The translation of this document is outdated.
Translation validity: 07.08.2013.–31.12.2014.
Amendments not included:
17.12.2014.,
18.06.2015.,
03.12.2015.,
05.05.2016.,
23.11.2016.,
27.07.2017.,
22.11.2017.,
24.11.2017.,
22.03.2018.,
20.09.2018.,
21.03.2019.,
03.04.2019.,
30.05.2019.
Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre) with amending laws of:
5 August 1999 [shall come
into force from 13 August 1999];
11 November 1999 [shall come into force from 1 January
2000];
11 May 2000 [shall come into force from 6 June
2000];
10 May 2001 [shall come into force from 1 August
2001];
5 July 2001 [shall come into force from 1 September
2001];
20 September 2001 [shall come into force from 6 October
2001];
5 February 2004 [shall come into force from 27 February
2004];
14 September 2005 [shall come into force from 16
September 2005];
19 December 2006 [shall come into force from 1 January
2007];
13 November 2008 [shall come into force from 16 December
2008];
12 December 2008 [shall come into force from 1 January
2009];
16 June 2009 [shall come into force from 1 July
2009];
1 December 2009 [shall come into force from 1 January
2010];
4 March 2010 [shall come into force from 26 March
2010];
16 December 2010 [shall come into force from 1 January
2011];
15 December 2011 [shall come into force from 1 January
2012];
15 March 2012 [shall come into force from 18 April
2012];
5 July 2012 [shall come into force from 1 October
2012];
15 November 2012 [shall come into force from 1 January
2013];
9 July 2013 [shall come into force from 7 August
2013].
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the
date of the amending law appears in square brackets at
the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or
clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears
in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph
or clause.
|
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;
2) higher education - an educational level, post
acquisition of secondary education, in science or art, or
development of the individual rooted in a selected academic or
professional field of science and art, or in an academic or
professional study stream in preparation for scientific and
professional activity;
21) formal education - a system which
includes basic education, secondary education and higher
education levels the acquisition of the programme of which is
certified by an education or professional qualification document
recognised by the State, as well as an education and professional
qualification document;
3) interest-related education - realisation 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 educational process includes teaching and upbringing
activities. The result of education is comprised of the totality
of the knowledge, skills and attitudes of a person;
5) education support institution - an institution
established 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 certifies to
the education acquired by a person in accordance with a
particular educational level, type and programme, or to partial
acquisition of such programme;
7) educational institution - an institution established
by the State, local governments and other legal or natural
persons, its task being the implementation of educational
programmes, or a commercial company for which implementation of
educational programmes is one of the types of activity;
8) educational level - a completed stage of education,
which includes organised and successively realised acquisition of
education;
9) educational administration institution - a State or
local government institution or a local government structural
unit that performs the functions of educational
administration;
10) accreditation of an educational programme - the
acquiring of rights by an educational institution or another
institutions laid down in this Law to issue a State-recognised
educational document for the acquisition of education
corresponding to a particular educational programme. In the
course of accreditation the quality of implementation of the
relevant educational programme shall be evaluated;
11) licensing of an educational programme - granting of
rights to an educational institution or another institutions laid
down in this Law to implement a particular educational
programme;
12) educatee - a pupil, trainee, student or listener
who is pursuing an educational programme at an educational
institution or with an 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 in order to ensure the acquisition and
development of career management skills of educatees, which
include being aware of one's interests, abilities and
opportunities for selecting the direction of further education
and professional career;
123) career development support - an
aggregate of measures, which includes access to information,
career education and individual consultations for educatees for
determination and planning of career objectives, making a choice
in relation to education and work;
124) educational materials - the following
to be used in implementation of an educational programme and
acquisition of the education content, including to be used in the
electronic environment:
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 content laid down in the State basic
education, general secondary education, vocational secondary
education and industrial education standards),
b) methodological aids (methodological recommendations and
other study editions provided for work needs of a teacher),
c) additional literature (reference literature, cartographic
editions, music editions, fiction, including children's
literature and other periodicals and non-periodicals necessary
for implementation of educational programmes),
d) visual aids (graphic productions, text editions, visual
materials, natural study objects, mock-ups and models in which
visual or recorded information is inserted),
e) didactic games (games to be used in the study process,
which include tasks for the acquisition of the study content or
elements for testing study achievements),
f) digital teaching aids and resources (electronic editions
and resources which include the content necessary for
implementation of the educational programme),
g) handouts (exercises, schemes, work sheets, examples,
samples and other materials which are provided for each educatee,
individualising the study process),
h) educational technical aids (technical equipment and devices
to be used in the study process, including technical equipment
and devices provided for educatees with special needs),
i) educational materials (substances, raw materials and
objects which are used for the acquisition of the study content,
carrying out practical tasks),
j) installations and equipment (devices, tools, instruments,
objects and accessories, including sports equipment with the aid
of which the acquisition of the study content is ensured,
guaranteeing conformity with safety and hygiene
requirements),
k) individual study accessories (objects and aids for personal
use of educatees, which are used as educational aids or in
relation to the provision of study opportunities: stationary,
clothing and footwear, specific clothing, footwear and hygiene
accessories necessary for the acquisition of the mandatory
content of individual study subjects (sports, housekeeping and
technologies, etc.), aids using which in the study process the
pupil creates and object or product for his or her own
needs];
13) subject of study or course programme - a component
of an educational programme that includes the goals and
objectives of the subjects of study or the course, its contents,
a plan for acquiring the contents, criteria and procedures for
evaluating the acquired education, as well as a list of methods
and resources necessary for the implementation of the
programme;
14) subject of study or course standard - a component
of the State educational standard that determines the primary
goals and objectives of a subject of study or course, the
mandatory content of a subject of study or a course, and the
forms and procedures for evaluation of educational
achievement;
141) non-formal education - educational
activities in conformity with interests and demand organised
outside of formal education;
15) basic education - an educational level in which
preparation for the secondary educational level or for
professional activity takes place, where basic knowledge and
skills necessary for life in society and for the 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) teacher - a natural person who has the
education and the professional qualifications laid down 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 employment
market, during the course of a lifetime of a person;
18) pre-school education - an educational level in
which multi-dimensional development of the child as an
individual, in the strengthening of 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, with the
exception of a State or local government educational institution,
as well as a commercial company in which the State or the local
government holds a capital share, for which implementation of
educational programmes is one of the types of activity;
20) professional education - practical and theoretical
preparation for the practice of a particular profession, and for
the acquisition of professional qualification and improvement of
professional competence;
201) professional orientation education -
the acquisition of systematised knowledge and skills, as well as
the formation of values orientation in art, culture or sport
concurrently with the basic education or secondary education
level, which provides a possibility to prepare for the
acquisition of a professional education in the selected
direction;
21) professional qualification - evaluation of
educational and professional skill with respect to a particular
profession, confirmed by documentary evidence;
22) [9 July 2013];
23) professional qualification document - a document
that attests to professional qualifications and grants the right
to apply for a position in a specific profession at a level in
conformity with the qualifications, or to obtain a relevant
certificate for employment in private practice;
24) special education - general and professional
education adapted for persons with special needs and health
problems, or with special needs or health problems;
25) further education - continuation of previously
acquired education and professional skill improvement in
conformity with the requirements of the specific profession;
26) distance education - an extramural method for
acquiring education, which is characterised by specially
structured educational materials, individual speed of learning,
specially organised evaluation of educational achievement, as
well as use of various technical and electronic means of
communication;
261) State Education Information System - a
database in which information regarding educational institutions,
licensed and accredited educational programmes, educatees,
teachers, academic staff of institutions of higher education and
colleges, education documents and national statistics is
compiled;
27) State education standard - a document that
determines, in conformity with the level and type of education,
the main goals and objectives of educational programmes, the
mandatory basic content of education, basic criteria for
evaluation of acquired education, and general procedures;
28) secondary education - an educational level in which
multi-dimensional growth of an individual, purposeful and
profound development in intentionally chosen general and
professional education, or general or professional education
stream, preparation for studies at the highest level of education
or professional activity, and involvement in public life takes
place; and
29) general education - a process of cognition of the
multi-dimensionality and oneness of a human beings, nature and
society, and a process of development of a humane, free and
responsible individual, and the result of such.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 13
November 2008; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013]
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. Corresponding 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) for moral, aesthetic, intellectual and physical
development, by promoting the development of a knowledgeable,
skilful and socialised individual.
Section 3. Right to Education
(1) The following persons have the right to education:
1) a citizen of Latvia;
2) a non-citizen of Latvia;
3) a citizen of the European Union, a citizen of the European
Economic Area or a citizen of Swiss Confederation;
4) a permanent resident of the European Community who has a
valid residence permit in the Republic of Latvia;
5) a stateless person who has a valid travel document of the
stateless person issued in the Republic of Latvia;
6) a citizen of another state, other than a citizen of the
European Union, the European Economic Area or Swiss Confederation
(hereinafter - a third-country national) or a stateless person
who has a valid residence permit in the Republic of Latvia;
7) a refugee or a person who has acquired alternative
status;
8) a person who has received temporary protection in the
Republic of Latvia.
(2) A minor child of an asylum seeker and a minor asylum
seeker has the right to basic education and secondary education,
as well as the right to continue the commenced education after
reaching 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, as well as during his or her detention.
[4 March 2010]
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 belonging, gender, religious
and political affiliation, state of health, 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, as well as 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 cause directly or indirectly
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 case of dispute a person points to factors which
could have been the basis for his or her direct or indirect
discrimination due to conditions referred to in Paragraph one of
this Section, the implementer of the educational programme has a
duty to prove that the prohibition of differential treatment has
not been violated.
(6) If the prohibition of differential treatment or the
prohibition to cause 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, as
well as to bring an action to the court. A person has the right
to request compensation for losses and remuneration for moral
detriment. In the case of dispute the amount of moral detriment
shall be determined by the court upon preference thereof.
(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 comply with the terms used in the Consumer Rights
Protection Law.
[4 March 2010]
Section 4. Mandatory Education
The preparation of children from the age of 5 for the
acquisition of basic education and the acquisition of basic
education, or the continuation of acquisition of basic education
until reaching the age of 18, shall be mandatory.
[5 August 1999; 5 July 2001; 16
June 2009; 1 December 2009]
Section 5. Educational Levels
(1) The following educational levels 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 educational
level to the next.
Section 6. Types of Education
The types of education are as follows:
1) general education;
2) professional education;
3) academic education.
Section 7. Education Target
Groups
Education target groups are aggregates of persons with similar
needs, interests and abilities, which wish to acquire education
or for whom the acquisition of mandatory education has been
determined by law. The primary education target groups are
comprised of:
1) children of pre-school age;
2) children and youths of mandatory education age;
3) youths;
4) persons with special needs;
5) adults.
Section 8. Forms of Acquisition of
Education
(1) The following are the forms of acquisition of
education:
1) full-time education;
2) extramural education; a sub-category of the extramural
education method - distance education;
3) self-education;
4) education in the family.
(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement an
educational programme in the form of full-time studies, as well
as extramural studies.
(3) An educatee may acquire the contents of an educational
programme in the form of self-education. Evaluation of an
educational programme acquired 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
institution of higher educational programmes.
[5 February 2004]
Section 9. Language of Acquisition
of Education
(1) Education shall be acquired in the official language in
State and local government education institutions.
(2) Education may be acquired in another language:
1) in private educational institutions;
2) in State and local government educational institutions in
which educational programmes for ethnic minorities are
implemented in conformity with the provisions of Section 41 of
this Law;
3) in educational institutions specified in other laws.
(3) In order to acquire basic or secondary education, each
educatee shall learn the official language and take examinations
testing his or her knowledge of the official language to the
extent and in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet.
(31) Educational programmes in institutions of
higher education established by the State shall be implemented in
the official language. Use of foreign languages in the
implementation of educational programmes shall be possible only
in the following cases:
1) educational programmes, which are being acquired by foreign
students in Latvia, and educational programmes, which are
implemented within the framework of co-operation provided for in
the programmes and interstate agreements of the European Union,
may be implemented in the official languages of the European
Union. The acquisition of the official language shall be included
in the mandatory amount of study courses for foreign students, if
the studies in Latvia are intended for more than six months or
exceed 20 credit points;
2) not more than one fifth of the amount of credit points of
the educational programme may be implemented in the official
languages of the European Union, taking into account that final
and State examinations, as well as development of qualification,
bachelor's and master's thesis, are not included in this
part;
3) implementation of educational programmes in a foreign
language is necessary for the achievement of the targets of the
educational programme in compliance with the education
classification of the Republic of Latvia in the following groups
of educational programmes: languages and culture studies,
language programmes. A licensing commission shall decide on the
compliance of the educational programme with the groups of
educational programmes.
(4) Professional qualification examinations shall be taken in
the official language.
(5) The work required for the acquisition of an academic
(bachelor's or master's) or a scientific (doctor's) degree shall
be prepared and defended in the official language, except in
cases provided for in other laws.
(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]
Section 10. Education and
Religion
(1) The educational system shall ensure freedom of conscience.
Educatees shall have the option to acquire 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 11. Education Documents
(1) Educatees, upon the acquisition of a particular level
(except for pre-school education level) and type of education
shall be issued a relevant education document: a certificate, a
document attesting to the education, or a diploma.
(2) A State-recognised education document shall be issued to
an educatee who has acquired education in conformity with an
accredited educational programme.
(3) An educational institution may issue a document for
partial acquisition of an educational programme.
Section 11.1 Recognition
in Latvia of Education Document Certificates Issued by Foreign
States
(1) Expert-examination of education documents issued abroad,
as well as certifying documents in regard to academic degrees
conferred abroad, shall be carried out on the basis of an
application by the holder of the education document or of the
certifying documents in regard to the academic degrees, by the
relevant educational institutions, State institutions, employers
or professional organisations. The Academic Information Centre
shall carry out expert-examination of education documents issued
abroad, as well as of attesting documents in regard to academic
degrees conferred abroad.
(2) As a result of the expert-examination of the submitted
documents, it shall be determined:
1) which education document issued in Latvia, or which
academic degree conferred in Latvia, is equivalent to the
education document issued abroad, or to the attesting document in
regard to the academic degree conferred abroad, or which
education document issued in Latvia, or which academic degree
conferred in Latvia, may be considered as equivalent to such;
2) what additional conditions must be fulfilled in order that
the education document issued abroad, or the certifying document
in regard to the academic degree conferred abroad, may be
considered as equivalent to an education document issued in
Latvia or an academic degree conferred in Latvia if the education
document issued or the academic degree conferred abroad does not
conform to the requirements of any education document issued in
Latvia or to any academic degree conferred in Latvia.
(3) As a result of the expert-examination of documents, the
person submitting the application shall be given a notice in
regard to which education document issued in Latvia, or which
academic degree conferred in Latvia, is equivalent, or may be
regarded as equivalent, to the education document issued abroad,
or to the academic degree conferred abroad.
(4) A decision to recognise an education document shall be
taken on the basis of a statement issued by the Academic
Information Centre, by:
1) in respect of continuation of studies - the institution of
higher education in which the holder of the education document
wishes to continue the studies. The institution of higher
education may carry out an additional expert-examination and set
additional requirements;
2) in respect of hiring employees in professions in which the
professional activity, or the education required for it, is not
governed by laws or in other regulatory enactments, - the
employer;
3) in respect of practising professional activity in
professions in which the professional activities, or the
education required for it, is governed by laws, as well as in
other regulatory enactments - the institutions determined in such
laws and other regulatory enactments;
4) in respect of continuation of basic or secondary
educational level - the Ministry of Education and Science.
(5) The Academic Information Centre is an institution
established by the Ministry of Education and Science, which
carries out expert-examination of education documents issued
abroad and documents attesting to academic degrees conferred
abroad, and other functions related to recognition of education
certificates and international information exchange.
[11 May 2000]
Section 12. Fees for the Acquisition
of Education
(1) Fees for the acquisition of pre-school, basic and
secondary education at an institution established by the State or
local governments shall be covered from the State budget or local
government budgets in accordance with the procedures stipulated
by the Cabinet. A private educational institution may determine
the fees for the acquisition of education.
(2) For programmes of higher education, the State shall cover
the fees for the acquisition of education for a specified number
of student positions in accordance with the State procurement
specified for the relevant year; for other student positions each
institution of higher education may determine the fees for the
acquisition of education.
(21) A local government may provide for a partial
fee in the binding regulations as co-financing for the
acquisition of education in the professional orientation
educational institutions established by the local government.
(3) A student may receive State credit for studies in higher
educational programmes. The obtained credit shall be paid back or
extinguished in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet.
(4) An alien or a stateless person shall pay for the
acquisition of higher educational programme in accordance with a
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, as well as Paragraphs two and three
of this Law, the fee for the acquisition of basic education and
secondary education shall be determined and covered in accordance
with the same procedures as for a citizen of Latvia and
non-citizen of Latvia.
[4 March 2010]
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.
Chapter
II
Organisation of Education
Section 14. Competence of the
Cabinet in the Field of Education
The Cabinet shall:
1) determine the forms for State-recognised education
documents, the criteria and procedures for the issuance of
education documents;
2) [5 July 2001];
3) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
basic education and secondary educational programmes, which are
implemented by private educational institutions;
4) determine the procedures for receiving, repaying and
extinguishing credit, and the amount of credit, for studies in
higher educational programmes implemented by educational
institutions;
5) determine the procedures for registering children who have
reached mandatory school age;
6) approve the constitution of the National Defence Academy of
Latvia and institutions of higher education established by
private individuals;
7) establish, reorganise and dissolve State educational
institutions and State educational support institutions upon the
proposal of the Minister for Education and Science, or other
Ministers;
8) determine the procedures for registering and accrediting
educational institutions and other institutions laid down in this
Law;
9) [16 June 2009];
10) govern the rules and procedures for the accreditation of
institutions of higher education institutions;
11) determine the procedures for licensing and accrediting
educational programmes;
12) confirm the list of pedagogical professions and
positions;
121) determine the procedures and criteria for
assessing the professional activity of heads of State and local
government educational institutions (except institutions of
higher education and colleges);
122) determine the procedures and conditions of
evaluation for the selection of candidates for positions of heads
of State and local government educational institutions (except
institutions of higher education and colleges) and heads of local
government educational boards;
13) confirm, in accordance with pedagogical professions, the
requirements for required education and professional
qualifications of teachers;
14) [5 July 2001];
15) determine the procedures by which the State and local
governments organise and finance the publication and acquisition
of teaching aids for educational institutions;
151) determine the procedures for assessing and
approving the compliance of the educational literature with the
State basic education and general secondary education
standard;
16) determine the procedures for paying work remuneration and
the amount of remuneration for teachers;
17) determine the procedures for financing special educational
institutions and special education classes of general educational
institutions and boarding schools;
18) determine a single State policy and strategy in education
and submit the basic guidelines for educational development for
the following seven years to the Saeima for approval;
181) determine the guidelines for the State
pre-school education, which include model educational programmes
corresponding to the requirements of such guidelines;
19) set State standards in education, which include model
educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of such
standards, except model vocational education programmes and model
academic education programmes;
20) specify the minimum costs for the implementation of
educational programmes per one educatee;
201) determine the procedures by which an
educational institution (except institutions of higher education
and colleges) ensure library and information services;
21) determine the procedures by which prophylactic health care
and access to emergency medical assistance, as well as the safety
of educatees in educational institutions and the events organised
by such institutions shall be ensured;
22) determine the amount of workload for teachers;
23) determine the procedures for receiving scholarships and
the minimum amount of scholarships for the students of higher
educational programmes, who have been enrolled according to
competitive procedures in conformity with the number of State
financed places, and for students of professional educational
programmes who have been enrolled in conformity with the number
of State or local government financed places;
24) determine the procedures for financing interest-related
educational programmes;
25) govern the organisation of children's camps and activity
regulations;
26) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
professional orientation educational programmes;
27) determine the authority which keeps the registers of
teachers and educational programmes;
28) determine the authority which licences educational
programmes;
29) determine the authority which carries out accreditation of
educational programmes and educational institutions;
30) determine the content of the State Education Information
System and the procedures for the maintaining and updating
thereof;
31) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
adult non-formal educational programmes, further educational
programmes and professional competence improvement, as well as
the criteria for the receipt of the relevant financing;
32) determine the procedures for professional competence
improvement of teachers;
33) determine the procedures by which State examinations shall
take place in accredited educational programmes (except higher
educational programmes);
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 the 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 procedures by which a local government,
according to the average costs necessary for one educatee
determined thereby in educational institutions of the respective
local government, shall cover the costs of a pre-school
educational programme (from the age of eighteen months until
commencing the acquisition of basic education) for a private
service provider in the case referred to in Section 17, Paragraph
2.1 of this Law;
37) determine the procedures and criteria for the quality
assessment of professional activity of teachers, the documents to
be submitted by a teacher for quality assessment of his or her
professional activity, the pedagogical work experience which is
necessary for awarding the relevant level of quality of
professional activity of a teacher, as well as a sample document
certifying the level of quality of professional activity of a
teacher.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20
September 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15
March 2012; 9 July 2013]
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) draw up draft policy planning documents and regulatory
enactments in the field of education;
3) ensure the maintenance and updating of the State Education
Information System;
4) [16 June 2009];
5) [16 June 2009];
6) organise educational and professional skill improvement
work for teachers; co-ordinate the research and methodology
work;
7) draw up the guidelines for the State pre-school education,
State education standards, as well as model educational
programmes corresponding to the requirements of the guidelines
for the State pre-school education or State education
standards;
8) draw up proposals and submit, pursuant to specified
procedures, a request for the allocation of State budget
resources for education, science, sports and development of the
official language;
9) control lawful utilisation of State budget resources
provided for education at the educational institutions
subordinated thereto;
10) co-ordinate the co-operation in education of the State
educational institutions with foreign countries and international
organisations;
11) draw up course programme models for subjects of study or
courses (except higher educational programmes) in conformity with
the requirements of the State education standards;
12) prepare model by-laws for educational institutions and
educational support institutions;
13) organise State procurement for preparation and publication
of teaching materials in conformity with basic educational
programmes;
14) determine and co-ordinate the procedures for the
acquisition of education and professional competence improvement
for teachers;
15) [16 June 2009];
16) [4 March 2010];
17) organise the development of electronic teaching resources
and teaching materials complying with the education
standards;
18) monitor the results of the educational process of
State-financed educational institutions; prepare and implement
measures for the improvement of the quality of the educational
process;
19) [4 March 2010];
20) [11 May 2000];
21) [15 March 2012];
22) approve the classification of Educational Institution
Registers, Educational Programmes Registers and Teacher
Registers;
23) submit proposals to the Cabinet regarding the foundation,
reorganisation and dissolution of State educational institutions
and education support institutions, co-ordinating such with the
relevant local governments;
24) approve the by-laws of educational institutions (except
institutions of higher education and colleges) subordinated to
the Ministry of Education and Science;
25) hire and dismiss heads of educational institutions (except
institutions of higher education) subordinated to the Ministry of
Education and Science;
26) make proposals for the dismissal of heads of local
government educational institutions and co-ordinate the hiring or
dismissal of heads of local government educational
institutions;
27) manage the provision of library and information services
in educational institutions.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 16 June
2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July
2013]
Section 16. Competence of Ministries
of Other Sectors in Education
Ministries of other sectors shall:
1) submit proposals to the Cabinet, regarding the foundation,
reorganisation or dissolution of State educational institutions,
co-ordinating with the Ministry of Science and Education;
2) prepare the educational content of professional subjects of
study and the standards for professional subjects of study, and
control observance of such in the educational institutions under
their subordination;
3) [11 May 2000];
4) ensure the activity of the educational institutions
subordinated thereto, as well as organise and finance publication
and acquisition of teaching materials in conformity with the
standards for professional subjects of study;
5) control the financial and economic activity of the
educational institutions subordinated thereto;
6) [4 March 2010];
7) approve the by-laws of educational institutions (except
institutions of higher education and colleges) subordinated
thereto.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010]
Section 17. Competence of Local
Governments in Education
(1) Each local government has a duty to ensure that the
children, the declared place of residence of which is in the
administrative territory of the local government, have the
opportunity to acquire pre-school education and basic education
at the educational institution closest to the place of residence
of the child or at the closest educational institution which
implements educational programme in the official language, to
ensure that youths have the opportunity to acquire secondary
education, as well as 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 a
duty to enter into agreement in accordance with the procedures
stipulated by the Cabinet regarding participation in the
financing of the maintenance expenditures of an educational
institution subordinated to the relevant local government.
(21) If a local government does not ensure a place
in a pre-school educational programme implemented by the local
government educational institution to a child who has reached 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 educational 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. The costs shall be
covered in the amount that corresponds to the average costs
necessary for one educatee in the pre-school educational
programme in educational institutions of the respective local
government. If the educatee acquires a pre-school educational
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) A local government shall determine the average
costs necessary for one educatee in a pre-school educational
programme in 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.
(3) A city local government and a municipality local
government shall:
1) upon co-ordinating with the Ministry of Education and
Science establish, reorganise and dissolve general educational
institutions, including boarding schools, special educational
institutions and classes, as well as pre-school educational
groups for children with special needs and interest-related
educational institutions, but, upon co-ordinating with the
relevant sectoral ministry and the Ministry of Education and
Science, establish, reorganise and dissolve professional
educational institutions;
2) hire and dismiss heads of general educational institutions,
including boarding schools, special educational institutions,
vocational education institutions, interest-related educational
institutions, professional orientation educational institutions
in sports under the subordination thereof, co-ordinating with the
ministry of Education and Science, but the heads of professional
orientation educational institutions in arts or culture -
co-ordinating with the relevant sectoral ministry;
3) determine the procedures by which the educational
institutions under the subordination thereof 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 utilisation thereof;
7) maintain the educational institutions, except special
educational institutions, special educational classes and groups
in general educational institutions, boarding schools, also those
financed from the State budget, subordinated thereto, taking into
account that the financial support provided to such institutions
shall not be less than the financial support stipulated by the
Cabinet, and control utilisation of such financial resources;
8) provide support to the educational institutions
subordinated thereto for the performance of the necessary
improvements detected during the accreditation of these
educational institutions;
9) ensure the transfer of the State budget resources allocated
for salaries of teachers of the educational institutions and
educational support institutions subordinated thereto to the
accounts of the educational institutions;
10) ensure the work remuneration of the maintenance, technical
and medical employees of the educational institutions
subordinated thereto, except the work remuneration of the
maintenance, technical and medicinal employees of such special
educational institutions, special educational classes and groups
in general educational institutions, as well as of such boarding
schools, which are financed from the State budget;
11) ensure prophylactic health care and access to emergency
medical assistance for educatees of the educational institutions
subordinated thereto in accordance with the procedures stipulated
by the Cabinet, as well as determine such educatees for whom the
cost of meals shall be covered by the local government;
12) ensure the acquisition of education for educatees with
special needs (in compliance with the state of health which
affects the type of acquisition of education) in special
educational institutions, pre-school educational groups for
children with special needs, special educational classes, as well
as in boarding schools in accordance with the procedures and in
the amounts stipulated by the Cabinet;
13) ensure catering in special educational institutions,
pre-school educational groups for children with special needs,
special educational classes and boarding schools subordinated
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
it is not possible to use public transport;
15) ensure career education for children and youths;
16) ensure interest-related education for children and youths,
issue licences for implementation of interest-related educational
programmes;
17) ensure protection of the rights of children in the field
of education;
18) provide consultative assistance to families in regard to
the upbringing of children;
19) ensure the operation of the local government
pedagogical-medical commission and the accessibility thereof for
children with special needs;
20) carry out registration of children who have reached the
mandatory school age in accordance with procedures stipulated by
the Cabinet;
21) specify the amount of benefits and material support of
another kind and the procedures for granting thereof to educatees
in the educational institutions subordinated thereto;
22) implement policy in adult education and ensure the
distribution of the financing granted and supervision over the
utilisation of financial resources;
23) finance from its budget the purchase of teaching aids
corresponding to the guidelines for the State pre-school
education, State basic education, general secondary education,
vocational secondary education and industrial education standards
- additional literature, visual aids, didactic games, digital
teaching aids and resources, handouts, study technical aids,
educational materials, devices and equipment - for educational
institutions subordinate thereto;
231) promote the possibility for educational
institutions to use the unified library information system;
24) organise professional skill improvement of teachers,
co-ordinate and ensure methodological work;
25) determine the number of positions in institutions of
higher education to be funded from the local government budget
resources;
26) ensure the organisation of State examinations, including
centralised examinations, in accordance with the procedures
stipulated by the Cabinet;
27) support participation of educatees in olympiads of
subjects, competitions, shows, projects and sports
competitions;
28) fulfil the functions of local governments in the field of
education laid down in other regulatory enactments.
(4) [13 November 2008]
(5) [13 November 2008]
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20
September 2001; 13 November 2008; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013]
Section 18. Ensuring of Functions of City and Municipality
Local Governments in the Field of Education
[13 November 2008]
(1) A local government shall establish at least one position
of educational specialist or educational administration
institution, in order to implement its functions in the field of
education. Academic education or a second level professional
higher education and work experience of at least three years in
the field of education or in educational administration work is
necessary for the educational specialist and the head of an
educational administration institution.
(2) Work remuneration of a local government educational
specialist and local government educational administration
institution shall be financed from the budget of the relevant
local government.
(3) Municipality local governments may join for the
implementation of one or several functions in the field of
education upon mutual agreement regarding financing
procedures.
[13 November 2008]
Section 19. Education Support
Institution
(1) An education support institution is an institution
established by the State, local governments, as well as 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) Educational support may also be provided by such legal
persons, as the by-laws (articles of association) of which
include provision of educational support as one of the types of
activity.
Section 20. State Service of
Education Quality
(1) Compliance with this Law, the General Education Law,
Professional Education Law, Law On Institutions of Higher
Education and other regulatory enactments related to education
shall be controlled by the State Service of Education
Quality.
(2) The State Service of Education Quality is an institution
subordinated the Ministry of Education and Science. Its functions
shall be prescribed by the by-laws approved by the Cabinet.
(3) The State Service of Education Quality shall:
1) control compliance of the educational process with this
Law, other laws and regulatory enactments governing
education;
2) analyse the activities of educational institutions, draw up
proposals for amendments to regulatory enactments and for
improving the work of educational institutions;
3) in cases when violation of laws or other regulatory
enactments has been determined, make proposals to the employer to
impose disciplinary sanctions for the head of an educational
institution or the teacher, or terminate the employment contract
entered into with him or her;
4) impose administrative sanctions in accordance with the
procedures and in the cases prescribed by law;
5) in cases when the health or life of the educatees is in
danger, as well as for other violations of the law, temporarily
suspend, while the founder of the educational institution has not
examined the relevant matter and taken a decision, the orders of
officials and relieve the officials from performing duties;
6) issue certificates for the commencement of a pedagogical
private practice.
(4) The head of the State Service of Education Quality and his
or her authorised service official have the right to:
1) presenting a service identification document, without prior
notification, visit the premises of any educational institution
and other premises, which are associated with the course of the
educational 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 persons and natural persons
information necessary for the performance of service duties and
copies of documents regarding issues within the competence of the
Service;
4) perform inspections, inviting if necessary law enforcement
employees or other specialists, to photograph, make audio
recordings and video recordings within the competence of the
Service;
5) draw up inspection statements and order the rectification
of violations determined during the inspection of regulatory
enactments associate with education;
6) draw up reports regarding administrative violations.
[5 February 2004; 16 June 2009; 4
March 2010]
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 acquisition of
education and work process, developing educational institutions
and education support institutions and public organisations.
(2) State and local government education administration
institutions shall ensure the information, consultations and
methodological assistance necessary for the performance of tasks
referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.
(3) In order to ensure the educational administration and
educational support function specified thereto, the Ministry of
Education and Science may delegate the performance of relevant
tasks (including organisation of accreditation of higher
educational programmes and institutions of higher education 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]
Chapter
III
Educational Institutions
Section 22. Legal Basis for
Educational Institution Activity
(1) State, local government and private educational
institutions, except commercial companies and institutions of
higher education, shall act on the basis of this Law, other laws
and regulatory enactments, as well as the by-laws of the relevant
institution which are approved by the founder of the
institution.
(2) The State, local government and private commercial
companies, except institutions of higher education, shall carry
out educational activity on the basis of this Law, other laws and
regulatory enactments, as well as by-laws regarding educational
activity approved by founders of such.
(3) Institutions of higher education shall act on the basis of
this Law, the Law On Institutions of Higher Education and other
regulatory enactments, as well as the constitution of the
relevant institution of higher education. The constitutions of
institutions of higher education shall be approved in accordance
with the procedures laid down in the Law On Institutions of
Higher Education.
(4) Colleges shall act on the basis of this Law, the Law On
Institutions of Higher Education and other regulatory enactments,
as well as the by-law of the relevant college. The by-laws of
colleges shall be issued in accordance with the procedures laid
down in the Law On Institutions of Higher Education.
[4 March 2010]
Section 23. Procedures for the
Foundation, Reorganisation and Dissolution of Educational
Institutions
(1) State educational institutions shall be founded,
reorganised and dissolved by the Cabinet pursuant to proposal by
the Minister for Education and Science or the Minister for
another sector.
(2) Local government educational institutions shall be
founded, reorganised and dissolved by local governments,
co-ordinating with the Ministry of Education and Science or the
relevant sectoral ministry and the Ministry of Education and
Science.
(3) Private educational institutions shall be founded,
reorganised and dissolved by legal persons and natural persons.
The State and local governments may participate in the foundation
of the private commercial companies.
(4) A foreign legal person may found, reorganise and dissolve
an educational institution in accordance with this Law and other
laws, as well as with international agreements.
(5) The relevant institutions and persons shall be informed
regarding liquidation or reorganisation of the educational
institution not later than six months beforehand.
[20 September 2001; 4 March
2010]
Section 24. The Educational
Institution Register and Necessary Documents for Registration
(1) Each educational institution shall submit, within a month
from the founding day of such, an application regarding the
registration of the educational institution in the Educational
Institution Register. The Education Institution Register is a
component of the State Education Information System, and it shall
be maintained by the authority determined by the Cabinet.
Institutions of higher education shall be registered in the
Educational Institution Register in accordance with the
procedures laid down in the Law On Institutions of Higher
Education.
(2) The founder of the institution shall ensure the
registration of an educational institution. A person authorised
by the founder shall submit an application regarding the
registration of an educational institution, and it shall include
the following information:
1) name of the educational institution, and legal address of
such;
2) founder of the educational institution, and legal status of
such;
3) decision on the founding of the educational
institution;
4) area of the educational institution premises, and the
technical equipment;
5) sources of and procedures for financing;
6) the address, telephone and telefax number and electronic
postal address of the authorised person.
(3) The application for the registration of an educational
institution shall have appended the by-laws (constitution) for
the operation of the educational institution, which have been
approved by the founder of the educational institution and
documents, which certify the information referred to in the
application. The application for the registration of a college
shall have in addition appended documents, which certify the
conformity of the resources of the college (for example,
financial resources, material technical and information base,
academic personnel) to the criteria stipulated by the Cabinet for
the commencement of the operations of the college.
(4) Within a month from the date of submission of the
documents referred to in Paragraphs two and three of this
Section, the educational institution shall be entered in the
Educational Institution Register and shall be issued a
certificate of registration.
(5) [16 June 2009]
(6) Notification of a decision in regard to the reorganisation
or dissolution of an educational institution shall be provided to
the Educational Institution Register within 10 days.
(7) Any person shall have access to the information included
in the Educational Institution Register free of charge.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 5
February 2004; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012]
Section 25. Start up of Activities
of an Educational Institution
(1) An educational institution is entitled to commence the
implementation of an educational programme in accordance with the
procedures laid down in regulatory enactments from the
registration day thereof in the Educational Institution Register.
The day of notification of an administrative deed shall also be
considered as the registration day of the educational
institution.
(2) An educational institution which implements an educational
programme to be licensed as prescribed by this Law, is entitled
to enrol educatees only after receipt of a relevant licence for
the implementation of the educational programme. This provision
does not apply to the educational institutions referred to in
Section 47, Paragraph two of this Law.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010]
Section 26. Name of an Educational
Institution
(1) The name of an educational institution and of a structural
unit of an educational institution shall comply with the names of
educational levels and types laid down by this Law.
(2) The name of an educational institution shall clearly and
definitely differ from other names of educational institutions
already registered in the Educational Institution Register.
(3) Only letters of Latvian or Latin alphabet may be used in
the name of an educational institution.
(4) An educational institution is entitled, in accordance with
the historic traditions thereof and with the permission of the
Minister for Education and Science, to use another name that does
not contravene this Law and other regulatory enactments.
[4 March 2010]
Section 27. Accreditation of
Educational Institutions
Educational institutions, except those which implement only
interest-related educational programmes, shall be accredited in
accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.
Educational institutions which implement basic and secondary
level educational programmes shall be accredited for six years in
accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.
Accreditation shall be carried out within five years from the day
of start up of activity by the educational institution.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010]
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 educational institution.
Section 29. Competence of the
Founder of an Educational Institution
The founder of an educational institution shall provide the
necessary financial and material resources for continuous
operation of the educational institution, observing the Cabinet
Regulations regarding financial and material support of
educational institutions.
Section 30. Head of an Educational
Institution
(1) A head of an educational institution shall be responsible
for the operation of the educational institution and results
thereof, for compliance with this Law and other regulatory
enactments that govern the operation of educational institutions,
as well as for rational use of intellectual, financial and
material resources.
(2) A head of an educational institution shall decide
independently, within the scope of his or her authority, on the
utilisation 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 work remuneration stipulated by the
Cabinet.
(3) It is a duty of a head of an educational institution to
ensure the creation and operation of a council for the
educational institution. The head of the educational institution
shall, once a school year, provide a report to the council on
education process and its results, as well as on the conditions
of organising work in the educational institution. These
provisions do not apply to an institution of higher
education.
(31) The head of an educational institution has a
duty to ensure the access for the educational institution to the
library, information and career development support services.
(4) Only a person who has the relevant education and the
necessary professional qualifications is entitled to work as a
head of an educational institution. A person who has a higher
pedagogical education or a higher and pedagogical education is
entitled to work as a head of a general basic or general
secondary educational institution, as well as a person who has a
higher education who is acquiring a pedagogical education.
(41) Professional activity of heads of State and
local government educational institutions (except institutions of
higher education and colleges) is assessed in accordance with the
procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. The results of assessing
heads of State and local government educational institutions are
used as the basis for a decision on compliance of the head of the
educational institution with the office held, and they may be
taken into account in performing financial stimulation of the
head of the educational institution.
(5) The designations of heads of educational institutions are
as follows:
1) head - pre-school educational institutions;
2) director - basic education, secondary education
institutions, colleges, professional orientation, interest
education institutions;
3) rector - institutions of higher education.
[10 May 2001; 5 July 2001; 20
September 2001; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013]
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 educational institution, in which the
following persons are operating:
1) representatives delegated by educatees, except educatees in
pre-school educational 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 the educational
institution. This provision shall not apply to the council of
evening (shift) secondary school. 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.
(3) The council of the educational institution:
1) shall provide proposals for the development of the
educational institution;
2) shall participate in discussing the educational process and
its results and provide proposals for improving the quality of
education in 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 regarding work organisation of the institution,
budget allocation and implementation of educational
programmes;
5) is entitled to decide on which individual study accessories
referred to in Section 1, Clause 12.4, Sub-clause "k"
of this Law are ensured by parents of educatees (persons who
exercise custody);
6) shall solve organisational issues within its competence,
including issues related to events organised by the educational
institution;
7) shall ensure co-operation of the educational institution
with the society;
8) shall inform regarding its activities and decisions taken
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 laid down 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, harmonising it with the head of the
educational institution.
[9 July 2013]
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 that, in
conformity with the educational level, the type of education and
the target group, determines:
1) strategic goals and the principal tasks of educational
programmes;
2) the mandatory education content;
3) basic principles and procedures for the evaluation of
education acquired by an educatee.
(2) Observance of the State education standard is mandatory
for each legal person and natural person who develops and
implements the relevant educational programme.
(3) The State education standard shall include model
educational programmes corresponding to the respective education
standard, except 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 the
educational activity of an educational institution or another
institution determined in this Law, by which, in accordance with
the educational level, the 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) goals, tasks and planned results of the educational
programme;
2) requirements for previously acquired education of the
educates (except pre-school educational programmes);
3) educational content as a unified aggregate of subjects of
study or course contents (except pre-school educational
programmes);
4) plan for the implementation of an educational
programme;
5) assessment of the personnel, funds and material resources
necessary for the implementation of an 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 educational
institutions in accordance with the guidelines for the State
pre-school education or the State education standards and norms,
co-ordinating such with the founder of the institution.
(3) An educational programme shall be accredited in accordance
with procedures stipulated by the Cabinet within two years from
the day of the commencement of implementation of such, and not
less frequently than once in six years.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 1
December 2009; 9 July 2013]
Section 34. Subjects of Study or
Course Syllabi
(1) The subjects of study or course programmes may be
developed or selected by the teachers implementing such course
programmes in accordance with the educational programme.
(2) The head of the educational institution shall approve a
subject of study or course syllabi.
Section 35. Evaluation of Acquired
Education
(1) The basic principles for the evaluation of the acquired
education shall be laid down in the guidelines for the State
pre-school education, the basic criteria and procedures shall be
laid down in the State education standards.
(2) Acquisition of education in conformity with accredited
educational programmes at an educational institution shall
conclude with State examinations.
(3) The procedures for the acquisition of professional
qualifications shall be determined by the Professional Education
Law and the Law On Institutions of Higher Education.
(4) Evaluation of the acquired academic education shall take
place in accordance with the Law On Institutions of Higher
Education.
[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010]
Part V
Types of Educational Programmes and Implementation Thereof
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 educational programmes.
Implementation of an educational programme shall be commenced
within one year from the day of receipt of the licence.
(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement
several educational programmes.
[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013]
Section 37. Implementation of
Educational Programmes in Respect of Time
(1) The implementation term shall be laid down for educational
programmes.
(2) The educational work units of time shall be the study or
scholastic year, semester, study week, study day and study lesson
(academic hour).
Section 38. Types of Educational
Programmes
(1) The following are the types of educational programmes:
1) general educational programmes;
2) professional educational programmes;
3) academic educational programmes;
4) further educational programmes;
5) interest-related educational programmes.
(2) The following are specific types of educational
programmes:
1) educational programmes for ethnic minorities;
2) special educational programmes;
3) social correction educational programmes;
4) adult educational programmes;
5) professional orientation educational programmes.
(3) A detailed classification of educational programmes shall
be laid down by the Classifier of Educational Programmes
confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Science.
[5 July 2001]
Section 39. Educational Programmes
Register
(1) Data regarding all licensed and accredited educational
programmes shall be recorded, within one month after the receipt
of the licence or accreditation of the programme, in the
Educational Programmes Register, which is a component of the
State Education Information System.
(2) The Educational Programmes Register shall be accessible to
any person free of charge (also on the Internet). A list of
licensed and accredited educational programmes shall be published
once a year not later than 1 March.
[4 March 2010; 15 March 2012]
Section 40. General Educational
Programmes
(1) General educational programmes shall ensure the overall
development of mental and physical capabilities of educatees, and
prepare them for continuing education, work and for life in
society.
(2) The General Education Law shall prescribe the procedures
for the implementation of general educational programmes. For
implementation of general educational programmes and particular
types of programmes a relevant licence shall be obtained.
[11 May 2000; 15 March 2012]
Section 41. Educational Programmes
for Ethnic Minorities
(1) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall be
drawn up by an educational institution selecting any of the model
educational programmes included in the guidelines for the State
pre-school education or in the respective State educational
standards.
(2) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall include
content necessary for acquisition of the relevant ethnic culture
and for integration of ethnic minorities in Latvia.
(3) [15 March 2012]
[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15
March 2012]
Section 42. Special Educational
Programmes
(1) A person with special needs may acquire special education
at an educational institution, if it ensures that such person has
the opportunity to acquire an education in such institution
corresponding to the state of health and the type of
developmental disorders.
(2) Special educational programmes shall be implemented,
taking into account the state of health of the educatee.
(3) The General Education Law, Professional Education Law and
other laws shall determine procedures for the implementation of
special educational programmes.
[5 July 2001]
Section 43. Social Correction
Educational Programmes
(1) Social correction educational programmes are pursued by
persons with socially deviant behaviour.
(2) Social correction educational programmes shall be
implemented in social correction educational institutions or in
social correction classes in general educational
institutions.
Section 44. Professional Educational
Programmes
(1) Professional educational programmes shall ensure the
development of the mental and physical capacities of educatees
and practical and theoretical preparation for professional
practice in a particular profession and for life in society.
(2) The Professional Education Law and the Law On Institutions
of Higher Education shall determine procedures for the
implementation of professional educational programmes. A relevant
licence shall be obtained for the implementation of a
professional educational programme.
[11 May 2000]
Section 45. Academic Educational
Programmes
(1) Academic education or study programmes shall be
implemented by institutions of higher education.
(2) Procedures for the implementation of academic educational
programmes shall be determined by the Law On Institutions of
Higher Education. A relevant licence shall be obtained for the
implementation of an academic educational programme.
[11 May 2000]
Section 46. Adult Educational
Programmes
(1) Adult education may be offered in formal and non-formal
educational programmes.
(2) The procedures for the implementation of formal adult
educational programmes shall be determined by this Law, the
Vocational Education Law, the Institutions of Law On Institutions
of Higher Education and other regulatory enactments.
(3) Non-formal adult educational programmes shall determine
the content of such programmes and the conformity thereof to with
the interests of the State and of employers, as well as of
individual development, and adults have the right to acquire such
programmes throughout the length of their whole life regardless
of previously acquired education.
(4) [4 March 2010]
(5) Educational institutions, as well as units of the National
Armed Forces, the tasks of which include implementation of adult
educational programmes, are entitled to implement non-formal
adult education programmes without obtaining a licence, but other
legal persons and natural persons which are not registered in the
Educational Institution Register - after receipt of a licence
from the local government.
(6) Adult education may be financed from:
1) State and local government budgets;
2) employer funds;
3) educatee funds;
4) donations and gifts;
5) other funds.
[5 July 2001; 4 March 2010; 9 July
2013]
Section 47. Interest-related
Educational Programmes
(1) Interest-related education shall be voluntary, and
education corresponding to a particular educational level shall
not be required for commencement of such.
(2) Educational institutions are entitled to implement
interest-related educational programmes without the receipt of a
licence.
(3) After the receipt of a relevant licence from the local
government, other legal persons and natural persons not
registered in the Educational Institution Register are also
entitled to implement interest-related educational
programmes.
(4) [11 May 2000]
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010]
Section 47.1 Professional
Orientation Educational Programmes
(1) Professional orientation education is voluntary. The
educational institution shall develop professional orientation
educational programmes.
(2) The procedures for the implementation of professional
orientation educational programmes shall be determined by the
Professional Education Law. For the implementation of
professional orientation educational programmes a relevant
licence shall be obtained.
[5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 4
March 2010]
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 which complies with the
professional qualification requirements set by the Cabinet has
the right to work as a teacher. These requirements shall not
apply to non-formal adult education.
(2) A certificate shall be obtained at the State Service of
Education Quality for commencement of a pedagogical private
practice.
(3) All teachers working at educational institutions and
private practices are registered in the Teacher Register. The
Teacher Register is a component of the State Education
Information System.
(4) The requirements for education and qualification of
teachers of institutions of higher education and colleges shall
be determined by the Law On Institutions of Higher Education.
[11 May 2000; 16 June 2009; 4 March
2010; 15 March 2012]
Section 49. Acquisition of Education
and Professional Qualifications and Improvement of Professional
Competence of Teachers
[9 July 2013]
(1) The education necessary for working as a teacher shall be
acquired at educational institutions which implement relevant
accredited professional and academic educational programmes.
(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
that implement relevant further educational programmes.
(4) [11 May 2000]
[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013]
Section 49.1 Quality
Assessment of Professional Activity of Teachers
(1) A teacher whose pedagogical experience is not less than
one year and who participates in implementation of general
educational programmes, including in the pre-school education
level of general educational programmes, in the basic education
or secondary education level of vocational education programmes,
in implementation of vocationally oriented education or interest
education programmes, has the right to, not less than once every
five years, receive a quality assessment of professional activity
of a teacher.
(2) On the basis of the quality assessment of professional
activity of a teacher, a teacher is awarded one of five quality
levels of professional activity of a teacher, which are
awarded:
1) the first, second and third quality level of professional
activity of a teacher - by an educational institution,
co-ordinating with the local government in the administrative
territory of which the educational institution is located;
2) the fourth quality level of professional activity of a
teacher - by the local government in the administrative territory
of which the educational institution is located, co-ordinating
with the Ministry of Education and Science;
3) the fifth quality level of professional activity of a
teacher - by the Ministry of Education and Science.
(3) The institutions referred to in Paragraph two of this
Section shall take a decision to award the level of quality of
professional activity of a teacher within one year from the day
of receiving the application of the teacher.
(4) The conditions of this Section shall not apply to teachers
who participate in implementation of programmes of higher
education in colleges and institutions of higher education.
[9 July 2013]
Section 50. Restrictions in Regard
to Working as a Teacher
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 the case when
after setting aside or extinguishing the criminal record an
institution determined by the Cabinet, having evaluated whether
it does not harm the interests of educatees, has permitted that
such person works as a teacher who has been punished for an
intentional criminal offence or a less serious crime. The Cabinet
shall determine the procedures by which it shall be evaluated
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 prescribed in regulatory enactments;
3) in educational institutions established by the State or
local governments - a person who does not have a document issued
in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet that
attests to command of the official language at the highest level,
except for academic personnel of institutions of higher education
- citizens of other states and stateless persons who are
participating in the implementation of particular educational
programmes on the basis of an international agreement, as well as
teachers working at educational institutions or branches thereof
founded by foreign states;
4) a person who has been deprived, by a court decision, of the
right of custody.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 5 July
2012]
Section 51. General Responsibilities
of Teachers
(1) The general responsibilities 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 form the attitude of an educatee towards himself or
herself, others, work, nature, culture, society and country, to
raise upright, honourable and responsible people - patriots of
Latvia;
3) to observe the norms of pedagogical professional
ethics;
4) to improve their professional competence;
5) to observe 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 educational process
and in the council of an educational institution;
8) to perform other duties laid down in regulatory
enactments.
(2) Teachers of educational institutions shall be responsible
for their work, methods, techniques and results of such.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 15
March 2012; 9 July 2013]
Section 52. Rights of Teachers
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 development of teaching
materials, 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 provision
necessary for the implementation of an educational programme;
6) to receive public support for the implementation of an
educational programme.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 9 July
2013]
Section 53. Work Remuneration of
Teachers
(1) Work remuneration of teachers shall be determined
according to the professional qualifications, length of service
and workload of the teacher.
(11) Work remuneration for a teacher the quality of
whose professional activity has been assessed in accordance with
the procedures laid down in Section 49.1 of this Law
shall be determined according to the criteria referred to in
Paragraph one of this Section and also according to the awarded
level of quality of professional activity of the teacher.
(2) The work remuneration for one full-time workload for the
teacher with the appropriate professional qualifications shall be
not less than the work remuneration specified in the schedule for
increase in work remuneration of teachers approved by the Cabinet
in the relevant period of time.
[11 November 1999; 16 December
2006; 9 July 2013]
Section 54. Obligations of an
Educatee
[4 March 2010]
An educatee has the following obligations:
1) to acquire basic educational programme;
2) to observe the by-law or the constitution and the internal
procedure regulations 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 observe the rights and interests of teachers, educatees
and other persons;
5) not to allow 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
it;
8) to wear clothes complying with the internal procedure
regulations at an educational institution;
9) to participate in cleaning up and arranging of the
environment of an educational institution.
[4 March 2010]
Section 55. Rights of an
Educatee
[4 March 2010]
An educatee has the following rights:
1) 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 training process, not insulting the
dignity and honour of other persons;
3) to use the premises, laboratories, equipment, devices,
cultural, sports and medical objects and inventory, schoolbooks,
other literature necessary for the educational process, teaching
resources and electronic teaching resources of an educational
institution, as well as receive library, information and career
development support services during the educational process in
accordance with the procedures laid down in the internal
procedure regulations;
4) to receive scholarships, credits, benefits, discounts, as
well as grants for the use of public transport in accordance with
the procedures laid down in regulatory enactments and material
assistance of another type;
5) to receive at the educational institution and the organised
events thereof prophylactic health care, except prophylactic
examinations included in the prophylactic examination programme
provided for in the regulatory enactments regarding organisation
of health care and financing thereof, and emergency medical
assistance;
6) to participate in the improvement of educational process
and in the council of an educational institution;
7) to the protection of personal belongings at an educational
institution;
8) to safe circumstances for life and health at an education
institution and the organised events thereof;
9) to implement other rights laid down in regulatory
enactments.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 4 March
2010; 9 July 2013]
Section 56. Rights of Orphans and
Children without Parental Care to Acquisition and Improvement of
Education
(1) Orphans and children left without parental care have the
right to acquire education at any State or local government
institution.
(2) Orphans and children left without parental care shall be
educated in the official language. Orphan and children left
without parental care shall continue their education in the
official language or the language by which it has been commenced
in a Latvian state or local government educational
institution.
(3) Orphans and children left without parental care who are
minors and are members of the same family shall be educated at
the same general education institution and shall not be
separated, except in cases when one of them is placed in a
special educational institution, class or a social correction
educational institution or class.
[5 February 2004; 4 March 2010]
Section 57. Rights of Parents
(Persons who Exercise Custody) in the Provision of Education of
Children
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 educational process
and in the council of an educational institution;
3) to enter into a contract with an educational institution
regarding the education of and care for the child at an
educational institution;
4) to provide and receive information regarding issues related
to the training and teaching of the child;
5) to propose the performance of inspections at an educational
institution;
6) to exercise other rights laid down in regulatory enactments
for the provision of the education of the child.
[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013]
Section 58. Obligations of Parents
(Persons who Exercise Custody)
[4 March 2010]
(1) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have the following
obligations:
1) within the scope of their abilities and material
possibilities, to ensure the necessary circumstances in the
family for education, health, development and social life of the
child;
2) to co-operate with the educational institution in which the
child acquires education, with the teachers and other persons
involved in the educational process;
3) to observe the lawful rights and interests of children,
teachers and other persons;
4) to inform the head of the educational institution regarding
the state of health of the child and other circumstances, if they
may be significant for the educational process.
(2) The parents (persons who exercise custody) shall be
responsible for the child acquiring mandatory education.
(3) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have a duty to
ensure, within the limits of their financial possibilities, the
individual study accessories referred to in Section 1, Clause
12.4, Sub-clause "k" 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]
Chapter
VII
Financial and Material Resources of the Educational System
Section 59. Sources of Financing of
the Educational 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. The State shall participate in the
financing of educational institutions in cases laid down in this
Law.
(2) Private educational institutions shall be financed by the
founders thereof. The State shall participate in the financing of
work remuneration for teachers of private educational
institutions in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet, if the pre-school educational programmes for children
from the age of five years until commencement of the acquisition
of basic education, accredited basic education and general
secondary educational programmes are implemented in these
educational institutions. The State shall participate in the
financing of work remuneration for teachers employed in
vocationally oriented educational programmes implemented in
accredited private vocationally oriented educational
institutions. Local governments may participate in the financing
of work remuneration for teachers of private educational
institutions.
(21) The purchase of study literature,
methodological aids, additional literature (reference literature)
and digital study aids and resources (electronic editions)
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) Special educational institutions, special educational
classes and groups in general educational institutions, as well
as boarding schools, shall be financed from the State budget in
accordance with procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.
(4) Educational institutions may receive supplementary
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 of such.
(6) The State shall financially support and a local
government, in accordance with the procedures specified thereby
and in compliance with the criteria specified thereby, may
financially support adult education by financing non-formal adult
educational programmes, as well as by supporting employers in the
additional education of employees.
[11 November 1999; 11 May 2000; 14
September 2005; 13 November 2008; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010;
15 December 2011; 9 July 2013]
Section 60. Procedures for Financing
Educational Institutions
(1) Founders of educational institutions shall ensure the
financing of such institutions, taking into account:
1) minimum costs for the implementation of educational
programmes per one educatee, stipulated by the Cabinet;
2) maintenance and economic expenditures of educational
institutions, including salaries of the general service
personnel, as well as expenditures related to international
co-operation;
3) 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 that are
necessary for the work remuneration of teachers involved in the
implementation of an educational programme, for the provision the
educational institutions with teaching materials, economic
expenditure thereof, as well as for other necessary expenditures.
Work remuneration of teachers in State or local government
educational institutions, including work remuneration of teachers
employed in educating children from the age of five years, shall
be provided from the State budget resources and from State budget
earmarked grants. The work remuneration of other teachers
implementing pre-school educational programmes in local
government educational institutions, if it is not otherwise
provided for in other laws, shall be provided from local
government budget. Local governments may participate in the
financing of work remuneration of teachers of educational
programmes implemented by the State and local government
educational institutions. Preparation and publication of teaching
materials 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,
methodological aids, additional literature (reference literature)
and digital study aids and resources (electronic editions)
corresponding to the guidelines for the State pre-school
education, State basic education and general secondary education
standards in State and local government educational institutions
shall be financed from the State budget funds and earmarked
grants from the State budget.
(4) If an educational institution implements several
educational programmes, financial resources shall be planned for
each educational programme in accordance with implementation
costs of such. Several educational programmes may be implemented
at one educational institution, and such may be financed from
various sources - from the resources of the State, local
governments, as well as legal and natural persons.
(5) Allocations from the State budget and local government
budgets for the activities of educational institutions shall be
planned in accordance with the draft estimates (budgetary
requests) submitted by educational institutions and used in
accordance with the approved estimate. Financing of educational
institutions shall be planned in compliance with the number of
educatees at an institution and the minimum of costs for the
implementation of the educational programme per one educatee.
(6) Income gained as a result of economic activity of
educational institutions and of 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 a 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 materials;
3) purchase of equipment for the institution;
4) material incentives for teachers and educatees and for work
remuneration of teachers implementing professional basic
education, professional secondary education or professional
orientation educational programmes in sports, music and arts in
the State or local government educational institutions.
(8) Income gained as a result of paid services provided by
State and local government educational institutions and other
types of own revenue shall be used for the remuneration and
material incentive of teachers and other personnel, the
development of the State or local government educational
institution and the covering of maintenance expenditures. Money
balances of paid services 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 institutions of higher
education and colleges shall be determined by the Law On
Institutions of Higher Education.
[5 August 1999; 11 May 2000; 5 July
2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July
2013]
Section 61. Support for Educational
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 states,
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, administrated or used by such institutions. If a
State educational institution, except State institutions of
higher education, 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 to the administration
of the State institutions of higher education shall be registered
in the name of the State, represented by the relevant institution
of higher education.
(2) The property of educational institutions shall be formed
in accordance with the requirements of the educational programmes
and utilised 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,
utilising 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
utilised for the realisation of the educational 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 the educatees, if it is not in conflict
with moral and ethical norms, and does not interfere with the
educational process, as well as with the performance of other
activities provided for by this Law. Transfer of buildings, parts
thereof or land to third parties shall be permitted by entering
into a written contract that shall be registered with the
Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of another sector, or
with the relevant local government.
(5) A contract which an educational institution has entered
into with a legal or a natural person in regard to the use of the
land, buildings or separate parts thereof that have been
transferred to the management or use of educational institutions
shall include a provision which provides that the educational
institution may terminate the contract, giving notice to the user
regarding such one month in advance, if the used object is
necessary for the educational institution in order to carry out
the educational process or other activities provided for by this
Law, or if such use endangers the health, life or safety of the
educatees, or if it is in conflict with moral and ethical
norms.
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. Until 1 September 1999, the Minister for Education and
Science shall ensure the drawing up of regulatory enactments
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. Up to 1 September 2004 work remuneration for teachers shall
be determined in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 73 of 15
February 2000, Regulations regarding Teacher Work
Remuneration.
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 in the
2000/2001 academic year have already implemented general
educational programmes and continue to do so up to the coming
into force of this provision, and
b) with respect to teachers who have documents regarding
pedagogical secondary education issued by State education
institutions or an appropriate professional secondary education
in the relevant teaching subject (study course) and additional
pedagogical education and who in the 2000/2001 academic year have
implemented pre-school and basic educational programmes, as well
as 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; and
2) on 1 September 2002 - with respect to the education of such
teachers who implement other educational programmes.
Until the 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.
5.1 Teachers whose education does not conform to
the requirements of Section 48, Paragraph one of this Law, but
who have documents regarding pedagogical secondary education
issued by State education institutions or an appropriate
professional secondary education in the relevant teaching subject
(study course) and additional pedagogical education and for whom
on 1 September 2004 the reaching of the State specified
pensionable age is left five years or less, have the right to
continue to work as an teacher up to the end of the academic year
thereof in which the State specified pensionable age is
reached.
6. State and local government educational institutions which
have commenced the implementation of educational programmes in
compliance with the type and speciality of the educational
institution until the day of the coming into force of this Law,
may continue the implementation of such programmes, by obtaining
a licence for the implementation of the relevant educational
programme within three years.
7. A private educational institution that has obtained a
licence for the opening of the educational institution until the
day of the coming into force of this Law, is entitled to continue
the implementation of the relevant educational programme until
the expiration term of the licence.
8. Until the day of the 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 regarding acquisition of
education in conformity with 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 institutions of
higher education;
2) on 1 September 1999 - State and local government general
educational institutions with another language for studies shall
commence the implementation of educational programmes of ethnic
minorities or a transition to studies in the official language;
and
3) on 1 September 2004 - in State and local government general
secondary educational institutions, which implement minority
educational programmes, commencing in the tenth grade, studies
shall take place in the official language in conformity with the
State general secondary education standard; in State and local
government professional educational institutions commencing in
the first academic year shall take place in the official language
in conformity with the State professional standard or the State
professional secondary education standard. The State general
secondary education standard, the State professional standard and
the State professional secondary education standard shall specify
that the acquisition of the content of studies in the official
language shall be ensured for not less than three-fifths of the
total teaching hour load in the academic year, including foreign
languages, and shall ensure with the minority language, the
acquisition of identity and culture associated studies content in
the minority language.
10. Within a year from the coming into force of this Law, all
educational institutions and other institutions that implement
educational programmes, shall submit to the Ministry of Education
and Science all data necessary for registration in the
Educational Programmes Register and the Teacher Register, and
shall harmonise the names of the educational institutions with
the classifications of the Educational Programmes Register and
the Educational Institution Register.
11. Extra-scholastic institutions that have been founded
before the day of the coming into force of this Law, shall retain
status of such, and activity of such shall be harmonised within a
year, with the provisions of Section 47 corresponding to
interest-related education.
12. Educational institutions that have been founded before the
day of the coming into force of this Law and continue to function
shall be registered, until 1 March 1999, in the Educational
Institution Register, observing 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 (that
implement accredited basic education and general secondary
educational programmes in the official language) in compliance
with the minimum costs for implementation of the educational
programmes per one educatee, stipulated by the Cabinet, shall
come into force on 1 September 2001.
14. The Cabinet shall by 31 December 2001 develop the
procedures by which educatees are ensured prophylactic health
care and access to emergency medical assistance in educational
institutions.
15. Amendments to Section 4 of this Law regarding the
acquisition of basic education by five-year old and six-year old
children and to Section 60, Paragraph three regarding ensuring
the work remuneration of teachers from State budget resources and
from State budget earmarked grants 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.
16. Interest educational programmes, which on 1 September 2001
are already implemented in local government educational
institutions (music, art schools and sport educational
institutions), from 1 January 2002 shall be considered to be
professional orientation educational programmes and shall receive
State budget earmarked funds for work remuneration of teachers
commencing with 1 January 2002. This provision shall not apply to
the referred to educational institution implemented interest
educational programmes general physical preparation groups and
theatre interest educational programmes.
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 that in 2003 the
implementation of professional orientation educational programmes
continues and receives State budget earmarked funds for work
remuneration of teachers, the licence for the implementation of
professional orientation educational programmes must be obtained
up to 1 September 2002.
18. Samples of professional orientation educational programmes
shall be approved by the Minister for Education and Science by 1
March 2002.
19. Accredited music and art schools, which on 1 September
2001 already implement interest educational programmes, which
from 1 January 2002 are to be professional orientation
educational programmes, shall be recognised as accredited
educational institutions up to end of the time period for the
specific accreditation.
20. Amendments to Section 30, Paragraph four of this Law
regarding the concurrent accreditation of the educational
institution and the head of the State or local government basic
educational or secondary educational institution shall come into
force on 1 September 2003.
21. The educatees of State or local government educational
institutions who on 1 September 2001 have commenced study in
interest educational programmes, which from 1 January 2002 are to
be professional orientation educational programmes, after the
acquisition of such programmes shall receive a certificate
regarding the acquisition of a professional orientation
education.
[11 November 1999; 11 May 2000; 10
May 2001; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 5 February 2004]
22. Amendments to Section 1, Clause 9 (regarding
supplementation of the term "educational administration
institution" with a word "structural unit"), Section 17,
Paragraph three (regarding determination of functions of city
local governments and municipality local governments), as well as
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 2009 remuneration (work remuneration, bonuses, monetary
prizes, benefits, etc.) determined in State and local government
authorities in accordance with this Law 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, until 1 January 2010, issue the
guidelines for the 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 the teachers of
educational institutions established by the State or local
governments, but their material incentive shall be ensured and
benefits shall be disbursed in accordance with the Law On
Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local
Government Authorities.
[1 December 2009; 16 December
2010]
26. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in
amendments to this Law, which come in force on 26 March 2010,
until 31 August 2010.
[4 March 2010]
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 Teachers; and
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
procedures by which the State shall finance professional
orientation educational 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 which
implement basic and secondary level educational 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 - on 1 January 2015.
[15 November 2012]
31. In 2012 teachers in educational institutions established
by the State and local governments shall not be disbursed
bonuses, but teachers shall be stimulated financially and they
shall be disbursed benefits in accordance with the Law On
Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local
Government Authorities.
[15 December 2011]
32. After entering 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. Until 31 August 2012 the Cabinet shall draw up and submit
to the Saeima the necessary amendments to the Protection
of the Rights of the Child Law 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 levels of quality 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 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 12.1, 12.2, 15 and 36
of this Law until 30 August 2013, and the regulations referred to
in Section 14, Clause 37 of this Law - until 31 May 2014.
[9 July 2013]
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]
Informative
Reference to European Union Directives
This Law includes legal norms arising from:
1) Council Directive 77/486/EEC of 25 July 1977 on the
education of the children of migrant workers;
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); and
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.
[4 March 2010]
This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 29 October
1998.
President G. Ulmanis
Riga, 17 November 1998
1 The Parliament of the Republic of
Latvia
Translation © 2015 Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre)