April 2021; 8 April 2021; 14 July 2022; 20 October 2022 / The new wording of Clause 1.¹ of Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 September 2024 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2024. See Paragraph 109 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 18. Local Government Education Administration Institution

(1) In order to perform its functions in the field of education administration and ensuring the education quality, a local government shall establish an education administration institution.

(2) An education administration institution shall:

1) [Clause shall come into force on 1 September 2024 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2024 / See Paragraph 109 of Transitional Provisions];

2) organise methodological, scientific, informative, and other kind of intellectual support to educatees, teachers, parents of educatees, and educational institutions (except for higher education institutions and colleges) for ensuring the education quality;

3) coordinate cooperation between educational institutions located in the territory of the local government;

4) promote public participation in education, including cooperation of educational institutions with State and local government institutions, employers, social partners, non-governmental organisations, inform the public of the development of the local government education ecosystem, achievements, the offered educational programmes and the quality thereof;

5) develop the teaching staff policy of the local government, implement, in cooperation with the heads of educational institutions, staff planning, recruitment, and facilitate career development in educational institutions subordinated to the local government;

6) ensure financial management and data analysis of educational institutions and supervise the activities of educational institutions subordinated to the local government;

7) provide support for the necessary improvements in the educational institutions subordinated to the local government identified in the accreditation of educational institutions and in the assessment of the professional activity of the heads of educational institutions;

8) ensure supervision of the use of financial resources in adult education;

9) plan the environmental, infrastructural, and technological development of educational institutions subordinated to the local government, and also ensure the provision of material and technical resources to educational institutions;

10) plan professional competence improvement of teachers, coordinate and ensure methodological work;

11) ensure the organisation of State examinations, including centralised examinations in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Cabinet;

12) support participation of educatees in olympiads of study subjects, competitions, shows, projects, and sports competitions;

13) ensure upbringing and career education work, interest-related education for children and young persons;

14) in cooperation with State and local government authorities, develop a system of support measures for educatees and their families;

15) perform other functions in the field of education laid down by this Law and other laws and regulations if the local government has entrusted the education administration institution to perform the relevant functions.

(3) In order to ensure the performance of the functions referred to in Paragraph two of this Section and also to implement support measures in educational institutions, the education administration may hire support staff (for example, psychologist, speech therapist). In order to finance the activities of such support staff, the local government is entitled to use the State budget earmarked subsidies for teachers' remuneration determined by the Cabinet.

(4) In the performance of the functions and parts thereof referred to in Paragraph two of this Section, the local government education administration institution is entitled to cooperate with other local government institutions and units.

(5) The local government education administration institution may cooperate with other education administration institutions and other involved parties.

(6) The education administration institution shall be financed from the budget of the relevant local government.

(7) Several local governments are entitled to establish a joint education administration institution by mutual agreement on the operation and financing thereof.

[20 October 2022]

Section 18.¹ Information System for Recording and Monitoring Educational Resources

(1) The Information System for Recording and Monitoring Educational Resources is a State information system the purpose of which is to ensure to the educatees of general and vocational education institutions founded by the State and local governments and their parents (persons who exercise custody) a unified electronic environment for the administrative management of technological resources at the disposal of general and vocational education institutions founded by the State and local governments.

(2) The content, procedures for the maintenance and updating, system administrator, provisions for processing personal data, data availability and circulation, procedures for the circulation of technological resources, and also financing provisions of the Information System for Recording and Monitoring Educational Resources shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[20 October 2022]

Section 19. Education Support Institution

(1) An education support institution is an institution founded by the State, local governments, and also other legal or natural persons the purpose of which is to provide methodological, scientific, informative and other type of intellectual support to educatees, teachers, parents of educatees, and educational institutions.

(2) Education support may also be provided by such legal persons in the by-laws (articles of association) of which provision of education support is included as one of the types of activity.

Section 19.¹ Interest-related Education Institution of National Significance

(1) Interest-related education institutions which implement interest-related education programmes, including in the field of science, technology, environment, engineering and mathematics, and additionally perform the functions of a methodological centre of interest-related education and a centre for further education of teachers, have the right to obtain the status of an interest-related education institution of national significance in conformity with the criteria determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The decision on granting and cancelling the status of an interest-related education institution of national significance shall be taken by the Ministry of Education and Science.

[20 September 2018 / Section shall come into force on 1 September 2022. See Paragraph 78 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 20. State Education Quality Service

(1) Conformity with this Law, the General Education Law, the Vocational Education Law, the Law on Higher Education Institutions, and other laws and regulations related to education shall be controlled by the State Education Quality Service.

(2) The State Education Quality Service is an institution subordinate the Ministry of Education and Science. Its operations are governed by the by-laws approved by the Cabinet.

(3) The State Education Quality Service shall:

1) control the conformity of the education process with this Law, other laws and regulatory enactments governing education;

2) analyse the activities of educational institutions, develop proposals for amendments to laws and regulations and for improving the work of educational institutions;

3) in cases when a violation of laws or other regulatory enactments has been established, make proposal to the employer to impose disciplinary sanctions for the head of an educational institution or the teacher, or terminate the employment contract concluded with him or her;

4) impose administrative sanctions in accordance with the procedures and in the cases laid down in law;

5) in cases when the health or life of the educatees is in danger, and also for other violations of the law, temporarily, while the founder of the educational institution has not examined the relevant matter and taken a decision, suspend the orders of officials and suspend officials from the fulfilment of duties. Appeal of the decision of the State Education Quality Service to suspend an official or teacher from the fulfilment of duties shall not suspend its execution;

6) issue certificates for the commencement of a private practice of a teacher, and also extend their term of validity or cancel them in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

7) in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet:

a) accredit general education institutions and vocational education institutions (except for the higher education institutions and colleges);

b) evaluate the professional activity of the heads of educational institutions (except for higher education institutions and colleges) by assessing the quality of the management of educational institutions;

c) assess the quality of activities of higher education institutions and colleges during the process of accreditation thereof in the implementation of vocational secondary education, vocational further education, and professional development programmes and inform the Academic Information Centre of the results thereof;

8) develop guidelines for ensuring the quality of general and vocational education (except for higher vocational education), provide proposals for the improvement of education quality, and also organise acquisition and analysis of data on the education quality;

9) prepare an annual assessment of the education quality (except for higher education) and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Science;

10) analyse the reports of local governments on the education quality and provide recommendations for the improvement thereof.

(4) The head of the State Education Quality Service and officials of the Service authorised thereby have the right to:

1) without prior notification, upon presenting a service identification document, visit the premises of any educational institution and other premises which are related to the course of the education process;

2) request written or oral explanations from any legal or natural person regarding issues within the competence of the Service;

3) request and receive from legal and natural persons information necessary for the fulfilment of service duties and copies of documents regarding issues within the competence of the Service;

4) perform an inspection, where necessary, by inviting employees of law enforcement institutions or other specialists, to photograph, make audio recordings and video recordings within the competence of the Service;

5) draw up the inspection statement and order to eliminate the violations of the laws and regulations related to education found during the inspection;

[30 May 2019 / See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions].

[5 February 2004; 16 June 2009; 5 May 2016; 23 November 2016; 30 May 2019; 8 April 2021; 14 July 2022; 15 September 2022; 20 October 2022]

Section 20.¹ The Academic Information Centre

(1) The Academic Information Centre is an authority established by the Ministry of Education and Science.

(2) In the matters of recognition of education, the Academic Information Centre shall:

1) carry out expert-examination of education documents issued in foreign countries;

2) perform the functions of the National Information Centre of Latvia in accordance with the Lisbon Convention;

3) represent Latvia as the National Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Recognition in the European Network of National Information Centres of the Council of Europe and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation;

4) represent Latvia in the European Union Network of the National Academic Recognition Information Centres;

5) develop guidelines for the recognition of higher education degrees and qualifications in accordance with the Lisbon Convention;

6) perform other functions related to the recognition of education documents and the international exchange of information.

(3) The Academic Information Centre shall, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education Institutions, equate previously acquired education in Latvia with valid degrees and professional qualifications.

(4) In matters of higher education quality, the Academic Information Centre shall:

1) organise the assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions and colleges, fields of study and study programmes corresponding thereto, and also the licensing of study programmes. In the process of accreditation of higher education institutions and colleges the information provided by the State Service of Education Quality on the quality of activities of higher education institutions and colleges in the implementation of vocational secondary education, continuing vocational education, and vocational in-service educational programmes shall be taken into account;

2) develop methodology, guidelines, procedures, and other documents for the quality assessment, accreditation, and licensing of higher education institutions and colleges, fields of study and study programmes corresponding thereto which correspond to the standards and guidelines for the quality assurance of European higher education developed by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education;

3) prepare an annual procedure for the quality assessment of higher education and evaluation of its results, including compile and accrue data, analyse, assess, and provide proposals for the improvement of quality, and submit the evaluation to the Ministry of Education and Science;

4) cooperate at national and international level with higher education institutions and organisations for the quality assurance of higher education and participate in projects related to the matters of higher education quality;

5) provide methodological support in the matters of assessing the higher education quality;

6) according to its competence, participate in the monitoring of the education quality;

7) perform studies on matters within its competence and inform the society.

[14 July 2022]

Section 21. Public Participation in Education

(1) The public shall participate in the organisation and development of education by popularising all forms of education, educating and promoting improvement in the quality of education, creating educational programmes, protecting the rights and interests of educatees and teachers during the process of acquisition of education and work, developing educational institutions and education support institutions, associations, and foundations.

(2) State and local government education administration institutions shall provide the information, consultations, and methodological assistance necessary for the fulfilment of the tasks referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(3) In order to ensure the education administration and education support function specified thereto, the Ministry of Education and Science may delegate the fulfilment of the relevant tasks (including organisation of the accreditation of higher education programmes and higher education institutions and colleges) to a private individual or a public person by entering into a delegation contract.

(4) The delegation contracts referred to in Paragraph three of this Section may include the right to issue administrative deeds.

[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]

Chapter III
Educational Institutions

Section 22. Legal Basis for the Activity of Educational Institutions

(1) State, local government educational institutions, secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions, and private educational institutions, except for commercial companies and higher education institutions, shall act on the basis of this Law, other laws and regulatory enactments, and also the by-laws of the relevant institution which are approved by the founder of the institution. As regards the educational institutions subordinate to ministries, the obligation of the founder of a State educational institution for the approval of the by-laws shall be fulfilled by the ministry to which the educational institution is subordinated.

(2) The State, local government and private commercial companies, except for higher education institutions, shall carry out educational activity on the basis of this Law, other laws and regulatory enactments, and also by-laws regarding educational activity approved by their founders.

(3) Higher education institutions shall act on the basis of this Law, the Law on Higher Education Institutions and other laws and regulations, and also the constitution of the relevant higher education institution. The constitutions of higher education institutions shall be approved in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(4) Colleges shall operate on the basis of this Law, the Vocational Education Law and other laws and regulations, and also the by-laws of the relevant college. The by-laws of colleges shall be issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Vocational Education Law.

[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015; 8 April 2021; 15 September 2022]

Section 23. Procedures for the Foundation, Reorganisation, and Liquidation of Educational Institutions

(1) State educational institutions shall be founded, reorganised, and liquidated by the Cabinet upon proposal by the Minister for Education and Science or the Minister for another sector.

(2) Local government educational institutions shall be founded, reorganised, and liquidated by local governments, agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and Science or the relevant sectoral ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science.

(2¹) Secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions shall be founded, reorganised, and liquidated by State higher education institutions (except for the National Defence Academy of Latvia), agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and Science.

(3) Private educational institutions shall be founded, reorganised, and liquidated by legal and natural persons. The State and local governments may participate in the foundation of private commercial companies.

(4) A foreign legal person may found, reorganise, and liquidate an educational institution in accordance with this Law and other laws, and also international agreements.

(5) The relevant authorities and persons shall be informed of the liquidation or reorganisation of an educational institution not later than six months in advance. If such deadline cannot be met due to objective reasons, the relevant authorities and persons shall be informed of the liquidation or reorganisation of the educational institution not later than three months in advance.

[20 September 2001; 4 March 2010; 18 June 2015; 20 September 2018]

Section 24. Register of Educational Institutions and the Documents Necessary for Registration

(1) Each educational institution shall, within a month from the day of founding the institution, submit an application for the registration of the educational institution in the Register of Educational Institutions. The Register of Educational Institutions is a component of the State Education Information System, and it shall be maintained by the authority stipulated by the Cabinet. Higher education institutions shall be registered in the Register of Educational Institutions in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(2) The following information shall be included in the Register of Educational Institutions:

1) the name of the educational institution, its legal address, the address of the place where the educational programme is implemented;

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

3) the date when the decision to found the educational institution or to commence the educational activity was taken, the level and type of education in which the educational programme is being implemented;

4) the head of the educational institution;

5) the area and technical equipment of the premises of the educational institution, their conformity with the construction, safety, and hygiene requirements;

6) the sources of and procedures for the financing of the educational institution;

7) the registration date of the educational institution;

8) information on the reorganisation, termination of operation (liquidation), and exclusion of the educational institution from the Register of Educational Institutions;

9) the date of approval of the regulatory enactment (by-laws) governing the operation of the educational institution;

10) other information if such information is directly provided for by the Law.

(3) The founder of the institution shall ensure the registration of the educational institution. The application for the registration of the educational institution shall be submitted by a person authorised by the founder. The by-laws for the operation of the educational institution which have been approved by the founder of the educational institution and the documents certifying the information to be indicated in the Register of Educational Institutions must be appended to the application for the registration of the educational institution. The documents certifying the conformity of the resources of the college (for example, financial resources, material technical and information base, academic personnel) with the criteria stipulated by the Cabinet for the commencement of the operation of the college must be additionally appended to the application for the registration of a college.

(4) Within a month from the date of submission of the documents referred to in Paragraph three of this Section, the educational institution shall be entered in the Register of Educational Institutions.

(5) The decision to reorganise or liquidate an educational institution shall be notified to the Register of Educational Institution within 10 days.

(6) The information included in the Register of Educational Institutions is available to everyone free of charge.

[5 May 2016; 20 September 2018]

Section 25. Commencement of the Activity of an Educational Institution

(1) An educational institution is entitled to commence the implementation of educational programmes in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations from the day when it has been registered in the Register of Educational Institutions. The day of the notification of an administrative deed shall also be considered as the day when the educational institution was registered.

(2) An educational institution implementing an educational programme to be licensed as specified in this Law is entitled to enrol educatees only after licensing of the educational programme. This provision shall not apply to the educational institutions referred to in Section 47, Paragraph two of this Law.

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 20 September 2018]

Section 26. Name of an Educational Institution

(1) The name of an educational institution and of a unit of an educational institution must conform to the names of levels and types of education specified in this Law.

(2) The name of an educational institution must clearly and definitely differ from other names of educational institutions already registered in the Register of Educational Institutions.

(3) The name of an educational institution shall be in the official language.

(4) An educational institution is entitled, according to the historical traditions thereof and with the permission of the Minister for Education and Science, to use another name which is not in contradiction with this Law and other laws and regulations.

[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]

Section 27. Accreditation of Educational Institutions

(1) Educational institutions, except for those which implement only interest-related education programmes, shall be accredited in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. Educational institutions implementing basic and secondary level education programmes shall be accredited for six years in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. Accreditation has to be done within five years from the day when the educational institution commences its activities.

(2) If significant violations of laws and regulations are established in the operation of an educational institution, the authority which decides on the accreditation of the educational institution may, upon a proposal of the founder of the educational institution or the Ministry of Education and Science, take the decision on the extraordinary accreditation of the educational institution.

(3) Paragraph two of this Section shall not apply to higher education institutions and colleges.

[4 March 2010; 23 November 2016]

Section 28. Independence of Educational Institutions

Educational institutions shall have independence in the development and implementation of educational programmes, selection of employees, financial, economic and other activities in accordance with this Law, other laws and regulatory enactments, and the by-laws or constitution of the educational institution.

[5 February 2004]

Section 29. Competence of the Founder of an Educational Institution

The founder of an educational institution shall:

1) ensure the financial and material means necessary for continuous operation of the educational institution, monitor conformity with the laws and regulations, create inclusive environment, and shall be responsible for the education quality, and also promote the activities of the educational institution in the local government education ecosystem;

2) provide support for qualitative implementation and improvement of the educational process, organisation of methodological, work and improvement of professional competence of teachers;

3) in cooperation with the founded educational institution, determine and evaluate, once in every three years, the quality objectives for the implementation of the operational and education programme (except for study programme)of the educational institution and the results to be achieved in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

4) at least once in every three years, evaluate the conformity of the professional activity of the head of the educational institution (except for higher education institution and college) with the provisions of Section 30 of this Law in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

5) act on the council of the educational institution, and also participate in the self-assessment of the educational institution (except for higher education institution and college);

6) after receiving information from the head of the educational institution on violence against the persons involved in the implementation of the education process, ensure the assessment of this information and, if necessary, submit it to law enforcement authorities, and also provide support for addressing the situation in the educational institution.

[8 April 2021; 20 October 2022]

Section 30. Head of an Educational Institution

(1) The head of an educational institution shall be responsible for the operation of the educational institution and results thereof, for conformity with this Law and other regulatory enactments governing the operation of educational institutions, and also for the rational use of intellectual, financial, and material resources. The head of an educational institution shall ensure the operation of the educational institution within the local government education ecosystem.

(2) The head of the educational institution shall decide independently, within the scope of his or her authority, on the use of the intellectual, financial and material resources of the educational institution, and shall specify remuneration for the employees of the educational institution which shall not be lower than the remuneration specified by the Cabinet.

(3) The head of the educational institution has an obligation to ensure the creation and operation of a council of the educational institution. The head of the educational institution shall, once an academic year, provide a report to the council on education process and its results, and also on the conditions of organising work in the educational institution. These provisions shall not apply to a higher education institution.

(3¹) The head of the educational institution has an obligation to ensure access for the educational institution to the library, information, and career development support services.

(3²) The head of the educational institution has an obligation to organise the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of teachers.

(3³) The head of the educational institution shall, in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, ascertain whether the person is subject to the restrictions specified in Section 50, Paragraph one of this Law to work as a teacher.

(3⁴) The head of an educational institution shall ensure to every child who commences compulsory education in an pre-school education programme the assessment of special needs in conformity with the methodology for the assessment of special needs of educatees stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3⁵) The founder of an educational institution shall, in accordance with the guidelines for educational development and the objectives specified by the founder, create and develop the education quality system of the educational institution and ensure an annual self-assessment of the educational institution, including by analysing data on the educational process, content, environment, and management.

(3⁶) The head of an educational institution has the duty to assess the information received on violence against the person involved in the implementation of the education process, to inform the founder of the educational institution, and to address the situation in the educational institution.

(4) A person who has impeccable reputation, who is loyal to the Republic of Latvia and its Constitution, inter alia, does not violate the prohibition of discrimination and differential treatment towards a person, who has the relevant education and the necessary professional qualification is entitled to work as the head of the educational institution. A person who has a higher pedagogical education or a higher and pedagogical education, and also a person who has a higher education and is acquiring a pedagogical education is entitled to work as the head of a general basic or general secondary education institution.

(4¹) The professional activity of the heads of educational institutions (except for higher education institutions and colleges) shall be evaluated by the State Education Quality Service in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet at least once in six years. The head of an educational institution who has taken the office shall be evaluated for the first time within two years, but not sooner than six months after taking the office. The suitability of the head of the educational institution for the position to be held shall be decided based on the assessment results. If the professional activity of the head of the educational institution has been assessed as unsatisfactory, the person is prohibited from holding the position of the head of the educational institution. The assessment results may be taken into account upon determining bonuses and gratuities for the head of the educational institution.

(4²) A natural person who is fluent in the official language and uses it to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of professional and official duties as laid down in laws and regulations is entitled to work as the head of an educational institution, except for the case laid down by another law.

(5) The designations of heads of educational institutions shall be as follows:

1) head - at pre-school education institutions;

2) director - at basic and secondary education institutions, colleges, vocationally oriented education institutions, interest-related education institutions;

3) rector - at higher education institutions.

(6) If the State Education Quality Service or the employer finds non-conformity of the head of the educational institution or his or her actions with the requirements laid down in Paragraph four of this Section or Section 51, Paragraph one, Clause 2.¹ of this Law, the person is prohibited from holding the position of the head of the educational institution.

(7) If the State Language Centre establishes that the proficiency in the official language of the head of an educational institution does not correspond to the level of proficiency in the official language determined by the Cabinet and required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties, an entry shall immediately be made in the Register of Teachers. The employer of the head of the educational institution shall ensure that the respective head of the educational institution is suspended from the fulfilment of his or her duties until the day of passing the examination of the proficiency in the official language at the level which is required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties. If the head of the educational institution has not passed the examination of the proficiency in the official language to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties within three months, his or her employment shall be terminated. An appeal against the finding of the State Language Centre shall not suspend its operation.

(8) The entry in the Register of Teachers referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section shall be deleted immediately if the finding of the State Language Centre on the insufficient level of proficiency in the official language is cancelled or the information on passing the examination of the proficiency in the official language to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of professional and official duties of the respective head of the educational institution is updated in the State Examination Information System.

[10 May 2001; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 5 February 2004; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 23 November 2016; 27 July 2017; 22 March 2018; 30 May 2019; 14 May 2020; 8 April 2021; 29 September 2022; 20 October 2022]

Section 31. Council of an Educational Institution

(1) The council of an educational institution is a collegial institution of a pre-school, basic education, secondary education or vocationally oriented education institution in which the following persons are engaged:

1) representatives delegated by educatees, except for educatees in pre-school education programmes;

2) representatives delegated by parents of educatees (persons who exercise custody);

3) representatives delegated by teachers and other employees of the educational institution.

(2) Representatives of parents (persons who exercise custody) shall be in majority in the council of an educational institution. Representatives of parents (persons who exercise custody) shall be elected by a meeting of parents of the educational institution by majority of votes. An employee of the educational institution may not be delegated in the council as a representative of parents (persons who exercise custody). The head of the council of the educational institution shall be elected from amongst parents (persons who exercise custody). The head of the educational institution and a representative of the founder of the educational institution may be included in the composition of the council.

(2¹) The first sentence of Paragraph two of this Section shall not be applied in the operation of the council of an educational institution and social correction education institution subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, and they have the right not to apply Paragraph one, Clause 2 and the fourth sentence of Paragraph two of this Section.

(3) The council of an educational institution:

1) shall provide proposals for the development of the educational institution;

2) shall participate in the discussion of the educational process and its results, taking into consideration the proposals of teachers, educatees, and their parents, and shall provide proposals to the educational institution and its founder for the improvement of the operation and education quality of the educational institution;

3) shall provide proposals in issues related to the rights and obligations of educatees and employees of the educational institution;

4) shall provide proposals to the head of the educational institution for the work organisation of the institution, budget allocation, and implementation of educational programmes;

5) is entitled to decide on which individual learning accessories referred to in Section 1, Clause 12.⁵, Sub-clause "n" of this Law shall be ensured by parents of educatees (persons who exercise custody);

5¹) shall decide on the conformity of the methods and information to be used in the learning and upbringing process, including teaching aids and materials, with the ensuring of moral development of an educatee included in the purpose of this Law, and also the guidelines of moral upbringing;

6) shall address the organisational issues within its competence, including issues related to events organised by the educational institution;

7) shall facilitate co-operation between the educational institution and society;

8) shall inform of its activities and taken decisions in accordance with the procedures laid down in the regulatory enactment governing the work of the council of the educational institution;

9) is entitled to create interest groups and institutions [of parents (persons who exercise custody), educatees], involving educatees and their parents (persons who exercise custody) of the respective educational institution therein;

10) shall fulfil other obligations specified in the regulatory enactment governing the work of the council of the educational institution and in other laws and regulations.

(4) The council of the educational institution shall operate in accordance with the regulatory enactment governing operation of the council of the educational institution which is issued by the council itself, coordinating it with the head of the educational institution.

[9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 20 September 2018; 12 November 2020; 8 April 2021]

Chapter IV
Guidelines for State Pre-school Education, State Education Standards and Educational Programmes

[1 December 2009]

Section 32. State Education Standard

(1) The State education standard is a document which specifies the following according to the level and type of education and the target group:

1) the strategic objectives and the principal tasks of educational programmes;

2) the compulsory content of education;

3) the basic principles and procedures for the assessment of the education acquired by an educatee.

(2) Conformity with the State education standard is compulsory for each legal and natural person who develops and implements the relevant educational programme.

(3) The State education standard shall include model educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of the respective education standard, except for model vocational education programmes and model academic education programmes.

[15 March 2012; 9 July 2013]

Section 33. Educational Programmes

(1) An educational programme is a document governing educational activities of an educational institution or another authority specified in this Law by which, according to the level and type of education, the target group, and the State education standard or the guidelines for the State pre-school education, the following shall be determined:

1) the objectives, tasks, and planned results of the educational programme;

2) the requirements for the previous education of educatees (except for pre-school education programmes);

3) the education content as a single unit of the contents of subjects or courses (except for pre-school education programmes);

4) the plan for the implementation of the educational programme;

5) evaluation of the personnel, funds, and material resources necessary for the implementation of the educational programme in accordance with the Cabinet regulations regarding the minimum costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one educatee.

(2) Educational programmes shall be developed by an educational institution according to the guidelines for the State pre-school education or the State education standards and norms, agreeing thereupon with the founder of the institution.

(3) When accrediting an educational institution, the quality of its activities, including the implementation of educational programmes, shall be assessed. If significant violations of laws and regulations have been established in the implementation of an educational programme, the authority which decides on the licensing of an educational programme may take the decision to cancel a license.

(4) Paragraph three of this Section shall not apply to higher education institutions and colleges.

[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 5 February 2004; 1 December 2009; 9 July 2013; 23 November 2016; 14 July 2022]

Section 34. Subject or Course Programmes

(1) Programmes for subjects or courses may be developed or selected by the teachers implementing such programmes according to the educational programme.

(2) The head of the educational institution shall approve a programme for subjects or courses.

Section 35. Assessment of the Acquired Education

(1) The basic principles for the assessment of the acquired education shall be specified in the guidelines for the State pre-school education, the basic criteria and procedures shall be specified in the State education standards.

(2) The acquisition of education corresponding to educational programmes licensed by accredited educational institutions shall end in State examinations.

(3) The procedures for the acquisition of professional qualification shall be determined by the Vocational Education Law and the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(4) Assessment of the acquired academic education shall take place in accordance with the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 14 July 2022]

Section 35.¹ State Examination Information System

(1) The State Examination Information System is a State information system in which information on the following State examinations shall be recorded:

1) State examinations in general education programmes;

2) State examinations in vocational education programmes, except for higher education programmes;

3) diagnostic (monitoring) tests;

4) olympiads of study subjects;

5) examinations of the proficiency in the official language;

6) examinations of an international testing authority in a foreign language.

(2) Information on educational institutions in which State examinations are taken, on persons who must take State examinations, and on persons who have ensured the examination process, regarding tasks and assessments of State examinations, and also information on documents certifying the results of State examinations shall be entered in the State Examination Information System.

(3) If an examination of an international testing institution included in the list of the Cabinet has been passed in a foreign language and it replaces the State examination in a foreign language in a general secondary education programme or vocational secondary education programme, information on the authority in which the examination of an international testing institution was taken and on the results of such examination shall be entered in the State Examination Information System.

(4) The information referred to in Paragraph two of this Section shall be entered in the State Examination Information System on examinations of the proficiency in the official language.

(5) The data of the State Examination Information System shall be accessible in the cases specified in laws and regulations.

(6) The amount of the information to be entered in the State Examination Information System, the procedures for the inclusion of information therein, and also the procedures for ensuring access to the data included in such system shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[21 March 2019; 15 September 2022; 29 September 2022 / See Paragraph 101 of Transitional Provisions]

Part V
Types of Educational Programmes and Their Implementation

Section 36. Implementation of Educational Programmes

(1) Educational programmes are implemented at an educational institution, association, foundation, craftsperson workshop, studio or unit of the National Armed Forces the tasks of which include implementation of adult education programmes. Implementation of an educational programme must be commenced within one year from the day of its licensing.

(1¹) If an educational programme corresponding to the sample of the educational programme specified by the Cabinet is to be licensed, the educational institution shall enter information thereon in the State Education Information System. An educational programme shall be considered licensed if, in accordance with the procedures for the licensing of educational programmes stipulated by the Cabinet, there are no grounds for taking the decision to refuse to licence the educational programme.

(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement several educational programmes. Educational institutions may conclude mutual contracts on the implementation of subjects or parts of subjects within a general secondary education programme, agreeing on the way and the programme for the implementation of the subjects, the procedures for the evaluation of the learning achievements and announcement of the grades obtained by educatees, the educatees involved in the acquisition of the subjects, the costs of implementation of the subjects and their payment procedures, and other conditions.

(3) Educational programmes shall be implemented in conditions that are safe for the life and health of a person.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the price list for paid services provided within the scope of licensing of educational programmes.

[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013; 5 May 2016; 20 September 2018; 12 November 2020; 14 July 2022]

Section 37. Implementation of Educational Programmes in Respect of Time

(1) Educational programmes shall have a specific implementation period.

(2) The educational work units of time shall be the academic or scholastic year, semester, study week, study day and study lesson (academic hour).

Section 38. Types of Educational Programmes

(1) The types of educational programmes shall be as follows:

1) general education programmes;

2) vocational education programmes, including higher vocational education programmes or vocational study programmes;

3) academic education programmes or study programmes;

4) further education programmes;

5) interest-related education programmes;

6) non-formal education programmes.

(2) The specific types of educational programmes shall be as follows:

1) [29 September 2022];

2) special education programmes;

3) social correction education programmes;

4) [15 September 2022];

5) vocationally oriented education programmes;

6) international baccalaureate programmes.

(3) A detailed classification of educational programmes shall be specified by the Classifier of Educational Programmes approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.

[5 July 2001; 20 September 2018; 15 September 2022; 29 September 2022]

Section 39. Register of Educational Programmes

(1) Data on all licensed educational programmes shall be entered in the Register of Educational Programmes which is a component of the State Education Information System within one month after licensing of a programme.

(2) The Register of Educational Programmes shall be accessible to any person free of charge (also on the Internet). The list of the licensed educational programmes shall be published once a year not later than by 1 March.

[4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 20 September 2018; 14 July 2022]

Section 40. General Education Programmes

(1) General education programmes shall ensure the overall development of mental and physical capabilities of educatees and prepare them for the continuation of education, for work, and for life in society.

(2) The General Education Law shall determine the procedures for the implementation of general education programmes. General education programmes and programmes of special types shall be licensed in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[11 May 2000; 15 March 2012; 20 September 2018]

Section 41. Educational Programmes for Ethnic Minorities

(1) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall be developed by an educational institution selecting any of the model educational programmes included in the guidelines for the State pre-school education or State basic education standard.

(1¹) From grades 1 to 6 in educational programmes for ethnic minorities, the acquisition of learning content in the official language shall be ensured in the amount of not less than 50 per cent of the total lesson load in an academic year, including foreign languages.

(1²) From grades 7 to 9 in educational programmes for ethnic minorities, the acquisition of learning content in the official language shall be ensured in the amount of not less than 80 per cent of the total lesson load in an academic year, including foreign languages.

(2) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall additionally include the content necessary for the acquisition of the relevant ethnic culture and integration of ethnic minorities in Latvia.

(3) [15 March 2012]

[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 22 March 2018 / Amendments to Paragraph one regarding the replacement of the words "in the respective State education standard" with the words "in the State pre-school education standard" and the supplementation of this Section with Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² in relation to the implementation of basic education programmes in grade 9 and the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12 shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 66 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 42. Special Education Programmes

(1) A person with special needs may acquire special education at an educational institution if it provides the possibilities for such person to acquire an education corresponding to the health condition and the nature of developmental disorders.

(2) Special education programmes shall be implemented, taking into account the health condition of the educatee.

(3) The General Education Law, the Vocational Education Law, and other laws shall determine the procedures for the implementation of special education programmes.

[5 July 2001]

Section 43. Social Correction Education Programmes

(1) Social correction education programmes are undergone by persons with socially deviant behaviour.

(2) Social correction education programmes shall be implemented at social correction education institutions.

[20 September 2018]

Section 44. Vocational Education Programmes

(1) Vocational education programmes provide an opportunity to acquire professional qualification at the appropriate level, to develop professional competence, and also to acquire academic qualifications and professional qualifications at the appropriate level.

(2) The requirements for the implementation of vocational education programmes, including higher vocational education programmes or vocational study programmes, according to their type and level of education shall be determined by the Vocational Education Law and the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

[15 September 2022]

Section 45. Academic Education Programmes

(1) Academic education programmes or study programmes are higher education programmes which provide an opportunity to acquire academic qualification at the appropriate level.

(2) The procedures for the implementation of academic education programmes shall be determined by this Law and the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

[15 September 2022]

Section 46. Non-formal Education Programmes

(1) Non-formal education programmes provide an opportunity for a person throughout his or her life, regardless of previously acquired education, to acquire new competences and to develop existing competences in accordance with the interests of personal development and the demands of the State or an employer.

(2) Non-formal education programmes shall be developed by their implementers.

(3) Non-formal education programmes shall include the learning outcomes to be achieved, the form of completion of education, language, content, scope and the material and intellectual resources required for their implementation.

(4) A permit for the implementation of a non-formal education programme shall be issued or cancelled by the local government of the relevant administrative territory in accordance with the procedures determined by the Cabinet. Non-formal education programmes shall be registered in the local government of the respective administrative territory. The persons who are not registered in the Register of Educational Institutions are entitled to implement non-formal education programmes after obtaining a permit. Accredited educational institutions and also units of the National Armed Forces are entitled to implement non-formal education programmes without obtaining a permit.

(5) A certificate shall be issued for the completion of a non-formal education programme.

[15 September 2022]

Section 47. Interest-related Education Programmes

(1) Interest-related education shall be voluntary, and education corresponding to a particular level of education shall not be required for its commencement.

(2) Educational institutions are entitled to implement interest-related education programmes without the receipt of a licence.

(3) After receipt of the relevant licence from a local government, other legal persons and natural persons not registered in the Register of Educational Institutions are also entitled to implement interest-related education programmes.

(4) [11 May 2000]

(5) An educational institution may offer to attend remotely an interest-related education programme developed thereby for the acquisition of Latvian, Latvian history and culture, Latvian nature and geography also to persons residing outside Latvia.

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 14 July 2022]

Section 47.¹ Vocationally Oriented Education Programmes

(1) Vocationally oriented education is voluntary. Vocationally oriented education programmes shall be developed by an educational institution.

(2) The procedures for the implementation of vocationally oriented education programmes shall be determined in the Vocational Education Law. Vocationally oriented education programmes shall be licensed in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 4 March 2010; 20 September 2018]

Section 47.² International Baccalaureate Programmes

International baccalaureate programmes are educational programmes developed by the International Baccalaureate within the scope of which specific subjects or courses are completed in a foreign language. The abovementioned programmes shall be considered as licensed and accredited after the International Baccalaureate has authorised the educational institution to implement such programmes. An educational institution shall implement the international baccalaureate programmes concurrently with general education programmes.

[20 September 2018]

Section 47.³ Interest-related Education Programme for the Minority Language and Cultural History

A local government shall provide the opportunity for minority educatees who are acquiring a pre-school education programme or a basic education programme in general education institutions in the administrative territory thereof to study the content of minority education in interest-related education programme for the minority language and cultural history free of charge. In order to ensure that minority educatees have the opportunity to study these programmes, the local government may delegate the implementation of such programmes to a private person.

[29 September 2022 / See Paragraph 103 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VI
Teachers and Educatees

Section 48. Right to Work as a Teacher

(1) A person who has pedagogical education or who is acquiring pedagogical education conforming to the professional qualification requirements stipulated by the Cabinet has the right to work as a teacher. These requirements shall not apply to non-formal education.

(2) A certificate must be obtained at the State Service of Education Quality for the commencement of a private practice of a teacher.

(3) All teachers working at educational institutions and private practices are registered in the Register of Teachers. The Register of Teachers is a component of the State Education Information System.

(4) The education and qualification requirements for teachers of higher education institutions and teachers of colleges who implement short-cycle higher vocational education programmes shall be determined by the Law on Higher Education Institutions and the Vocational Education Law.

(5) A person who is loyal to the Republic of Latvia and its Constitution, inter alia, does not violate the prohibition of discrimination and differential treatment towards a person, has the right to work as a teacher.

(5¹) A person who is fluent in the official language and uses it to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of professional and official duties as prescribed by laws and regulations is entitled to work as a teacher. This provision shall not apply to that referred to in Section 9, Paragraphs two and 3.¹ of this Law.

(6) It is prohibited to hold the position of a teacher if the State Education Quality Service has established in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations a non-conformity of the teacher or his or her actions with the requirements laid down in Section 30, Paragraph four, Paragraphs one and five of this Section, or Section 51, Paragraph one, Clause 2.¹ of this Law.

(7) If the State Language Centre establishes that the proficiency in the official language of the teacher does not correspond to the level of proficiency in the official language determined by the Cabinet and required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties, an entry shall immediately be made in the Register of Teachers. The head of the educational institution shall ensure that the respective teacher is suspended from the fulfilment of his or her official duties until the day of passing the examination of the proficiency in the official language at the level which is required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties. If the teacher has not passed the examination of the proficiency in the official language to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of his or her professional and official duties within three months, his or her employment shall be terminated. An appeal against the finding of the State Language Centre shall not suspend its operation.

(8) The entry in the Register of Teachers referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section shall be deleted immediately if the finding of the State Language Centre on the insufficient level of proficiency in the official language is cancelled or the information on passing the examination of the proficiency in the official language to the extent which is required for the fulfilment of professional and official duties of the respective teacher is updated in the State Examination Information System.

[11 May 2000; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012, 18 June 2015, 23 November 2016; 15 September 2022; 29 September 2022]

Section 49. Acquisition of Education and Professional Qualifications and Improvement of Professional Competence of Teachers

(1) The education necessary for the work of a teacher shall be acquired as a result of completing a licensed study programme implemented by an accredited educational institution.

(2) Professional qualifications of a teacher shall be attested by a diploma of higher pedagogical education or by a relevant certificate.

(3) Improvement of professional competence of a teacher shall be achieved in the form of self-education and in institutions implementing relevant further educational programmes.

(4) [11 May 2000]

[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013; 14 July 2022]

Section 49.¹ Assessment of the Quality of the Professional Activity of Teachers

(1) A teacher whose pedagogical experience is not less than one year and who participates in the implementation of general education programmes, including general education programmes for the level of pre-school education, and vocational education programmes for the level of basic or secondary education, in the implementation of vocationally oriented education or interest-related education programmes, has the right to request the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher.

(2) The quality of the professional activity of a teacher shall be assessed by a commission established by the head of an educational institution in conformity with the criteria for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher. Such criteria shall be developed by the educational institution according to the directions for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher and the list of quality levels specified by the Cabinet.

(3) On the basis of the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher, one of three quality levels of the professional activity of a teacher may be awarded to the teacher. The head of the educational institution shall decide on the awarding of the relevant quality level of the professional activity of a teacher or the refusal to award it within nine months from the day of receipt of an application of the teacher. The head of the educational institution shall take the decision on the basis of a proposal of the commission. The quality level of the professional activity of a teacher shall be awarded for one, two, or three years.

(3¹) The head of the educational institution has the right to take the decision to withdraw the quality level of the professional activity of a teacher if a non-conformity of the actions of the teacher with the general obligations of a teacher referred to in Section 51 of this Law and the criteria for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher is established.

(3²) A teacher is entitled to submit an application for repeat assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a teacher not earlier than a year before the end of the term of validity of the quality level.

(4) The conditions of this Section shall not apply to teachers who participate in the implementation of higher education programmes in colleges and higher education institutions.

[9 July 2013; 23 November 2016; 27 July 2017 / See Paragraphs 56 and 57 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 50. Restrictions on Working as a Teacher

(1) The following persons may not work as teachers:

1) a person who has been punished for committing an intentional criminal offence (regardless of the criminal record having been set aside or extinguished), except for when after setting aside or extinguishing the criminal record the State Education Quality Service has evaluated whether it does not harm the interests of educatees and has permitted that such person works as a teacher. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the head of an educational institution shall ascertain whether the person has restrictions to work as a teacher, and also the procedures for the evaluation whether the permission for such person to work as a teacher will not harm the interests of educatees;

2) a person whose capacity to act is limited in accordance with procedures laid down in laws and regulations;

3) a person who has failed to pass the examination of the proficiency in the official language after the State Language Centre has established that his or her proficiency in the official language does not correspond to the level of proficiency in the official language determined by the Cabinet for the fulfilment of professional and official duties. This provision shall not apply to that referred to in Section 9, Paragraphs two and 3.¹ of this Law;

4) a person who has been deprived, by a court decision, of the right of custody;

5) a person who has been removed from the position of a teacher if a non-conformity with the requirements laid down in Section 30, Paragraph four, Section 48, Paragraph five, or Section 51, Paragraph one, Clause 2.¹ of this Law has been found in his or her action in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations and one year has not passed since termination of employment legal relationship.

(2) Upon assessing whether the permission for the person referred to in Paragraph one of this Section to work as a teacher will not harm the interests of educatees, the State Education Quality Service is entitled to process the personal data referring to criminal offences, criminal record in criminal cases and administrative offence cases, and also to materials of court rulings or court cases.

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 5 July 2012; 18 June 2015; 23 November 2016; judgment of the Constitutional Court of 24 November 2017; 20 September 2018; 30 May 2019; 29 September 2022]

Section 51. General Obligations of a Teacher

(1) The general obligations of a teacher in the educational process shall be as follows:

1) to participate creatively in the implementation of the relevant educational programmes with due responsibility;

2) to shape responsible attitude of an educatee towards himself or herself, others, work, culture, nature;

2¹) to raise decent, honest, responsible human beings - patriots of Latvia, to strengthen the belonging to the Republic of Latvia;

3) to conform to the norms of pedagogical professional ethics;

4) to improve their professional competence;

5) to respect the rights of an educatee;

6) to co-operate with the family of an educatee in educational matters;

7) to participate in the improvement of education process and in the council of an educational institution;

8) to fulfil other obligations laid down in laws and regulations.

(2) Teachers of educational institutions shall be responsible for their work, the methods, techniques, and results thereof.

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 23 November 2016]

Section 52. Rights of Teachers

(1) Teachers have the following rights:

1) to participate in the council of an educational institution;

2) to receive a State-guaranteed annual paid vacation of eight weeks;

3) on the basis of a contract for the development of teaching aids, to receive a paid leave of absence for creative work for up to three months, or an unpaid leave of absence for up to six months, in accordance with procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

4) to spend 30 calendar days in a three year period for his or her professional skill improvement, retaining the basic salary at the educational institution in which the teacher has principal employment;

5) to receive and use the informative and material provisions necessary for the implementation of an educational programme;

6) to receive public support for the implementation of an educational programme;

7) to receive a benefit from the financial resources of the founder of the educational institution due to death of a family member (spouse, child, parents, grandparents, adopter or adoptee, brother or sister) in the amount of not more than one minimum monthly salary;

8) to receive support from the head of the educational institution and the founder in case of violence;

9) to act in accordance with the procedures established by the educational institution in cooperation with the educatees and parents (persons who exercise custody).

(1¹) Where external regulatory enactments do not specify otherwise, State and local government educational institutions and educational institutions of State higher education institutions may specify the following additional remuneration for a teacher from the financial resources of the founder and the financial resources referred to in Section 59, Paragraph four of this Law:

1) a benefit in the amount of up to 50 per cent of the monthly salary once in a calendar year for each dependent disabled child up to 18 years of age;

2) health insurance. The health insurance premium may not exceed half of the amount specified in the laws and regulations regarding personal income tax. If the insurance premium exceeds the abovementioned amount, the teacher shall cover the difference of the premium.

(1²) The restriction specified in Paragraph one, Clause 7 of this Section in relation to the amount of the benefit shall not apply to private educational institutions.

(2) [1 January 2021 / See Paragraph 62 of Transitional Provisions]

(3) [1 January 2021 / See Paragraph 62 of Transitional Provisions]

(4) [1 January 2021 / See Paragraph 62 of Transitional Provisions]

[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 22 November 2017; 22 March 2018; 20 October 2022]

Section 53. Remuneration of a Teacher

(1) The monthly salary for a teacher shall be determined according to the rate of the monthly salary which is not lower than the rate specified by the Cabinet and the workload. When determining the monthly salary, the duration of employment of the teacher may also be taken into account in accordance with the Cabinet regulations regarding the procedures for the payment of remuneration of teachers and the amount thereof, and also the professional qualification of a teacher.

(2) A supplement to the monthly salary in the amount specified by the head of an educational institution shall be established for a teacher whom a quality level of professional activity has been awarded, taking into account the financial resources at the disposal of the educational institution for such purpose. The quality level shall be taken into account in the educational institution where the quality of the professional activity of the teacher was assessed.

(3) The work salary for one full-time workload for a teacher shall be not less than the work salary specified in the schedule for increase in remuneration of teachers approved by the Cabinet in the relevant period of time.

[27 July 2017]

Section 54. Obligations of an Educatee

An educatee has the following obligations:

1) to complete the basic education programme;

2) to comply with the by-laws or the constitution and the internal regulatory enactments of the educational institution and not discredit the educational institution by his or her behaviour;

3) to treat the State of Latvia, the Constitution, history, society, State symbols thereof and the Latvian language with respect;

4) to respect the rights and interests of teachers, educatees, and other persons;

5) to prevent emotional and physical violence;

6) not to endanger the health, safety, and life of himself or herself or of other persons;

7) to be polite at an educational institution and outside of it;

8) to be in an educational institution in clothing that corresponds to the internal regulatory enactments, including internal procedure regulations;

9) to participate in the cleaning up and orderly arrangement of the environment of an educational institution.

[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]

Section 55. Rights of an Educatee

An educatee has the following rights:

1) to the acquisition of pre-school education, basic education, and secondary education paid by the State or local government;

2) to freely express and defend his or her views and opinions during the educational and upbringing process, not insulting the dignity and honour of other persons;

2¹) in pre-school education and basic education, to receive individualised and personalised support for the acquisition of the official language, if necessary;

3) to use the premises, laboratories, equipment, devices, cultural, sports and medical objects and inventory, schoolbooks, other literature necessary for the learning process, teaching aids and electronic teaching resources of an educational institution, and also to receive library, information and career development support services during the learning process in accordance with the procedures laid down in the internal regulatory enactments, including internal procedure regulations;

4) to receive scholarships, credits, benefits, discounts, and also grants for the use of public transport in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations and material assistance of another type;

5) to receive preventive health care, except for the preventive examinations included in the preventive examination programme provided for in the laws and regulations regarding organisation and financing of health care, and emergency medical assistance at the educational institution and the organised events thereof;

6) to participate in the improvement of learning process and in the council of the educational institution;

7) to the protection of belongings at the educational institution;

8) to safe circumstances for life and health at an educational institution and the organised events thereof;

9) to exercise other rights laid down in laws and regulations.

[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 29 September 2022]

Section 56. Rights of an Orphan and Child Left without Parental Care to Acquisition and Improvement of Education

(1) An orphan and a child left without parental care have the right to acquire education at any State or local government educational institution.

(2) An orphan and a child left without parental care shall be educated in the official language. The orphan and the child left without parental care shall continue their education in the official language or the language in which it has been commenced in a Latvian State or local government educational institution.

(3) Minor orphans and children left without parental care who are members of the same family shall be educated at the same general basic education institution and shall not be separated, except when one of them is placed in a special education institution, class, or social correction education institution or it is in the interests of the children to be educated at different educational institutions.

[5 February 2004; 4 March 2010; 20 September 2018]

Section 57. Rights of Parents (Persons who Exercise Custody) in the Provision of Education of a Child

Parents (persons who exercise custody) have the following rights:

1) to choose the educational institution in which the child will acquire education;

2) to participate in the improvement of the learning process and in the council of the educational institution;

3) to conclude a contract with the educational institution for the education of and care for the child at the educational institution;

4) to provide and receive information on issues related to the upbringing and teaching of the child;

5) to propose the performance of inspections at the educational institution;

6) to exercise other rights laid down in laws and regulations for the provision of the education of the child;

7) to get acquainted with the internal regulatory enactments of the educational institution, including the internal procedure regulations, and to request to comply with them when cooperating with the educational institution, teachers and other persons involved in the implementation of the education process, and also when staying in the territory of the educational institution and participating in events organised by the educational institution.

[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 20 October 2022]

Section 58. Obligations of Parents (Persons who Exercise Custody)

(1) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have the following obligations:

1) within the scope of their abilities and material possibilities, to ensure the necessary conditions in the family for the education, health, development, and social life of the child;

2) to cooperate with the educational institution where the child is studying, including teachers and other persons involved in the implementation of the education process, and also with the local government in matters of providing education for the child, to comply with the internal procedure regulations of the educational institution, general rules of behaviour and ethics;

3) to respect the lawful rights and interests of children, teachers, and other persons;

4) inform the head of the educational institution of the state of health of the child and any other circumstances that might affect the acquisition of the educational programme and the persons involved therein.

(2) Parents (persons who exercise custody) shall be responsible that the child receives compulsory education, for cooperation with the educational institution, its teachers and other persons involved in the implementation of the education process, with the local government in matters of providing education for the child, and also for providing timely information on the state of health of the child and any other circumstances that might affect the acquisition of the educational programme and persons involved therein.

(3) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have an obligation to ensure, within the limits of their financial possibilities, the individual study accessories referred to in Section 1, Clause 12.⁵, Sub-clause "n" of this Law for education of his or her child.

(4) The decision of the council of an educational institution referred to in Section 31, Paragraph three, Clause 5 of this Law is binding on parents (persons who exercise custody).

[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 20 September 2018; 12 November 2020; 20 October 2022]

Chapter VII
Financial and Material Resources of the Education System

[5 February 2004]

Section 59. Sources of Financing of the Education System

(1) State educational institutions shall be financed from the State budget in accordance with the annual State budget law. Local government educational institutions shall be financed from local government budgets. Secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions shall be financed from the budgets of higher education institutions. The State shall participate in the financing of local government educational institutions and secondary education institutions of the State higher education institutions in the cases provided for in this Law. In order to promote the acquisition, development, and preservation of the minority ethnic culture and the integration of minorities in Latvia, the State may participate in additional financing of remuneration for the teachers employed at educational institutions which, on the basis of bilateral and multilateral international agreements of the Republic of Latvia, are implementing the content of minority education.

(1¹) The State shall participate in financing the costs of implementation of the interest-related education programme for the minority language and cultural history (teachers' remuneration, mandatory State social insurance contributions, purchase of teaching aids) in accordance with the procedures and to the extent determined by the Cabinet.

(2) Private educational institutions shall be financed by the founders thereof. The State shall participate in the financing of remuneration for teachers of private educational institutions in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet if these educational institutions implement licensed pre-school education programmes for the children from the age of five years until commencement of the acquisition of basic education, licensed basic education, and general secondary education programmes, industrial education, and vocational secondary education programmes. The State shall participate in the financing of remuneration for teachers employed in vocationally oriented education programmes implemented in accredited private vocationally oriented education institutions. Local governments may participate in the financing of remuneration for teachers of private educational institutions.

(2¹) The purchase of study literature, games, methodological aids, additional literature (reference literature), and also purchase or subscriber's fee of study management platforms corresponding to the guidelines for the State pre-school education, State basic education and general secondary education standards in private educational institutions shall be financed from the State budget funds and earmarked grants from the State budget.

(3) Local government special education institutions which implement special education programmes at the level of basic education or secondary education and ensure the services of a boarding school, and also special education institutions - development centres - shall be financed from the State budget in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3¹) Catering of such educatees who are completing basic education programmes in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 at educational institutions in full-time studies shall be financed from the State budget in accordance with the procedures and in the amount stipulated by the Cabinet. Local governments shall participate in covering the costs of catering of such educatees who are acquiring basic education programmes in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 at educational institutions (except for State educational institutions) in the administrative territory of the relevant local government in full-time studies. The amount of the resources allocated from the budget of a local government for the catering of one educatee per day shall not be lower than that ensured by the State.

(4) Educational institutions may receive additional financial resources:

1) in the form of donations and gifts;

2) by providing paid services in the cases provided for in the by-laws or the constitution of the institution;

3) from other income.

(5) Education support institutions shall be financed by the founders thereof.

(6) The State shall financially support and a local government, in accordance with the procedures specified thereby and in conformity with the criteria specified thereby, may financially support adult education by financing non-formal education programmes, and also by supporting employers in additional education of employees.

[11 November 1999; 11 May 2000; 5 February 2004; judgment of the Constitutional Court of 14 September 2005; 13 November 2008; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 December 2011; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 23 November 2016; 22 November 2017; 22 March 2018; 20 September 2018; 14 November 2019; 12 November 2020; 14 July 2022; 15 September 2022; 29 September 2022 / Amendment to Paragraph two in relation to the financing of work remuneration for the teachers employed at industrial and vocational secondary education programmes of private educational institutions shall come into force on 1 January 2023. Paragraph six in relation to the State financial support to adult education shall come into force not later than on 31 December 2022. See Paragraphs 30 and 44 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 60. Procedures for the Financing of Educational Institutions

(1) Founders of educational institutions shall ensure the financing of such institutions, taking into account:

1) the minimum costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one educatee specified by the Cabinet;

2) the maintenance and economic expenditures of educational institutions, including salaries of the general service personnel, and also expenditures related to international co-operation;

3) the maintenance expenditures for educatees at the educational institution.

(2) In certain administrative territories, the Cabinet may specify different costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one educatee.

(3) Costs of educational programmes to be implemented in educational institutions shall include expenditures which are necessary for the remuneration of teachers involved in the implementation of an educational programme, for the provision the educational institutions with teaching aids, economic expenditure thereof, and also for other necessary expenditures. The remuneration for teachers at State or local government educational institutions, and also secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions, including the remuneration for teachers employed in the education of children from five years of age, and also the remuneration for teachers in special education groups of pre-school special education institutions and special education groups of secondary education institutions is ensured from the State budget funds and the earmarked grants from the State budget. The remuneration for other teachers implementing pre-school education programmes in local government educational institutions, if it is not otherwise provided for in other laws, shall be provided from the local government budget. Local governments may participate in the financing of remuneration for teachers of educational programmes implemented by the State and local government educational institutions. Local governments may finance the social guarantees of teachers of local government educational institutions from their budgets in the amount and according to the procedures laid down in the binding regulations. Social guarantees may be provided for teachers of educational institutions subordinate to ministries within the scope of the approved budget. Preparation and publication of teaching aids in conformity with the guidelines for the State pre-school education and the State education standards shall be financed within the amount of the funds granted by the annual State budget.

(3¹) The purchase of study literature, games, methodological aids, additional literature (reference literature), and also purchase or subscriber's fee of study management platforms corresponding to the guidelines for the State pre-school education, State standards for basic education and general secondary education in State and local government educational institutions, and also secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions shall be financed from the State budget funds and earmarked grants from the State budget.

(3²) Paragraph three of this Section and Section 59, Paragraph two regarding the provision of remuneration from the State budget for the teachers employed in general education programmes at the secondary level of education implemented by State higher education institutions and private general education institutions shall not apply if the educational institution does not meet the quality criteria stipulated by the Cabinet. In such cases, the work renumeration for the teachers shall be provided from the budget of the founders of the educational institutions, and the State, following the criteria specified by the Cabinet, shall participate in the financing of the work renumeration for these teachers.

(4) If an educational institution implements several educational programmes, financial resources shall be planned for each educational programme according to its implementation costs. Several educational programmes may be implemented at one educational institution, and they may be financed from various sources - from the resources of the State, local governments, and also State higher education institutions which are derived public persons, and also other legal and natural persons.

(5) Allocations from the State budget and local government budgets for the activities of educational institutions shall be planned according to the draft estimates (budgetary requests) submitted by educational institutions and used according to the approved estimate. Financing of educational institutions shall be planned according to the number of educatees at an institution and the minimum costs for the implementation of the educational programme per one educatee.

(6) Income from economic activity of educational institutions and paid services provided thereby and other types of own revenue shall not affect the amount of State budget grant from the general income and local government annual budget allocations.

(7) The financial resources referred to in Section 59, Paragraph four of this Law shall be paid into the relevant budget account of the relevant educational institution and shall only be used for the following purposes:

1) development of the educational institution;

2) purchase of teaching aids;

3) purchase of equipment for the institution;

4) bonuses and gratuities for teachers and material incentives for educatees and for the remuneration of teachers implementing vocational basic education, vocational secondary education, or vocationally oriented education programmes in sports, music, and arts at State or local government educational institutions.

(8) Money balances of paid services provided by State and local government educational institutions and of other types of own revenue at the end of a financial year shall remain at the disposal of the relevant State or local government educational institution for the next financial year and they shall not be directed for other purposes.

(9) The procedures for the financing of higher education institutions shall be determined by the Law on Higher Education Institutions.

(10) Interest-related education institutions of national significance shall receive additional State budget funding for the performance of the functions laid down in Section 19.¹, Paragraph one of this Law.

[5 August 1999; 11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 5 February 2004; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 22 November 2017; 22 March 2018; 20 September 2018; 12 November 2020; 15 September 2022]

Section 61. Support for Education System

The accumulation, management, supervision, and distribution of the State budget resources and local government budget resources, gifts of legal or natural persons of Latvia and foreign countries, donations, and other resources granted for the implementation of support for the educational system shall be provided in accordance with the procedures laid down in the law.

[16 June 2009]

Section 62. Material Resources of Educational Institutions and Education Support Institutions

(1) Material resources of educational institutions and education support institutions are the immovable and movable property owned, administered, or used by such institutions. If a State educational institution, except for State higher education institutions, is located on immovable property owned by the State, such property shall be registered in the Land Register in the name of the State, represented by the Ministry of Education and Science. The State property transferred into the administration of State higher education institutions shall be registered in the name of the State, represented by the relevant higher education institution.

(2) The property of educational institutions shall be formed according to the requirements of the educational programmes and used for the implementation of educational programmes and maintenance of educational institutions.

(3) Material resources of educational institutions and educational support institutions shall be formed and developed, using resources allocated by the founders of such institutions and supplementary financial sources.

(4) Buildings, parts thereof and land managed or used by the State and local government educational institutions shall be used for the performance of the education process and for other purposes referred to in this Law. Transfer of buildings, parts thereof or land managed or used by educational institutions to third parties shall be allowed if it does not endanger the health, life, or safety of educatees, if it is not in contradiction with moral and ethical norms, and does not interfere with the education process, and also with the performance of other activities provided for in this Law. Transfer of buildings, parts thereof or land to third parties shall be permitted by entering into a written contract which shall be registered with the Ministry of Education and Science, another sectoral ministry, or with the relevant local government.

(5) A contract which an educational institution has concluded with a legal or natural person in regard to the use of the land, buildings or separate parts thereof which have been transferred into the management or use of the educational institution shall include a provision which provides that the educational institution may terminate the contract, giving a notice to the user thereon one month in advance, if the used object is necessary for the educational institution in order to carry out the education process or other activities provided for in this Law, or if such use endangers the health, life, or safety of educatees, or if it is in contradiction with moral and ethical norms.

[5 February 2004]

Chapter VIII
Administrative Offences in the Field of Education and Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 63. Violation of Registration and Licencing Requirements

(1) For the carrying out of educational activity without the registration specified in laws and regulations, a fine from ten to sixty units of fine shall be imposed.

(2) For the implementation of an educational programme without the licensing specified in laws and regulations, a fine from ten to sixty units of fine shall be imposed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 64. Violation of Requirements for Issuing Education Documents Recognised by the State

For the violation of the provisions for issuing education documents recognised by the State - certificates or diplomas, a fine from ten to sixty units of fine shall be imposed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 65. Private-practice Teaching without a Certificate

For private-practice teaching without the certificate specified in laws and regulations, a fine from ten to twenty units of fine shall be imposed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 66. Failure to Fulfil the Duties of the Head of an Educational or Another Institution Specified in this Law

For the failure to fulfil the duties of the head of an educational institution or another institution specified in Section 36, Paragraph one of this Law which have been specified in the laws and regulations, a fine from twenty to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 67. Violation of Requirements for Organisation and Operation of Children's Camps

For the violation of the provisions specified in the laws and regulations for the organisation and operation of children's camps, a fine from ten to sixty units of fine shall be imposed on the organiser of the children's camp who is a natural person, but a fine from twenty to one hundred and forty units of fine - on the organiser who is a legal person.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 67.¹ Failure to Fulfil the Obligations of the Founder of an Educational or Another Institution Specified in this Law

For the failure to fulfil the obligations of the founder of an educational institution or another institution specified in Section 36, Paragraph one of this Law which have been specified in the laws and regulations, a fine from twenty to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the official of the founder.

[14 May 2020]

Section 68. Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

(1) Administrative offence proceedings regarding the offences referred to in Sections 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67.¹ of this Law shall be conducted by the State Education Quality Service.

(2) Until examination of the administrative offence case, the administrative offence proceedings for the offence referred to in Section 67 of this Law shall be conducted by the State Police or municipal police. The administrative offence case shall be examined by the administrative commission or sub-commission of the local government.

[30 May 2019; 14 May 2020 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

1. This Law shall come into force on 1 June 1999.

2. With the coming into force of this Law, the Education Law of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, No. 31./32; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1995, No. 18; 1997, No. 3) is repealed.

3. The Minister for Education and Science shall, by 1 September 1999, ensure the development of the laws and regulations related to this Law and submit such to the Cabinet for approval.

4. Section 53 of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2004. Until 1 September 2004, the remuneration for teachers shall be determined in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 73 of 15 February 2000, Regulations Regarding Remuneration of Teachers.

[5 February 2004]

5. Section 48, Paragraph one of this Law shall come into force:

1) on 1 September 2004 -

a) with respect to teachers with higher education who implemented general education programmes already in the 2000/2001 academic year and continue to do so up to the coming into force of this provision,

b) with respect to teachers who have documents issued by State educational institutions on the pedagogical secondary education or an appropriate professional secondary education in the relevant subject (course) and additional pedagogical education, and who implemented general education programmes already in the 2000/2001 academic year, and also continue to do so up to the coming into force of this provision, except for the teachers referred to in Paragraph 5.¹ of these Transitional Provisions;

2) on 1 September 2002 - with respect to the education of such teachers who implement other educational programmes.

Until coming into force of this provision, the requirements for the education of the teachers implementing educational programmes shall be determined by the Ministry of Education and Science.

[10 May 2001; 5 February 2004]

5.¹ Teachers whose education does not conform to the requirements of Section 48, Paragraph one of this Law, but who have documents issued by State educational institutions on pedagogical secondary education or an appropriate professional secondary education in the relevant subject (course) and additional pedagogical education, and for whom on 1 September 2004 five or less years are left until reaching the retirement age specified by the State, have the right to continue to work as a teacher up to the end of the academic year in which the State specified retirement age is attained.

[5 February 2004]

6. State and local government educational institutions which have commenced the implementation of educational programmes in line with the type and profile of the educational institution until the day of coming into force of this Law may continue to implement these programmes by obtaining a licence for the implementation of the relevant educational programme within three years.

7. A private educational institution which has obtained a licence for the opening of an educational institution until the day of coming into force of this Law is entitled to continue the implementation of the relevant educational programme until expiration term of the licence.

8. Until the day of coming into force of this Law, an accredited educational institution, if it does not have an accredited educational programme, is entitled to issue State-approved education documents on the acquisition of education according to educational programmes until the end of the accreditation period.

9. Section 9, Paragraph one and Paragraph two, Clause 2 of this Law shall come into force progressively:

1) on 1 September 1999 - with respect to higher education institutions;

2) on 1 September 1999 - State and local government general education institutions with another language for studies shall commence the implementation of educational programmes for ethnic minorities or a transition to studies in the official language;

3) on 1 September 2004 - in State and local government general secondary education institutions which implement minority education programmes, commencing from the tenth grade, learning shall take place in the official language according to the State general secondary education standard; in State and local government vocational education institutions commencing from the first academic year learning shall take place in the official language according to the State professional education standard or the State vocational secondary education standard.

[5 February 2004; 22 March 2018 / Amendments to this Law adopted on 22 March 2018 regarding the deletion of the second sentence of Sub-clause 3 in relation to the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12 shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

10. All educational institutions and other institutions implementing educational programmes shall, within a year from coming into force of this Law, submit to the Ministry of Education and Science all the data necessary for registration in the Register of Educational Programmes, Register of Educational Institutions and the Register of Teachers, and shall agree upon the names of the educational institutions with the classification of the Register of Educational Programmes and the Register of Educational Institutions.

11. Extracurricular institutions which have been founded before the day of coming into force of this Law shall retain their status and their activity shall, within a year, be coordinated with the provisions of Section 47 corresponding to interest-related education.

12. Educational institutions which have been founded before the day of coming into force of this Law and continue to operate shall be registered in the Register of Educational Institutions until 1 March 1999 in conformity with the provisions of Sections 24 and 39 of this Law.

13. Amendments to Section 59, Paragraph two of this Law regarding the financing of private educational institutions (which implement accredited basic education and general secondary education programmes in the official language) according to the minimum costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one educatee stipulated by the Cabinet shall come into force on 1 September 2001.

[11 May 2000]

14. The Cabinet shall develop the procedures by which preventive health care and access to emergency medical assistance shall be provided to educatees at educational institutions by 31 December 2001.

[5 July 2001]

15. Amendments to Section 4 of this Law regarding the preparation of five-year old and six-year old children for the acquisition of basic education and to Section 60, Paragraph three regarding the ensuring of the remuneration for teachers from State budget funds and earmarked grants from the State budget in State or local government educational institutions for the teaching of five-year old and six-year old children shall come into force on 1 September 2002.

[5 July 2001]

16. From 1 January 2002, interest-related education programmes which on 1 September 2001 were already being implemented at local government educational institutions (music, art schools and sport education institutions) shall constitute vocationally oriented education programmes and shall receive funds from the State budget earmarked for the remuneration of teachers starting from 1 January 2002. This provision shall not apply to interest-related education programmes in general physical preparation groups and theatre interest-related education programmes implemented by the abovementioned educational institutions.

[20 September 2001]

17. The provisions of Section 47.¹, Paragraph two of this Law regarding obtaining licences for the implementation of professional orientation educational programmes shall come into force on 1 March 2002. In order to continue implementation of vocationally oriented education programmes and to receive funds from the State budget earmarked for the remuneration of teachers in 2003, the licence for the implementation of vocationally oriented education programmes must be received by 1 September 2002.

[20 September 2001]

18. Samples of vocationally oriented education programmes shall be approved by the Minister for Education and Science by 1 March 2002.

[20 September 2001]

19. Accredited music and art schools which were already implementing interest-related education programmes on 1 September 2001 and which shall constitute vocationally oriented education programmes from 1 January 2002 shall be recognised as accredited educational institutions until the end of the time period specified for the accreditation.

[20 September 2001]

20. Amendments to Section 30, Paragraph four of this Law regarding concurrent accreditation of educational institutions and heads of a State or local government basic or secondary education institution shall come into force on 1 September 2003.

[20 September 2001]

21. The educatees of State or local government educational institutions who have commenced completion of interest-related education programmes on 1 September 2001 which are to be vocationally oriented education programmes from 1 January 2002 shall, after completion of such programmes, receive a certificate on the acquisition of vocationally oriented education.

[20 September 2001]

22. Amendments to Section 1, Clause 9 (regarding the supplementation of the term "education administration institution" with a word "structural unit"), Section 17, Paragraph three (regarding the determination of functions of city local governments and municipality local governments), and also the new wording of Section 18 (regarding ensuring of functions of local governments in the field of education) of this Law shall come into force on 1 July 2009.

[13 November 2008]

23. 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]

24. The Cabinet shall, by 1 January 2010, issue the guidelines for State pre-school education determined in Section 14, Clause 18.1 of this Law.

[1 December 2009]

25. 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.

[16 December 2010]

26. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in amendments to this Law which come into force as of 26 March 2010 by 31 August 2010, but the regulations provided for in Section 14, Clauses 31 and 34 of this Law - not later than by 31 December 2022.

[4 March 2010; 17 December 2014; 23 November 2016]

27. Until issue of the Cabinet regulations provided for in Paragraph 26 of the Transitional Provisions of this Law, but not later than until 31 August 2010, the following Cabinet regulations shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law:

1) Cabinet Regulation No. 773 of 18 October 2005, Procedures for the Acquisition of Education and Professional Improvement for Vocational Education Teachers;

2) Cabinet Regulation No. 570 of 28 August 2007, Procedures for the Professional Improvement for General Education Teachers and Interest-related Education Teachers;

3) Cabinet Regulation No. 264 of 15 April 2008, Regulations Regarding Procedures for State Examinations in Accredited Educational Programmes.

[4 March 2010]

28. Amendments to Section 14, Clause 26 of this Law regarding the procedures by which the State shall finance vocationally oriented education programmes shall come into force on 1 January 2012.

[4 March 2010]

29. Amendments to Section 27 of this Law regarding accreditation for six years of educational institutions implementing basic and secondary level education programmes shall come into force on 1 January 2012.

[4 March 2010]

30. Section 59, Paragraph six of this Law in relation to financial support of local governments to adult education shall come into force on 1 January 2013, but in relation to State financial support to adult education - not later than on 31 December 2022.

[15 November 2012; 17 December 2014; 23 November 2016]

31. In 2012, bonuses shall not be paid to teachers of educational institutions founded by the State and local governments, but teachers 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]

32. After coming into force of amendments made to Section 14, Clause 18 of this Law (regarding the guidelines for educational development for the following seven years), the Cabinet shall submit the first guidelines for educational development for the following seven years for approval to the Saeima for the time period from 2014 to 2020.

[15 March 2012]

33. The Cabinet shall, by 31 August 2012, develop and submit to the Saeima the necessary amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Childrenʼs Rights in order to harmonise it with the amendments made to Section 50, Clause 1 of this Law (in relation to the prohibition to work as a teacher to a person who has been punished for committing an intentional criminal offence).

[5 July 2012]

34. 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]

35. The quality levels of professional activity of a teacher awarded to teachers the quality of whose professional activity has been assessed during the time period from 1 September 2009 to 31 May 2014 on the basis of the criteria developed and according to the procedures laid down in the project of the European Social Fund "Raising Teachers' Competitiveness during Optimisation of Education System" are considered equivalent to the levels of quality of professional activity of a teacher which have been determined by the Cabinet in accordance with Section 14, Clause 37 of this Law.

[9 July 2013]

36. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clauses 12.², 15, and 36 of this Law by 30 August 2013, and the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 37 of this Law - by 31 May 2014.

[9 July 2013; 17 December 2014]

37. Section 59, Paragraph 2.¹ and Section 60, Paragraph 3.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2013.

[9 July 2013]

38. Amendments to Section 11.¹, Paragraph one of this Law providing for the specification by the Cabinet of the price list of paid services provided within the scope of expert-examination of documents shall come into force on 1 July 2015.

[17 December 2014]

39. The services provided within the scope of an expert-examination to a person who has submitted an education document issued in a foreign country or a document certifying an academic degree acquired in a foreign country to the Academic Information Centre for expert-examination until 30 June 2015 shall be free of charge.

[17 December 2014; 18 June 2015]

40. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2016, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 1.¹ of this Law.

[18 June 2015]

41. [20 September 2018]

42. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2016, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 38 of this Law.

[18 June 2015]

43. Amendments regarding the deletion of Section 15, Clause 24 and Section 16, Clause 7 of this Law, and also regarding the supplementation of Section 14 with Clause 7.¹ regarding approval of the by-laws of State educational institutions shall come into force on 1 September 2018. The by-laws of State educational institutions which have been approved by the Ministry of Education and Science or another sectoral ministry until 31 August 2018 shall be in effect after this time period insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law. Amendments to these by-laws shall be approved by the Cabinet. The text of amendments to the by-laws of an educational institution, and also full text of the by-laws in the new wording must be submitted to the Cabinet.

[18 June 2015]

44. Amendment to Section 59, Paragraph two of this Law in relation to the financing of remuneration for teachers employed at industrial and vocational education programmes of private educational institutions shall come into force on 1 January 2023.

[18 June 2015; 23 November 2016]

45. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 October 2015, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 1616 of 22 December 2009, Procedures for the Calculation and Division of the Earmarked Grant from the State Budget for Local Government Educational Institutions for the Remuneration for Teachers of Pre-school Education Employed in Education of Children from Five Years of Age and for the Remuneration for Teachers of General Basic and General Secondary Education Institutions of Local Governments, determining the procedures by which the earmarked grant from the State budget for the remuneration for teachers of secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions shall be calculated and divided.

[18 June 2015]

46. Amendments to Section 60, Paragraph three of this Law regarding the remuneration for teachers of secondary education institutions of State higher education institutions shall come into force on 1 January 2016.

[18 June 2015]

47. The Cabinet shall, by 1 February 2016, issue the regulations provided for in Section 14, Clause 36 of this Law regarding the methodology by which a local government shall determine the average costs necessary per one educatee in the pre-school education programme (from the age of 18 months until commencing acquisition of basic education) at local government educational institutions, and the procedures by which a local government shall, according to the costs specified thereby, cover the costs of a pre-school education programme for a private educational institution. Until the day of coming into force of the Cabinet regulations, Cabinet Regulation No. 1523 of 17 December 2013, Procedures by which a Local Government shall Cover the Costs of a Pre-school Education Programme for a Private Educational Institution According to the Specified Average Costs Thereof, shall be applied.

[3 December 2015]

48. Certificates for the commencement of a private practice of a teacher which have been issued until 31 December 2016 shall be valid until the end of their term of validity.

[5 May 2016]

49. The provisions of Paragraphs two and three of Section 24 which come into force on 1 June 2016 shall apply to the educational institutions already included in the Register of Educational Institutions if they, starting from 1 June 2016, make changes in any of the information already included in the Register of Educational Institutions.

[5 May 2016]

50. The maintenance expenses in boarding schools of local governments from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 shall be covered from the earmarked grant from the State budget for educatees of a boarding school who are orphans or children left without parental care, and also for educatees from poor and low-income families in conformity with the Cabinet regulations governing the procedures for the financing of boarding schools.

[23 November 2016]

51. The maintenance expenses in pre-school special education institutions of local governments from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 shall be covered from the financial resources from the State budget in the amount of 30 per cent from the State financing allocated to pre-school special education institutions of local governments in 2016.

[23 November 2016]

52. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 March 2017, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 350 of 17 June 2014, Procedures for the Quality Assessment of the Professional Activity of Teachers, in accordance with amendments to Section 49.¹, Paragraph two of this Law (regarding determination of three quality levels of the professional activity of teachers). In order to ensure the improvement of the system for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of teachers, quality levels of professional activity of teachers shall not be awarded until the day when the abovementioned amendments to Cabinet regulations will come into force, but not longer than until 31 August 2017.

[23 November 2016]

53. A document certifying the quality level of the professional activity of a teacher which has been issued until 31 December 2016 shall be valid until the term of validity indicated therein. The third, fourth, and fifth quality level of the professional activity of a teacher which has been awarded in accordance with the legal framework that was in force until 31 December 2016 is considered equivalent to the first, second, and third quality level of the professional activity of a teacher accordingly in accordance with amendments made to Section 49.¹, Paragraph two of this Law determining the three quality levels of the professional activity of teachers.

[23 November 2016]

54. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2017, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 445 of 5 July 2016, Regulations Regarding Remuneration of Teachers, in accordance with amendments to Section 53, Paragraph one of this Law (regarding determination of remuneration of a teacher if the length of employment of a teacher is taken into account).

[23 November 2016]

55. The Cabinet shall, by 30 September 2017, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 37 of this Law.

[27 July 2017]

56. Educational institutions implementing the educational programmes referred to in Section 49.¹, Paragraph one of this Law shall, by 30 November 2017, develop the criteria and procedures for the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of teachers in conformity with the provisions of laws and regulations. Applications for the assessment of the quality of professional activity shall be submitted to an educational institution starting from 1 December 2017.

[27 July 2017]

57. Applications of teachers for the assessment of the quality of professional activity which have been submitted until 9 August 2017, on the basis of the provisions of Section 49.¹ of this Law, shall be examined in conformity with the provisions of this Law which were in force until 9 August 2017.

[27 July 2017]

58. Teachers whose quality of professional activity has been assessed in accordance with the provisions of this Law which were in force until 31 December 2016 and the term of validity of the certificates of quality of professional activity issued to whom expires on 31 August 2017 have the right, until 31 August 2018, to continue the receipt of the supplement for the quality level of professional activity in the amount in which the teacher has been receiving it until 9 August 2017.

[27 July 2017]

59. Teachers to whom the document certifying the quality level of professional activity has been issued until 9 August 2017 have the right, until the end of the term of validity of the document certifying the quality level, to continue the receipt of the supplement for the quality level of professional activity in the amount in which the teacher has been receiving it until 9 August 2017.

[27 July 2017]

60. Amendments to Section 17, Paragraph three, Clauses 1, 2, 12, and 13 of this Law in relation to the deletion of the words "boarding school" shall come into force as of 1 August 2019.

[22 November 2017]

61. New boarding schools may not be founded after 1 January 2018. The State shall continue to co-finance the boarding schools founded until the abovementioned date until 31 December 2018.

[22 November 2017]

62. Section 14, Clause 40 and Section 52, Paragraphs two, three, and four of this Law shall be in force until 31 December 2020.

[22 November 2017]

63. Section 14, Clauses 41 and 42 of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2018. The Cabinet shall, by 31 August 2018, issue the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 14, Clauses 41 and 42 of this Law.

[22 November 2017]

64. Section 60, Paragraph 3.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2020. Until 31 August 2020, the State shall provide remuneration for the teachers employed at the level of secondary education of general education programmes implemented by general education institutions of local governments, general education institutions of State higher education institutions, and private general education institutions in accordance with the provisions of Section 59, Paragraph two and Section 60, Paragraph three of this Law.

[22 November 2017]

65. The Cabinet shall, by 31 March 2018, develop and submit a draft law to the Saeima regarding the necessary amendments to the General Education Law, providing for exclusion of the norm regarding the possibilities of acquiring education at boarding schools from the Law.

[22 November 2017]

66. Amendments to Section 9 of this Law regarding the supplementation of this Section with Paragraph 1.¹ and the rewording of Paragraph two, Clause 2 and amendments to Section 41, Paragraph one in relation to the replacement of the words "in the respective State education standard" with the words "in the State basic education standard" and the supplementation of Section with Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² shall come into force:

1) on 1 September 2019 - in relation to the implementation of pre-school education programmes and the implementation of basic education programmes in grades 1-7;

2) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of basic education programmes in grade 8 and the implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 10 and 11;

3) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of basic education programmes in grade 9 and the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12.

[22 March 2018]

67. Amendments to Paragraph 9, Sub-paragraph 3 of the Transitional Provisions of this Law in relation to the deletion of the second sentence shall come into force:

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

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

[22 March 2018]

68. The Cabinet shall, by 30 April 2018, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 533 of 31 July 2012, Regulations Regarding the State Guidelines for Pre-school Education, and Cabinet Regulation No. 468 of 12 August 2014, Regulations Regarding the State Standard in Basic Education, the Subject Standards in Basic Education and Model Basic Education Programmes, in accordance with amendments to Section 9, Paragraph two, Clause 2 and Section 41, Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² of this Law.

[22 March 2018]

69. The Cabinet shall, by 30 April 2018, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 211 of 27 June 2000, Regulations Regarding the State Vocational Secondary Education Standard and the State Industrial Education Standard, and Cabinet Regulation No. 281 of 21 May 2013, Regulations Regarding the State General Secondary Education Standard, Subject Standards and Sample Educational Programmes, in accordance with amendments to Section 9, Paragraph two, Clause 2 and Section 41, Paragraph one of this Law.

[22 March 2018]

70. Educational institutions shall ensure the conformity of educational programmes at the level of pre-school and basic education with the requirements of Section 9, Paragraphs one and 1.¹, Paragraph two, Clause 2, and Section 41, Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² and submission for licensing by 30 April 2019.

[22 March 2018]

71. Educational institutions shall ensure the conformity of educational programmes of the level of secondary education to the requirements of Section 9, Paragraphs one and 1.¹, Paragraph two, Clause 2, and Section 41, Paragraph one and their submission for licensing by 30 April 2020.

[22 March 2018]

72. The Ministry of Education and Science shall, not later than within three years after implementation of the relevant education reform, ensure substantiated and independent evaluation of the reform based on scientific research to determine its impact on the quality of achievements in education.

[22 March 2018]

73. Section 52, Paragraph one, Clause 7 of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2019, and the benefit referred to in this Clause may be disbursed to a teacher also before 1 September 2019 within the scope of the financial resources available for such purpose.

[22 March 2018]

74. Amendments which provide for the deletion of Section 1, Clause 14 of this Law shall come into force:

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.

[20 September 2018]

75. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2018, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 43 of this Law.

[20 September 2018]

76. General education institutions which on the day of coming into force of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 43 of this Law are implementing general education programmes in the form of extramural studies or distance learning shall, by 31 July 2020, ensure the conformity of the procedures for the implementation of such educational programmes with the abovementioned regulations.

[20 September 2018]

77. Amendments to Section 17, Paragraph three, Clauses 7 and 10, and also Section 59, Paragraph three of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2020.

[20 September 2018]

78. Amendments to Section 14, Clause 24 of this Law which provide that the Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the financing of interest-related education institutions of national significance, and also Section 14, Clause 24.¹, Section 19.¹, and Section 60, Paragraph ten of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2022.

[20 September 2018; 3 April 2019; 14 November 2019; 23 November 2020]

79. [23 November 2020]

80. The Cabinet shall develop and, by 31 December 2018, submit amendments to the Vocational Education Law to the Saeima for its alignment with the amendments made to Section 23, Paragraph five of this Law in relation to the informing of authorities and persons not later than three months in advance, and the amendments made to Section 24, Paragraph four, Section 25, Paragraph two, Section 36, Paragraph one, Section 39, Paragraph one, Section 44, Paragraph two, and Section 47.¹, Paragraph two of this Law according to which the registration certificate of an educational institution and a licence for the implementation of an educational programme need not be issued.

[20 September 2018]

81. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2018, develop and submit amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions to the Saeima for its alignment with the amendments made to Section 24, Paragraph four, Section 25, Paragraph two, Section 36, Paragraph one, Section 39, Paragraph one, Section 44, Paragraph two, and Section 45, Paragraph two of this Law according to which the registration certificate of an educational institution and a licence for the implementation of an educational programme need not be issued.

[20 September 2018]

82. Amendments to the first sentence of Section 60, Paragraph 3.² of this Law regarding the substitution of the words "the number of educatees in the relevant grade or group of grades does not conform to the minimum admissible number of educatees stipulated by the Cabinet" with the words "the educational institution does not meet the quality criteria stipulated by the Cabinet" and to the second sentence regarding the deletion of the words "including the quality indicators of the education acquired at the educational institution" shall come into force on 1 September 2020.

[20 September 2018]

83. Section 11.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 June 2020.

[21 March 2019]

84. The Cabinet shall, by 31 May 2019, issue the regulations referred to in Section 35.¹, Paragraph six of this Law in relation to State examinations in general education programmes and State examinations in general education subjects in vocational education programmes, and by 31 May 2021 - the regulations referred to in Section 35.¹, Paragraph six of this Law in relation to State examinations for the acquisition of professional qualification and for examinations of the proficiency in the official language.

[21 March 2019]

85. Entry of the information referred to in Section 35.¹, Paragraph two of this Law in relation to State examinations for the acquisition of professional qualification in the State Examination Information System shall be started from 1 September 2021.

[21 March 2019]

86. Entry of the information referred to in Section 35.¹, Paragraph two of this Law in relation to examinations of the proficiency in the official language in the State Examination Information System shall be started from 1 September 2021, and such information shall refer to those examinations of the proficiency in the official language which have been taken from 1 January 1991.

[21 March 2019]

87. Amendments regarding the deletion of Section 20, Paragraph four, Clause 6 of this Law and Chapter VIII of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[30 May 2019]

88. The Cabinet shall, by 31 January 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 21.¹ of this Law.

[14 May 2020]

89. The Cabinet shall, by 31 May 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 36.¹ of this Law.

[14 May 2020]

90. Section 30, Paragraph 3.⁴ of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2021.

[14 May 2020]

91. After coming into force of amendment made to Section 14, Clause 18 of this Law regarding approval of the guidelines for educational development by the Cabinet, the Cabinet shall approve the guidelines for educational development for the following seven years for the time period from 2021 to 2027.

[3 September 2020]

92. The Cabinet shall, by 30 January 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 45 of this Law.

[12 November 2020]

93. Amendments regarding the deletion of Section 14, Clause 7.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 October 2021.

[8 April 2021]

94. Section 14, Clause 8.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 August 2021.

[8 April 2021]

95. Amendment to Section 14 of this Law in relation to the new wording of Clause 23 shall come into force on 1 December 2021.

[8 April 2021]

96. Section 29, Clause 4 of this Law shall come into force on 1 August 2021.

[8 April 2021]

97. The Cabinet shall, by 31 July 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 46 of this Law.

[8 April 2021]

98. The Cabinet shall, by 31 May 2023, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 11.¹ of this Law.

[15 September 2022]

99. Legal and natural persons who have received a local government licence for the implementation of a non-formal adult education programme by 31 May 2023 are entitled to continue the implementation of the relevant educational programme not longer than until 31 May 2024.

[15 September 2022]

100. Educational institutions which are registered in the Register of Educational Institutions but are not accredited and which have started to implement non-formal adult education programmes by 31 May 2023 are entitled to continue to implement the relevant educational programmes without a permit not longer than until 31 May 2024.

[15 September 2022]

101. The information referred to in Section 35.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 4 of this Law shall be entered into the State Examination Information System as of 1 September 2023 in respect of the olympiads of study subjects.

[29 September 2022]

102. Amendments which provide for the deletion of Section 41 of this Law shall come into force:

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

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

3) on 1 September 2025 - in relation to the implementation of the 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]

103. The opportunity to study the interest-related education programme for the minority language and cultural history as defined in Section 47.³ of this Law shall be provided:

1) for educatees of the pre-school education programme and general education basic education programme in grades 1, 4, and 7 - from 1 September 2023;

2) for educatees of the general education basic education programme in grades 2, 5, and 8 - from 1 September 2024;

3) for educatees of the general education basic education programme in grades 3, 6, and 9 - from 1 September 2025.

[29 September 2022]

104. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2022, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 716 of 21 November 2018, Regulations Regarding the State Guidelines for Pre-school Education and the Model Pre-school Education Programmes, and Cabinet Regulation No. 747 of 27 November 2018, Regulations Regarding the State Basic Education Standard and Model Basic Education Programmes, in accordance with amendments to this Law which provide for the deletion of Section 9, Paragraph two, Clause 2 and Section 38, Paragraph two, Clause 1, and Section 41 of this Law.

[29 September 2022]

105. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2022, issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Clauses 47 and 48 of this Law.

[29 September 2022]

106. Education institutions shall ensure that pre-school and basic education programmes comply with the State guidelines for pre-school education and the State basic education standard, if necessary by licensing new educational programmes, by 31 August 2025.

[29 September 2022]

107. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2022, make amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 276 of 25 June 2019, Regulations Regarding the State Education Information System, in accordance with the amendments to Section 30 of this Law in relation to supplementation thereof with Paragraphs seven and eight and Section 48 of this Law in relation to supplementation thereof with Paragraphs seven and eight.

[29 September 2022]

108. The entries referred to in Section 30, Paragraphs seven and eight and Section 48, Paragraphs seven and eight of this Law in the Register of Teachers shall be made from 1 January 2023. By 31 December 2022, the State Language Centre shall immediately inform the employer of the head of the educational institution or the head of the educational institution, respectively, of the finding referred to in Section 30, Paragraph seven and Section 48, Paragraph seven of this Law.

[29 September 2022]

109. Amendments to Section 17, Paragraph three of this Law in relation to the new wording of Clause 1.¹ thereof and Section 18, Paragraph two, Clause 1 shall come into force on 1 September 2024.

[20 October 2022 / The abovementioned amendments shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2024]

110. The Ministry of Education and Science, in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Health, shall develop an informative report on the elimination and prevention of emotional and physical violence in educational institution, and also on the cooperation of State and local government authorities in order to establish an appropriate system of support measures for educatees, their families and teachers, and submit it to the Cabinet for consideration by 14 February 2023.

[20 October 2022]

111. The Ministry of Education and Science, in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Health, shall develop an informative report on the development of inclusive education at all levels of education referred to in Section 3 of this Law by 14 April 2023 and submit it to the Cabinet for consideration.

[20 October 2022]

112. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2022, make amendments to laws and regulations in accordance with the amendments to Section 18, Paragraph three of this Law.

[20 October 2022]

113. The Cabinet shall, by 31 January 2023, issue the regulations referred to in Section 18.¹, Paragraph two of this Law.

[20 October 2022]

114. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2023, develop and submit to the Saeima a draft law on the necessary amendments regarding the elimination and prevention of violence in educational institutions and the implementation of inclusive education.

[20 October 2022]

Informative Reference to European Union Directives

[4 March 2010]

This Law contains legal norms arising from:

1) Council Directive of 25 July 1977 on the education of the children of migrant workers (77/486/EEC);

2) Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin;

3) Directive 2002/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 amending Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. Text with EEA relevance;

4) Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers;

5) Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted;

6) Council Directive 2004/114/EC of 13 December 2004 on the conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service;

7) Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (recast);

8) Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 29 October 1998.

President G. Ulmanis

Rīga, 17 November 1998

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2023 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)