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];
17 December 2014 [shall come into force from 1 January
2015];
18 June 2015 [shall come into force from 16 July
2015];
3 December 2015 [shall come into force from 11 December
2015];
5 May 2016 [shall come into force from 1 June
2016];
23 November 2016 [shall come into force from 1 January
2017];
27 July 2017 [shall come into force from 10 August
2017];
22 November 2017 [shall come into force from 1 January
2018];
24 November 2017 (Constitutional Court Judgment) [shall
come into force from 27 November 2017];
22 March 2018 [shall come into force from 16 April
2018];
20 September 2018 [shall come into force from 18 October
2018];
21 March 2019 [shall come into force from 17 April
2019];
3 April 2019 [shall come into force from 1 May
2019];
30 May 2019 [shall come into force from 26 June
2019];
14 November 2019 [shall come into force from 1 January
2020].
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 - the level of education at which,
after acquisition of secondary education, the personal
development rooted in science or art, or both in science and art
takes place in the selected academic or professional, or academic
and professional field of studies, preparation for scientific and
professional activity;
21) formal education - a system which
includes the levels of basic education, secondary education and
higher education the completion of the programmes of which is
attested by an education or professional qualification document
recognised by the State, as well as an education and professional
qualification document;
3) interest-related education - implementation of the
individual educational needs and desires of a person regardless
of age and previously acquired education;
4) education - a process of systematic acquisition of
knowledge and skills and development of attitudes, and result
thereof. The learning process includes teaching and upbringing
activities. The result of education is a combination of
knowledge, skills and attitudes;
5) education support institution - an institution
founded by the State, local governments and other legal or
natural persons, which ensures methodological, psychological,
scientific, informative and other intellectual support to
teachers, educatees, parents of educatees, and educational
institutions;
6) education document - a document which attests to the
education acquired by a person according to a particular level,
type, and programme of education, or to partial acquisition of
such education;
7) educational institution - an institution founded by
the State, local governments, State higher education institutions
or other legal or natural persons with the task of implementing
educational programmes, or a commercial company for which the
implementation of educational programmes is one of the types of
activity;
8) level of education - a completed stage of education
which includes organised and successively implemented acquisition
of education;
9) education administration institution - a State or
local government institution or a local government unit which
fulfils the functions of education administration;
10) accreditation of an educational programme -
acquisition of the rights by an educational institution or
another authority specified in this Law to issue a
State-recognised education document for the acquisition of
education corresponding to a specific educational programme. In
the course of accreditation the quality of the implementation of
the relevant educational programme shall be evaluated;
11) licensing of an educational programme - granting of
the rights to an educational institution or another authority
specified in this Law to implement a specific educational
programme;
12) educatee - a child, pupil, trainee, student, or
listener who is completing an educational programme at an
educational institution or with a teacher working in private
practice;
121) career - interaction of education,
work, and private life during the life of a person;
122) career education - measures integrated
in the education process to ensure the acquisition and
development of career management skills of educatees, including
awareness of one's interests, abilities, and opportunities for
the selection of the direction of further education and
professional career;
123) career development support - a set of
measures which includes access to information, career education,
and individual consultations for educatees for the determination
and planning of career objectives, upon making a choice in
relation to education and work;
124) full-time studies - the form of
acquisition of education in which an educatee is acquiring the
content of education within the scope of an educational programme
implemented by an educational institution, regularly attending
lessons organised at the educational institution according to a
specific schedule;
125) teaching aids - 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 specified 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 the 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 the 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 learning achievements);
f) digital teaching aids and resources (electronic editions
and resources which include the content necessary for the
implementation of educational programme);
g) handouts (exercises, schemes, work sheets, examples,
samples and other materials which are provided for each educatee,
individualising the study process);
h) technical teaching aids (technical equipment and devices to
be used in the learning 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 education content is ensured,
guaranteeing conformity with the safety and hygiene
requirements);
k) individual learning accessories [objects and aids for
personal use of educatees which are used as teaching aids or in
relation to the provision of learning opportunities: stationary,
clothing and footwear, specific clothing, footwear and hygiene
accessories necessary for the acquisition of the compulsory
content of individual subjects (sports, housekeeping, and
technologies, etc.), aids using which the pupil creates and
object or product for his or her own needs in the learning
process];
13) programme of a subject or course - a component of
an educational programme which includes the objectives and tasks
of a subject or course, its contents, a plan for acquiring the
contents, the criteria and procedures for the assessment of the
acquired education, as well as a list of methods and resources
necessary for the implementation of the programme;
14) standard of a subject or course - a component of
the State educational standard which determines the primary
objectives and tasks of a subject or course, the compulsory
content of a subject or course, and the forms and procedures for
the assessment of learning achievements;
141) non-formal education - educational
activities conforming to the interests and demand organised
outside of formal education;
142) extramural studies - the form of
acquisition of education in which an educatee acquires part of
the contents of the educational programme implemented by an
educational institution independently;
15) basic education - the level of education at which
preparation for the level of secondary education or for
professional activity takes place, the basic knowledge and skills
necessary for life in society and individual life of a person are
acquired, and where value-orientation and involvement in public
life is developed;
16) self-education - education acquired outside an
educational institution;
161) teacher - a natural person who has the
education and the professional qualifications specified in this
Law or in other laws governing education, and who participates in
the implementation of an educational programme at an educational
institution or in certified private practice;
17) adult education - a multi-dimensional educational
process of persons which ensures the development of the
individual and his or her ability to compete in the labour market
during the lifetime of a person;
18) pre-school education - the level of education at
which multi-dimensional development of the child as an
individual, strengthening of his or her health and preparation
for the acquisition of primary education takes place;
19) private educational institution - an educational
institution founded by a legal or natural person, except for a
State, local government educational institution or educational
institution of a State higher education institution, as well as a
commercial company with a capital share of a State, local
government, or State higher education institution, for which the
implementation of educational programmes is one of the types of
activity;
20) vocational education - practical and theoretical
preparation for activity in a specific profession, for the
acquisition of professional qualification, and for the
improvement of professional competence;
201) vocationally oriented education -
systematised acquisition of knowledge and skills, as well as the
formation of value orientation in art, culture, or sports
concurrently with the basic education or secondary education
level which provides a possibility to prepare for the acquisition
of a vocational education in the selected direction;
21) professional qualification - assessment of
education and professional skill with respect to a particular
profession, confirmed by documentary evidence;
22) [9 July 2013];
23) professional qualification document - a document
which attests to the professional qualification of a person and
grants the right to apply for holding a position corresponding to
a specific profession and level of qualification or for the
receipt of the relevant certificate for employment in private
practice;
24) special education - general and vocational
education adapted for persons with special needs and health
problems, or with special needs or health problems;
25) further education - continuation of the previously
acquired education and improvement of professional skill
according to the requirements of the specific profession;
26) distance learning - the form of the acquisition of
education in which an educatee acquires the contents of an
educational programme implemented by an educational institution
independently and individually, using specially structured study
materials offered by the educational institution, different
technical and electronic means of communication. Achievements of
the educatee are assessed according to the requirements of the
relevant educational programme;
261) [5 May 2016];
27) State education standard - a document which
determines the main objectives and tasks of educational
programmes, the compulsory basic content of education, basic
criteria for the assessment of the acquired education, and
general procedures according to the level and type of
education;
28) secondary education -the level of education at
which multi-dimensional growth of an individual, purposeful and
profound development in an intentionally chosen general and
vocational education, or general or vocational education stream,
preparation for studies at the highest level of education or
professional activity, and involvement in public life takes
place;
29) general education - the process of cognition of the
multi-dimensionality and oneness of a human beings, nature, and
society, and the process of development of a humane, free, and
responsible individual, and the result thereof.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 13 November 2008; 4 March 2010;
9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 5 May 2016; 20 September 2018 /
Amendment regarding deletion of Clause 14 in relation to the
implementation of general education programmes in grades 1, 4, 7,
and 10 shall come into force on 1 September 2020, in relation to
the implementation of general education programmes in grades 2,
5, 8, and 11 shall come into force on 1 September 2021, and in
relation to the implementation of general education programmes in
grades 3, 6, 9, and 12 shall come into force on 1 September
2022. See Paragraph 74 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 2. Purpose of this Law
The purpose of this Law is to ensure that every resident of
Latvia has the opportunity to develop his or her mental and
physical potential in order to become an independent and a fully
developed individual, a member of the democratic State and
society of Latvia. According to the age and needs of an educatee,
he or she shall be ensured an opportunity to:
1) acquire knowledge and skills in the field of humanities,
social, natural and technical sciences;
2) acquire knowledge, skills, and experience in relationships
in order to participate in the life of the State and society;
3) have moral, aesthetic, intellectual and physical
development, by promoting the development of a knowledgeable,
skilful, and socialised individual.
Section 3. Right to 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 the 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 the Swiss
Confederation (hereinafter - the 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
attaining the age of majority.
(3) A minor third-country national or stateless person who has
no legal basis to reside in the Republic of Latvia has the right
to acquire basic education during the time period specified for
voluntary exit or during the time period for which the expulsion
is suspended, 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 origin, gender, religious and
political affiliation, health condition, occupation, and place of
residence.
(2) Differential treatment towards a person due to the
conditions referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be
permitted if it is objectively substantiated with a legal purpose
the means selected for the achievement of which are
proportionate.
(3) An educational institution established by a religious
organisation is entitled to base on the person's religious
affiliation, readiness, and capability to act in good faith and
loyalty in relation to the dogma (doctrine) of the particular
religion, 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 directly or indirectly create
unfavourable consequences for a person if he or she maintains his
or her rights with a view to prevent differential treatment.
(5) If, in the event of a dispute, a person points to factors
which could be the basis for his or her direct or indirect
discrimination due to the conditions referred to in Paragraph one
of this Section, the implementer of the educational programme has
the obligation to prove that the prohibition of differential
treatment has not been violated.
(6) If the prohibition of differential treatment or the
prohibition to create unfavourable consequences is violated, a
person has the right to request elimination of the violation, to
receive legal assistance in accordance with the Ombudsman Law, 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 event of a dispute, the amount of remuneration
for moral detriment shall be determined by a court at its
discretion.
(7) The prohibition of differential treatment in relation to
teachers and other persons employed in the education system shall
be governed by other laws.
(8) The term "discrimination" used in this Section and types
thereof shall conform to the terms used in the Consumer Rights
Protection Law.
[4 March 2010]
Section 4. Compulsory Nature of
Education
Preparation of children from the age of five for the
acquisition of basic education and the acquisition of basic
education, or the continuation of the acquisition of basic
education until attaining 18 years of age shall be
compulsory.
[5 July 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009]
Section 5. Levels of Education
(1) The following levels of education are specified:
1) pre-school education;
2) basic education;
3) secondary education;
4) higher education.
(2) An educatee has the right to acquire education at each
subsequent level, successively proceeding from one level of
education to the next.
Section 6. Types of Education
The types of education are as follows:
1) general education;
2) vocational education;
3) academic education.
Section 7. Education Target
Groups
Education target groups are aggregates of persons with similar
specific needs, interests, and abilities who wish to acquire
education or for whom the acquisition of compulsory education has
been specified in law. Target groups for primary education
consist of::
1) children of pre-school age;
2) children and young persons of the compulsory education
age;
3) young persons;
4) persons with special needs;
5) adults.
Section 8. Forms of Acquisition of
Education
(1) The forms of acquisition of education shall be as
follows:
1) full-time studies;
2) extramural studies;
21) distance learning;
3) self-education;
4) education in the family.
(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement the
completion of educational programmes in the form of full-time
studies, extramural studies, as well as distance learning.
Pre-school education programmes shall be implemented in the form
in full-time studies. General basic education and general
secondary education programmes shall be implemented in the form
of extramural studies and distance learning in conformity with
the criteria and procedures for the implementation of general
education programmes stipulated by the Cabinet.
(3) An educatee may acquire the contents of an educational
programme in the form of self-education. Assessment of an
educational programme completed in such a manner can be obtained
by taking examinations at the educational institution which
implements the relevant programme.
(4) Paragraph three of this Section shall not apply to higher
education programmes.
[5 February 2004; 20 September 2018]
Section 8.1 Latvian
Qualifications Framework
(1) The Latvian Qualifications Framework is an eight-level
system which encompasses all levels of educations (basic
education, secondary education, higher education) and all types
of education (general education, vocational education, academic
education), as well as the professional qualification acquired
outside of the formal education system. The Latvian
Qualifications Framework is referenced to the European
Qualifications Framework.
(2) Levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework are
characterised by the learning outcomes to be achieved on the
relevant level. Each subsequent level includes the knowledge,
skills, and competence specified for the previous level.
(3) The levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework are as
follows:
1) the first level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate elementary knowledge and to use it for the
performance of elementary practical tasks under supervision of a
specialist;
2) the second level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate basic knowledge and to use it for the performance of
simple practical tasks in a specific field semi-independently
under supervision of a specialist;
3) the third level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate general knowledge and to use it for the performance
of different tasks in a constant and stable environment assuming
responsibility for the work result;
4) the fourth level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and to independently plan and
organise work in the relevant field by assuming responsibility,
working individually, in a team or managing the work of other
people;
5) the fifth level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate comprehensive and specialised knowledge corresponding
to the relevant field; the ability to use analytical approach
towards solving of practical problems in the relevant profession
in a changing environment; the ability to understand the field of
one's activity in a wider social context, to participate in the
development of the relevant sector, to evaluate one's own
activity and activity of other people;
6) the sixth level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate basic and specialised knowledge in the sector and to
use it for the performance of professional, artistic, innovative,
or research activity; the ability to use scientific approach for
problem-solving, to assume responsibility and initiative; the
ability to take decisions and to find creative solutions in
changing conditions;
7) the seventh level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate advanced and extensive knowledge in the relevant
field of science or professional area; the ability to
independently use the theory, methods, and problem-solving skills
for the performance of research, artistic, or highly qualified
professional activity in changing conditions; the ability to
independently formulate and critically analyse complicated
scientific and professional problems, to integrate the knowledge
of different fields, to contribute to the creation of new
knowledge;
8) the eighth level of qualification - the ability to
demonstrate extensive research knowledge and skills; the ability
to show having good knowledge and understanding of the most
topical scientific theories and statements, having good command
of the research methodology and modern research methods in the
relevant field of science or professional area and at the
interface between fields; the ability to independently improve
one's scientific qualification and to implement large scientific
projects; the ability to solve significant scientific and
innovative tasks by making independent, critical analysis,
synthesis, and assessment.
[18 June 2015]
Section 9. Language in which
Education is Acquired
(1) Education at State, local government educational
institutions and educational institutions of State higher
education institutions shall be acquired in the official
language.
(11) In private educational institutions general
education and vocational education at the level of basic
education and secondary education shall be acquired in the
official language.
(2) Education may be acquired in another language:
1) in educational institutions which are implementing
educational programmes according to the bilateral or multilateral
international agreements of the Republic of Latvia;
2) in educational institutions which are implementing minority
educational programmes on the level of pre-school education and
basic education in conformity with the provisions of Section 41
of this Law;
21) in educational institutions in which study
subjects of general education programmes are completely or
partially implemented in a foreign language in order to ensure
the learning of other official languages of the European Union in
conformity with the conditions of the relevant State education
standard;
3) in educational institutions specified in other laws.
(21) In educational institutions implementing
special education programmes for educatees with hearing
impairments, as well as in other educational institutions in
which learning environment suitable for the acquisition of
education in the Latvian sign language is ensured, education may
also be acquired in the Latvian sign language .
(3) In order to acquire basic or secondary education, each
educatee shall learn the official language and take examinations
testing his or her proficiency in the official language to the
extent and in accordance with the procedures specified by the
Cabinet.
(31) Educational programmes in State-founded higher
education institutions shall be implemented in the official
language. The use of foreign languages in the implementation of
study programmes shall be possible only in the following
cases:
1) educational programmes which are being completed by foreign
students in Latvia, and educational programmes which are
implemented within the framework of co-operation provided for in
the programmes and international agreements of the European Union
may be implemented in the official languages of the European
Union. For foreign students the learning of the official language
shall be included in the study course compulsory amount if
studies in Latvia are expected to be longer than six months or
exceed 20 credit points;
2) not more than one fifth of the amount of credit points of
the study 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) educational programmes need to be implemented in a foreign
language to achieve the objectives of the educational programme
in conformity with the education classification of the Republic
of Latvia in the following groups of educational programmes:
language and culture studies, language programmes. The licensing
commission shall decide on the conformity of the educational
programme with the groups of educational programmes.
(4) Professional qualification examinations shall be taken in
the official language of the European Union in which the
particular educational programme is implemented or in the
official language if the particular educational programme is not
implemented in any of the official languages of the European
Union, except for the cases provided for in other laws.
(5) The papers and thesis necessary for the acquisition of
bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree shall be developed and
defended in the official language of the European Union in which
the particular study programme is implemented or in the official
language if the particular study programme is not implemented in
any of the official languages of the European Union, except for
the 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; 18 June 2015; 22 March 2018;
20 September 2018 / Amendments regarding the
supplementation of Section with Paragraph 1.1 and the
rewording of Paragraph two, Clause 2 in relation to the
implementation of pre-school education programmes and the
implementation of basic education programmes in grades 1-7 shall
come into force on 1 September 2019, in relation to the
implementation of basic education programmes in grade 8 and the
implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 10 and
11 shall come into force on 1 September 2020, and in relation to
the implementation of basic education programmes in grade 9 and
the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12
shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph
66 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 10. Education and
Religion
(1) The education system shall ensure freedom of conscience.
Educatees shall have the option to learn the Christian religious
instruction or ethics, or Christian religious instruction and
ethics concurrently.
(2) The Law on Religious Organisations shall govern the
relations between educational institutions and religious
organisations.
Section 10.1 Education
and Morality
(1) The education system shall ensure moral upbringing of an
educatee which conforms to the values incorporated in and
protected by the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia,
particularly such values as marriage and family.
(2) An educational institution, except for higher education
institutions, shall protect an educatee from such information and
methods in the process of education and upbringing which do not
conform to the ensuring of moral development of the educatee
incorporated in the purpose of this Law.
[18 June 2015]
Section 11. Education Documents
(1) Educatees, upon acquisition of a particular level (except
for the level of pre-school education) and type of education,
shall be issued the relevant education document: a certificate, a
document attesting to the education, or a diploma.
(2) A State-recognised education document shall be issued to
an educatee who has acquired education corresponding to an
accredited educational programme.
(3) An educational institution may issue a document for
partial completion of an educational programme.
Section 11.1 Recognition
in Latvia of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries
(1) Expert-examination of education documents issued in
foreign countries, as well as documents certifying academic
degrees acquired in foreign countries, shall be made based on an
application of the holder of the education documents or documents
certifying academic degrees, the relevant educational
institutions, State authorities, employers, or professional
organisations. The Academic Information Centre shall make
expert-examination of education documents issued in foreign
countries, as well as of documents certifying academic degrees
acquired in foreign countries. The services provided within the
scope of expert-examination of education documents issued in
foreign countries, as well as of documents certifying academic
degrees acquired in foreign countries shall be for a fee. The
Cabinet shall determine the price list for the services to be
provided within the scope of expert-examination.
(11) A copy of the education document issued in a
foreign country or the document certifying academic degree
acquired in a foreign country which has been certified in
accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations,
a copy of a personal identification document, and translation of
such documents into Latvian or in any other official language of
the European Union, unless such documents have been drawn up in
any of the abovementioned languages, shall be appended to the
application referred to in Paragraph of this Section.
(2) During an expert-examination of submitted documents the
following is established:
1) which education document issued in Latvia or which academic
degree conferred in Latvia is equivalent to the education
document issued in a foreign country or to the document
certifying academic degree conferred in a foreign country, 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 so that the
education document issued in a foreign country or the document
certifying academic degree conferred in a foreign country 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 in a foreign
country 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 as to
which education document issued in Latvia or academic degree
conferred in Latvia the education document issued in a foreign
country or the academic degree conferred in a foreign country is
equivalent or may be regarded as equivalent.
(4) The decision to recognise an education document shall be
taken on the basis of a statement issued by the Academic
Information Centre:
1) for the continuation of studies - by the higher education
institution in which the holder of the education document wishes
to continue the studies. The higher education institution may
make an additional expert-examination and set additional
requirements;
2) for 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 - by the
employer;
3) for the pursuit of professional activities in professions
in which the professional activities, or the required education
is governed by laws, as well as in other regulatory enactments -
by the authorities determined in such laws and other regulatory
enactments;
4) for the continuation of education on the level of basic or
secondary education - by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
(41) The provisions of Paragraphs one,
1.1, two, three, and four of this Section shall not be
applied if the education document has been issued to the person
in a foreign country with which Latvia has concluded an
international agreement for the mutual recognition of education
documents and it provides different procedures for the
recognition of education documents and academic degrees.
(5) The Academic Information Centre is an authority
established by the Ministry of Education and Science which
carries out expert-examination of education documents issued in
foreign countries and documents certifying academic degrees
conferred in foreign countries and other functions related to the
recognition of education certificates and international
information exchange.
[11 May 2000; 17 December 2014; 21 March 2019]
Section 11.2 [Section shall come into
force on 1 June 2020 and shall be included in the wording of the
Law as of 1 June 2020. See Paragraph 83 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 12. Fee for the Acquisition
of Education
(1) Fee for the acquisition of pre-school education, basic
education, and secondary education at a State or local government
institution, as well as at a secondary education institution of
State higher education institutions shall be covered from the
State budget, local government budgets, or budgets of State
higher education institutions in accordance with the procedures
laid down by the Cabinet. A private educational institution may
determine a fee for the acquisition of education.
(2) In higher education programmes, the State shall cover the
fee for the acquisition of education for a specified number of
student positions according to the State order specified for the
relevant year; for the remaining student positions each higher
education institution or college may determine a fee for the
acquisition of education.
(21) In its binding regulations, a local government
may provide a partial fee as co-financing for the acquisition of
education in the vocationally oriented education institutions
established by the local government.
(3) A student may receive State credit for studies in higher
education programmes. The obtained credit shall be re-paid or
extinguished in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet.
(4) A foreigner or a stateless person shall pay for the
completion of higher education programme according to the
contract concluded with the relevant educational institution.
(5) For the persons referred to in Section 3, Paragraph one,
Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 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 according to
the same procedures as for a citizen of Latvia and non-citizen of
Latvia.
[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]
Section 13. International
Co-operation in Education
(1) Co-operation of the Republic of Latvia with other states
and international organisations in the field of education shall
be determined by international agreements.
(2) An educational institution is entitled to co-operate with
foreign educational institutions and international
organisations.
Chapter
II
Organisation of Education
Section 14. Competence of the
Cabinet in the Field of Education
The Cabinet shall:
1) determine the forms for the State-recognised education
documents, the criteria and procedures for the issuance of
education documents;
11) determine descriptions of knowledge, skills,
and competences corresponding to the levels of the Latvian
Qualifications Framework;
2) [5 July 2001];
3) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
the basic education and secondary education programmes
implemented by private educational institutions;
4) determine the procedures for the receipt, repayment, and
extinguishing of a credit in higher education programmes;
5) determine the procedures for the registration of children
who have attained the compulsory school age;
6) approve the constitution of the National Defence Academy of
Latvia and higher education institutions founded by private
individuals;
7) found, reorganise, and liquidate State educational
institutions and State education support institutions upon a
proposal of the Minister for Education and Science or other
Ministers;
71) approve the by-laws of State educational
institutions (except for State higher education institutions -
derived public persons);
8) determine the procedures for the registration and
accreditation of educational institutions and other authorities
specified in this Law, including extraordinary accreditation and
cancellation of accreditation;
9) [16 June 2009];
10) govern the rules and procedures for the accreditation of
higher education institutions;
11) determine the procedures for the licensing and
accreditation of educational programmes, including extraordinary
accreditation and cancellation of accreditation;
12) confirm the list of pedagogical professions and
positions;
121) determine the procedures and criteria for the
assessment of the professional activity of the heads of
educational institutions (except for higher education
institutions and colleges), including for extraordinary
assessment and cancellation of the assessment;
122) determine the procedures and evaluation
conditions for the selection of candidates for the positions of
the heads of State and local government educational institutions
(except for higher education institutions and colleges) and heads
of local government educational boards;
13) confirm, according to pedagogical professions, the
requirements for the required education and professional
qualifications of teachers;
131) determine the procedures by which a
certificate for the commencement of a private practice of a
teacher shall be issued, its term of validity shall be extended,
or it shall be cancelled;
14) [5 July 2001];
15) determine the procedures by which the State and local
governments shall finance the purchase of teaching aids for
educational institutions;
151) determine the procedures for the evaluation
and approval of the conformity of the educational literature with
the State basic education and general secondary education
standard;
16) determine the procedures for the payment of work
remuneration to teachers and its amount, including the lowest
monthly salary rate for a teacher;
17) determine the procedures for the financing in special
education institutions and in special education classes and
groups of general education institutions;
18) develop and submit for approval to the Saeima the
education development guidelines for the subsequent seven years
as a unified State policy and strategy in education;
181) determine the guidelines for the State
pre-school education which include model educational programmes
corresponding to the requirements of such guidelines;
19) determine State standards in education which include model
educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of such
standards, except for model vocational education programmes and
model academic education programmes;
20) determine the minimum costs for the implementation of
educational programmes per one educatee;
201) determine the procedures by which an
educational institution (except for higher education institutions
and colleges) shall ensure library and information services;
21) determine the procedures 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
education programmes who have been enrolled according to
competitive procedures according to the number of State financed
places, and for students of vocational education programmes who
have been enrolled according to the number of State or local
government financed places;
24) determine the procedures for financing interest-related
education programmes;
241) [Clause shall come into force on 1
September 2021 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as
of 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 78 of Transitional
Provisions];
25) govern the organisation of children's camps and activity
regulations;
26) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
vocationally oriented education programmes;
27) determine the authority which keep the registers of
teachers and educational programmes, as well as the procedures by
which they are kept and maintained;
28) determine the authority which shall licence educational
programmes;
29) determine the authority which shall carry out
accreditation of educational programmes and educational
institutions;
30) determine the content of the State Education Information
System and the procedures for its maintenance and updating;
31) determine the procedures by which the State shall finance
adult non-formal education programmes, further education
programmes, and professional competence improvement, as well as
the criteria for the receipt of the relevant financing;
32) determine the procedures for the improvement of the
professional competence of teachers;
33) determine the procedures by which State examinations shall
take place in accredited educational programmes (except for
higher education 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 an educational
institution shall inform parents (persons who exercise custody)
of educatees, local government or State institutions, if an
educatee fails to attend educational institution without a
justifying reason;
36) determine the methodology according to which a local
government shall determine the average costs necessary per
educatee in a pre-school education programme (from the age of one
and a half years up to the commencement of acquisition of basic
education) at local government educational institutions, and the
procedures by which a local government shall, according to the
average costs necessary per educatee specified thereby in the
educational institutions of the relevant local government, cover
the costs of a pre-school education programme for a private
educational institution;
37) determine the directions for the assessment of the quality
of the professional activity of teachers, the description of the
levels of the quality of the professional activity of teachers,
and the procedures by which the assessment of the quality of the
professional activity of teachers shall be organised;
38) determine guidelines for the upbringing of educatees, also
national and moral upbringing, in educational institutions,
except for higher education institutions, including govern the
provisions for the use of the national symbols of Latvia -
national flag, national anthem, and the State coat of arms - at
an educational institution and the events organised thereby
regardless of the legal status of the educational institution,
taking into account the requirements of laws and regulations. The
educational institution may use the large State coat of arms
within the scope of national upbringing. The Cabinet shall
determine the events to be organised for celebrating public
holidays at educational institutions, except for higher education
institutions;
39) determine the procedures by which the conformity of
information, including teaching aids and materials, as well as
study and upbringing methods with ensuring of the moral
development of an educatee included in the purpose of this Law
shall be evaluated, as well as the criteria for such
evaluation;
40) determine the procedures by which State social support
shall be granted to those teachers involved in implementation of
general basic education programmes and general secondary
education programmes who lose the job of a teacher in case of
reorganisation or liquidation of a general education institution
of a local government, as well as determine the authority which
shall administer the disbursement of State social support and its
discontinuation;
41) determine the quality criteria, the minimum admissible
number of educatees, and the criteria for the determination of
the maximum admissible number of educatees in a grade or group of
grades at the level of secondary education in general education
institutions of local governments, State higher education
institutions, and in private general education institutions. The
founder of the educational institution shall take into account
the abovementioned criteria upon determining the maximum
admissible number of educatees in a grade or group of grades;
42) determine the criteria and procedures by which the State,
including taking into account the minimum acceptable number of
educatees at the level of secondary education, shall participate
in the financing of the work remuneration for teachers who are
involved in the implementation of general education programmes in
general education institutions of local governments, State higher
education institutions, and private general education
institutions, if an educational institution does not meet the
quality criteria specified by the Cabinet;
43) determine the procedures by which an educational
institution shall implement general basic and general secondary
education programmes in the form of extramural studies and
distance learning;
44) determine the procedures for the calculation, granting,
and use of the resources intended in the State budget for the
catering of such educatees who are acquiring basic education
programmes in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 in full-time studies, and the
amount of the State budget funds for one educatee per day.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 16 June 2009;
1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 18
June 2015; 3 December 2015; 5 May 2016; 23 November 2016; 27 July
2017; 22 November 2017; 20 September 2018; 14 November 2019 /
Clause 40 shall be in force until 31 December 2020.
Amendment regarding the supplementation of Clause 24 with the
words "and interest-related education institutions of national
significance", as well as Clause 24.1 shall come into
force on 1 September 2021 and shall be included in the wording of
the Law as of 1 September 2021. See Paragraphs 62 and 78
of Transitional Provisions]
Section 15. Competence of the
Ministry of Education and Science in the Field of Education
The Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) implement a unified State policy and development strategy
in education;
2) develop draft policy planning documents and draft laws and
regulations in the field of education;
21) be responsible for the implementation of the
purpose specified in the Education Law;
3) ensure the maintenance and updating of the State Education
Information System and the State Examination Information
System;
4) [16 June 2009];
5) [16 June 2009];
6) organise educational and professional skill improvement
work for teachers, coordinate the research and methodology
work;
7) develop the guidelines for the State pre-school education,
State education standards, as well as model educational
programmes corresponding to the requirements of the guidelines
for the State pre-school education or State education
standards;
8) develop proposals and, according to the specified
procedures, submit a request for the allocation of the State
budget funds to education, science, sports, development of the
official language, and upbringing of the youth in accordance with
the purpose of this Law;
9) control lawful use of the State budget funds provided for
education at the educational institutions subordinate
thereto;
10) coordinate the co-operation in education between the State
educational institutions, foreign countries and international
organisations;
11) develop model programmes for study subjects or courses
(except for higher education programmes) according to the
requirements of the State education standards;
12) develop model by-laws for educational institutions and
education support institutions;
13) organise State order for the preparation and publication
of teaching aids corresponding to basic education programmes;
14) coordinate the procedures for the acquisition of education
and improvement of professional competence for teachers;
15) [16 June 2009];
16) [4 March 2010];
17) organise the development of electronic educational
resources and teaching aids conforming to the education
standards;
18) monitor the results of the learning process of
State-funded educational institutions, develop and implement
measures for the improvement of the quality of the learning
process;
19) [4 March 2010];
20) [11 May 2000];
21) [15 March 2012];
22) [18 June 2015];
23) submit proposals to the Cabinet regarding the foundation,
reorganisation, and liquidation of State educational institutions
and education support institutions, agreeing thereupon with the
relevant local governments;
24) [18 June 2015 / See Paragraph 43 of Transitional
Provisions];
25) hire and dismiss heads of educational institutions (except
for higher education institutions) subordinate to the Ministry of
Education and Science;
26) propose the dismissal from work of the heads of local
government educational institutions and heads of secondary
education institutions of State higher education institutions.
The hiring and dismissal from work of the heads of local
government educational institutions shall be agreed upon with the
local government;
27) [18 June 2015].
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4
March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 21 March
2019]
Section 16. Competence of other
Sectoral Ministries in Education
(1) Other sectoral ministries shall:
1) submit the Cabinet proposals for the foundation,
reorganisation, or liquidation of State educational institutions,
agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and
Science;
2) develop the study content in professional subjects;
3) [11 May 2000];
4) ensure the operation of the educational institutions
subordinate thereto, as well as organise and finance publication
and purchase of teaching aids corresponding to the standards for
professional subjects;
5) control the financial and economic activities of the
educational institutions subordinate thereto;
6) [4 March 2010];
7) [18 June 2015 / See Paragraph 43 of Transitional
Provisions].
(2) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional
Development shall develop the methodology according to which a
local government shall determine the average costs necessary per
one educatee in the pre-school education programme (from the age
of 18 months until commencing the acquisition of basic education)
at local government educational institutions, and the procedures
by which a local government shall, according to the average costs
necessary per educatee specified thereby in the educational
institutions of the relevant local government, cover the costs of
a pre-school education programme for a private educational
institution.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 18 June 2015; 3 December 2015;
20 September 2018]
Section 17. Competence of Local
Governments in Education
(1) Each local government has an obligation to ensure that the
children whose declared place of residence is in the
administrative territory of the local government have the
opportunity to acquire pre-school education and basic education
at the educational institution closest to the place of residence
of the child or at the closest educational institution which is
implementing an educational programme in the official language,
to ensure that young persons 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
an obligation to enter into a contract in accordance with the
procedures stipulated by the Cabinet for the participation in the
financing of the maintenance expenditures of an educational
institution subordinate to the relevant local government.
(21) If a local government does not ensure a place
in a pre-school education programme implemented by the local
government educational institution to a child who has attained
the age of 18 months and whose place of residence is declared in
the administrative territory of the local government (from the
age of 18 months until commencing the acquisition of basic
education) and the child is acquiring the pre-school education
programme in a private educational institution, the local
government shall cover the costs for such private service
provider in accordance with the procedures laid down by the
Cabinet. Costs shall be covered in the amount that corresponds to
the average costs necessary for one educatee in the pre-school
education programme in educational institutions of the respective
local government. If the educatee acquires a pre-school education
programme implemented in educational institutions selected by the
local government in accordance with the procedures laid down in
the Public Procurement Law, the costs shall be covered in the
amount which is determined as a result of the public
procurement.
(22) The local government shall, according to the
methodology stipulated by the Cabinet, determine the average
costs necessary for one educatee in the pre-school education
programme (from the age of 18 months until commencing the
acquisition of basic education) at educational institutions of
the respective local government. The local government shall
publish the abovementioned average costs and the procedures for
calculating them on its website.
(23) Where a local government covers the costs of
the pre-school education programme in the cases specified in
Paragraph 2.1 of this Section, it shall continue to
cover such costs for a private educational institution if an
offer has been made to the educatee in writing of a place at the
local government educational institution in which he or she has
been registered for enrolment, but the lawful representative of
such educatee has refused the offered position, and the educatee
continues completion of the pre-school education programme in the
private educational institution.
(24) In its binding regulations, a local government
shall determine the procedures by which it shall ensure the
covering of the costs specified in Paragraphs 2.1 and
2.3 of this Section, as well as the conditions for the
determination of a higher amount of the support according to the
budgetary possibilities of the local government.
(3) A city local government and a municipality local
government shall:
1) by agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and
Science, found, reorganise, and liquidate general education
institutions, including special education institutions and
grades, as well as pre-school educational groups for children
with special needs and interest-related educational institutions,
but, by agreeing thereupon with the relevant sectoral ministry
and the Ministry of Education and Science, found, reorganise, and
liquidate vocational education institutions;
2) hire and dismiss heads of general education institutions,
including special education institutions, vocational education
institutions, interest-related education institutions,
vocationally oriented education institutions in sports
subordinate thereto, agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of
Education and Science, but the heads of vocationally oriented
education institutions in arts or culture - agreeing thereupon
with the relevant sectoral ministry;
3) determine the procedures by which the educational
institutions subordinate thereto shall be financed from the
budget;
4) participate in the financing of State and other local
government educational institutions on the basis of mutual
agreements;
5) may participate in the financing of private educational
institutions on the basis of mutual agreements;
6) allocate local government budget resources to educational
institutions and control their use;
7) maintain the educational institutions subordinate thereto,
except for the special education institutions implementing
special education programmes at the level of basic education or
secondary education and ensure services of a boarding school, as
well as the special education institutions - development and
rehabilitation centres, taking into consideration that the
financial provision of such institutions may not be less than
that specified by the Cabinet, and control the use of such
financial resources;
8) provide support to the educational institutions subordinate
thereto for making the necessary improvements established 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
education support institutions subordinate thereto to the
accounts of the educational institutions;
10) ensure the work remuneration for the economic, technical,
and medical employees of educational institutions subordinate
thereto, except for the work remuneration of employees of the
special education institutions implementing special education
programmes at the level of basic education or secondary education
and ensure services of a boarding school, as well as the special
education institutions - development and rehabilitation
centres;
11) ensure preventive health care and access to emergency
medical assistance for educatees of the educational institutions
subordinate thereto in accordance with the procedures specified
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 (according to the health condition which affects
the type of acquisition of education) in special education
institutions, pre-school educational groups for children with
special needs, special education classes in accordance with the
procedures and in the amounts specified by the Cabinet;
13) ensure catering in special education institutions,
pre-school educational groups for children with special needs,
special education classes subordinate thereto in accordance with
the procedures and in the amounts specified by the Cabinet;
14) ensure transport for educatees to commute to the
educational institution and back to their place of residence if
the public transport cannot be used;
15) ensure career education for children and young
persons;
16) ensure interest-related education for children and young
persons, issue licences for the implementation of
interest-related education 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) register children who have attained the age of compulsory
schooling in accordance with procedures specified by the
Cabinet;
21) determine the amount of benefits and material support of
another kind and the procedures for granting thereof to educatees
in the educational institutions subordinate thereto;
22) implement policy in adult education and ensure the
distribution of the financing granted and supervision over the
use 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,
coordinate and ensure methodological work;
25) determine the number of positions in higher education
institutions and colleges to be funded from the local government
budget resources;
26) ensure the organisation of State examinations, including
centralised examinations, in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Cabinet;
27) support participation of educatees in olympiads of study
subjects, competitions, shows, projects, and sports
competitions;
28) fulfil the functions of local governments in the field of
education specified in other laws and regulations.
(4) [13 November 2008]
(5) [13 November 2008]
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 5 February
2004; 13 November 2008; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015;
3 December 2015; 22 November 2017 / Amendments to Clauses
1, 2, 12, and 13 of Paragraph three in relation to the deletion
of the words "boarding school" shall come into force on 1 August
2019. See Paragraph 60 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 18. Ensuring Functions of
City and Municipality Local Governments in the Field of
Education
(1) A local government shall create at least one position of
education specialist or education administration institution in
order to fulfil its functions in the field of education. An
education specialist and head of an education administration
institution must have academic education or a second level
professional higher education and work experience of at least
three years in the field of education or in education
administration work.
(2) Work remuneration of a local government education
specialist and local government education administration
institution shall be financed from the budget of the relevant
local government.
(3) Municipality local governments may group together for the
fulfilment of one or several functions in the field of education,
mutually agreeing upon the financing procedures.
[13 November 2008 / The new wording of Section shall
come into force on 1 July 2009. See Transitional
Provisions]
Section 19. Education Support
Institution
(1) An education support institution is an institution founded
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) Education support may also be provided by such legal
persons in the by-laws (articles of association) of which
provision of education support is included as one of the types of
activity.
Section 19.1 [Section shall come into
force on 1 September 2021 and shall be included in the wording of
the Law as of 1 September 2021. See Paragraph 78 of
Transitional Provisions]
Section 20. State Education Quality
Service
(1) Conformity with this Law, the General Education Law, the
Vocational Education Law, the Law on Higher Education
Institutions, and other laws and regulations related to education
shall be controlled by the State Education Quality Service.
(2) The State Education Quality Service is an institution
subordinate the Ministry of Education and Science. Its operations
are governed by the by-laws approved by the Cabinet.
(3) The State Education Quality Service shall:
1) control the conformity of the education process with this
Law, other laws and regulatory enactments governing
education;
2) analyse the activities of educational institutions, develop
proposals for amendments to laws and regulations and for
improving the work of educational institutions;
3) in cases when a violation of laws or other regulatory
enactments has been established, make proposal to the employer to
impose disciplinary sanctions for the head of an educational
institution or the teacher, or terminate the employment contract
concluded with him or her;
4) impose administrative sanctions in accordance with the
procedures and in the cases laid down in law;
5) in cases when the health or life of the educatees is in
danger, as well as for other violations of the law, temporarily,
while the founder of the educational institution has not examined
the relevant matter and taken a decision, suspend the orders of
officials and suspend officials from the fulfilment of duties.
Appeal of the decision of the State Education Quality Service to
suspend an official or teacher from the fulfilment of duties
shall not suspend its execution;
6) issue certificates for the commencement of a private
practice of a teacher, as well as extend their term of validity
or cancel them in accordance with the procedures laid down by the
Cabinet.
(4) The head of the State Education Quality Service and
officials of the Service authorised thereby have the right
to:
1) without prior notification, upon presenting a service
identification document, visit the premises of any educational
institution and other premises which are related to the course of
the education process;
2) request written or oral explanations from any legal or
natural person regarding issues within the competence of the
Service;
3) request and receive from legal and natural persons
information necessary for the fulfilment of service duties and
copies of documents regarding issues within the competence of the
Service;
4) perform an inspection, where necessary, by inviting
employees of law enforcement institutions or other specialists,
to photograph, make audio recordings and video recordings within
the competence of the Service;
5) draw up the inspection statement and order to eliminate the
violations of the laws and regulations related to education found
during the inspection;
6) draw up a report on an administrative violation.
[5 February 2004; 16 June 2009; 5 May 2016; 23 November
2016]
Section 21. Public Participation in
Education
(1) The public shall participate in the organisation and
development of education by popularising all forms of education,
educating and promoting improvement in the quality of education,
creating educational programmes, protecting the rights and
interests of educatees and teachers during the process of
acquisition of education and work, developing educational
institutions and education support institutions, associations and
foundations.
(2) State and local government education administration
institutions shall provide the information, consultations, and
methodological assistance necessary for the fulfilment of the
tasks referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.
(3) In order to ensure the education administration and
education support function specified thereto, the Ministry of
Education and Science may delegate the fulfilment of the relevant
tasks (including organisation of the accreditation of higher
education programmes and higher education institutions and
colleges) to a private individual or a public person by entering
into a delegation contract.
(4) The delegation contracts referred to in Paragraph three of
this Section may include the right to issue administrative
deeds.
[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]
Chapter
III
Educational Institutions
Section 22. Legal Basis for the
Activity of Educational Institutions
(1) State, local government educational institutions,
secondary education institutions of State higher education
institutions, and private educational institutions, except for
commercial companies and higher education institutions, shall act
on the basis of this Law, other laws and regulatory enactments,
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 for higher education institutions, 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 their founders.
(3) Higher education institutions shall act on the basis of
this Law, the Law on Higher Education Institutions and other laws
and regulations, as well as the constitution of the relevant
higher education institution. The constitutions of higher
education institutions shall be approved in accordance with the
procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education
Institutions.
(4) Colleges shall act on the basis of this Law, the Law on
Higher Education Institutions and other laws and regulations, as
well as the by-laws of the relevant college. The by-laws of
colleges shall be issued in accordance with the procedures laid
down in the Law on Higher Education Institutions.
[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]
Section 23. Procedures for the
Foundation, Reorganisation, and Liquidation of Educational
Institutions
(1) State educational institutions shall be founded,
reorganised, and liquidated by the Cabinet upon proposal by the
Minister for Education and Science or the Minister for another
sector.
(2) Local government educational institutions shall be
founded, reorganised, and liquidated by local governments,
agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Education and Science or
the relevant sectoral ministry and the Ministry of Education and
Science.
(21) Secondary education institutions of State
higher education institutions shall be founded, reorganised, and
liquidated by State higher education institutions (except for the
National Defence Academy of Latvia), agreeing thereupon with the
Ministry of Education and Science.
(3) Private educational institutions shall be founded,
reorganised, and liquidated by legal and natural persons. The
State and local governments may participate in the foundation of
private commercial companies.
(4) A foreign legal person may found, reorganise, and
liquidate an educational institution in accordance with this Law
and other laws, as well as international agreements.
(5) The relevant authorities and persons shall be informed of
the liquidation or reorganisation of an educational institution
not later than six months in advance. If such deadline cannot be
met due to objective reasons, the relevant authorities and
persons shall be informed of the liquidation or reorganisation of
the educational institution not later than three months in
advance.
[20 September 2001; 4 March 2010; 18 June 2015; 20
September 2018]
Section 24. Register of Educational
Institutions and the Documents Necessary for Registration
(1) Each educational institution shall, within a month from
the day of founding the institution, submit an application for
the registration of the educational institution in the Register
of Educational Institutions. The Register of Educational
Institutions is a component of the State Education Information
System, and it shall be maintained by the authority stipulated by
the Cabinet. Higher education institutions shall be registered in
the Register of Educational Institutions in accordance with the
procedures laid down in the Law on Higher Education
Institutions.
(2) The following information shall be included in the
Register of Educational Institutions:
1) the name of the educational institution, its legal address,
the address of the place where the educational programme is
implemented;
2) the founder of the educational institution, the legal
status of the educational institution;
3) the date when the decision to found the educational
institution or to commence the educational activity was taken,
the level and type of education in which the educational
programme is being implemented;
4) the head of the educational institution;
5) the area and technical equipment of the premises of the
educational institution, their conformity with the construction,
safety, and hygiene requirements;
6) the sources of and procedures for the financing of the
educational institution;
7) the registration date of the educational institution;
8) information regarding the reorganisation, termination of
operation (liquidation), and exclusion of the educational
institution from the Register of Educational Institutions;
9) the date of approval of the regulatory enactment (by-laws)
governing the operation of the educational institution;
10) other information if such information is directly provided
for by the Law.
(3) The founder of the institution shall ensure the
registration of the educational institution. The application for
the registration of the educational institution shall be
submitted by a person authorised by the founder. (3) The by-laws
for the operation of the educational institution which have been
approved by the founder of the educational institution and the
documents certifying the information to be indicated in the
Register of Educational Institutions must be appended to the
application for the registration of the educational institution.
The documents certifying the conformity of the resources of the
college (for example, financial resources, material technical and
information base, academic personnel) with the criteria specified
by the Cabinet for the commencement of the operation of the
college must be additionally appended to the application for the
registration of a college.
(4) Within a month from the date of submission of the
documents referred to in Paragraph three of this Section, the
educational institution shall be entered in the Register of
Educational Institutions.
(5) The decision to reorganise or liquidate an educational
institution shall be notified to the Register of Educational
Institution within 10 days.
(6) The information included in the Register of Educational
Institutions is available to everyone free of charge.
[5 May 2016; 20 September 2018]
Section 25. Commencement of the
Activity of an Educational Institution
(1) An educational institution is entitled to commence the
implementation of educational programmes in accordance with the
procedures laid down in laws and regulations from the day when it
has been registered in the Register of Educational Institutions.
The day of the notification of an administrative deed shall also
be considered as the day when the educational institution was
registered.
(2) An educational institution implementing an educational
programme to be licensed as specified in this Law is entitled to
enrol educatees only after licensing of the educational
programme. This provision shall not apply to the educational
institutions referred to in Section 47, Paragraph two of this
Law.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 20 September 2018]
Section 26. Name of an Educational
Institution
(1) The name of an educational institution and of a unit of an
educational institution must conform to the names of levels and
types of education specified in this Law.
(2) The name of an educational institution must clearly and
definitely differ from other names of educational institutions
already registered in the Register of Educational
Institutions.
(3) The name of an educational institution shall be in the
official language.
(4) An educational institution is entitled, according to the
historical traditions thereof and with the permission of the
Minister for Education and Science, to use another name which is
not in contradiction with this Law and other laws and
regulations.
[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]
Section 27. Accreditation of
Educational Institutions
(1) Educational institutions, except for those which implement
only interest-related education programmes, shall be accredited
in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.
Educational institutions implementing basic and secondary level
education programmes shall be accredited for six years in
accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.
Accreditation has to be done within five years from the day when
the educational institution commences its activities.
(2) If significant violations of laws and regulations are
established in the operation of an educational institution, the
authority which decides on the accreditation of the educational
institution may, upon a proposal of the founder of the
educational institution or the Ministry of Education and Science,
take the decision on the extraordinary accreditation of the
educational institution.
(3) Paragraph two of this Section shall not apply to higher
education institutions and colleges.
[4 March 2010; 23 November 2016]
Section 28. Independence of
Educational Institutions
Educational institutions shall have independence in the
development and implementation of educational programmes,
selection of employees, financial, economic and other activities
in accordance with this Law, other laws and regulatory
enactments, and the by-laws or constitution of the educational
institution.
[5 February 2004]
Section 29. Competence of the
Founder of an Educational Institution
The founder of an educational institution shall provide the
financial and material resources necessary for continuous
operation of the educational institution in conformity with the
Cabinet regulations regarding the financial and material support
of educational institutions.
[5 February 2004]
Section 30. Head of an Educational
Institution
(1) The head of an educational institution shall be
responsible for the operation of the educational institution and
results thereof, for conformity with this Law and other
regulatory enactments governing the operation of educational
institutions, as well as for the rational use of intellectual,
financial and material resources.
(2) The head of the educational institution shall decide
independently, within the scope of his or her authority, on the
use of the intellectual, financial and material resources of the
educational institution, and shall specify remuneration for the
employees of the educational institution which shall not be lower
than the work remuneration specified by the Cabinet.
(3) The head of the educational institution has an obligation
to ensure the creation and operation of a council of the
educational institution. The head of the educational institution
shall, once an academic year, provide a report to the council on
education process and its results, as well as on the conditions
of organising work in the educational institution. These
provisions shall not apply to a higher education institution.
(31) The head of the educational institution has an
obligation to ensure access for the educational institution to
the library, information and career development support
services.
(32) The head of the educational institution has an
obligation to organise the assessment of the quality of the
professional activity of teachers.
(33) The head of the educational institution shall,
in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet,
ascertain whether the person is subject to the restrictions
specified in Section 50, Paragraph one of this Law to work as a
teacher.
(4) A person who has impeccable reputation, who is loyal to
the Republic of Latvia and its Constitution, inter alia, does not
violate the prohibition of discrimination and differential
treatment towards a person, who has the relevant education and
the necessary professional qualification is entitled to work as
the head of the educational institution. A person who has a
higher pedagogical education or a higher and pedagogical
education, as well as a person who has a higher education and is
acquiring a pedagogical education is entitled to work as the head
of a general basic or general secondary education
institution.
(41) The professional activity of the heads of
educational institutions (except for higher education
institutions and colleges) shall be assessed in accordance with
the procedures specified by the Cabinet at least once in six
years. The suitability of the head of the educational institution
for the position to be held shall be decided based on the
assessment results. If the professional activity of the head of
the educational institution has been assessed as unsatisfactory,
the person is prohibited from holding the position of the head of
the educational institution. The assessment results may be taken
into account upon determining bonuses and gratuities for the head
of the educational institution.
(5) The designations of heads of educational institutions
shall be as follows:
1) head - at pre-school education institutions;
2) director - at basic and secondary education institutions,
colleges, vocationally oriented education institutions,
interest-related education institutions;
3) rector - at higher education institutions.
(6) If the State Education Quality Service or the employer
finds non-conformity of the head of the educational institution
or his or her actions with the requirements laid down in
Paragraph four of this Section or Section 51, Paragraph one,
Clause 2.1 of this Law, the person is prohibited from
holding the position of the head of the educational
institution.
[10 May 2001; 5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 5 February
2004; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 23
November 2016; 27 July 2017; 22 March 2018; 30 May 2019]
Section 31. Council of an
Educational Institution
(1) The council of an educational institution is a collegial
institution of a pre-school, basic education, secondary education
or vocationally oriented education institution in which the
following persons are engaged:
1) representatives delegated by educatees, except for
educatees in pre-school education programmes;
2) representatives delegated by parents of educatees (persons
who exercise custody);
3) representatives delegated by teachers and other employees
of the educational institution.
(2) Representatives of parents (persons who exercise custody)
shall be in majority in the council of an educational
institution. Representatives of parents (persons who exercise
custody) shall be elected by a meeting of parents of the
educational institution by majority of votes. An employee of the
educational institution may not be delegated in the council as a
representative of parents (persons who exercise custody). The
head of the council of the educational institution shall be
elected from amongst parents (persons who exercise custody). The
head of the educational institution and a representative of the
founder of the educational institution may be included in the
composition of the council.
(21) The first sentence of Paragraph two of this
Section shall not be applied in the operation of the council of
an educational institution and social correction education
institution subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, and they have
the right not to apply Paragraph one, Clause 2 and the fourth
sentence of Paragraph two of this Section.
(3) The council of an educational institution:
1) shall provide proposals for the development of the
educational institution;
2) shall participate in the discussion of the educational
process and its results 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 for the work organisation of the institution, budget
allocation, and implementation of educational programmes;
5) is entitled to decide on which individual learning
accessories referred to in Section 1, Clause 12.5,
Sub-clause "k" of this Law shall be ensured by parents of
educatees (persons who exercise custody);
51) shall decide on the conformity of the methods
and information to be used in the learning and upbringing
process, including teaching aids and materials, with the ensuring
of moral development of an educatee included in the purpose of
this Law, as well as the the guidelines of moral upbringing;
6) shall address the organisational issues within its
competence, including issues related to events organised by the
educational institution;
7) shall facilitate co-operation between the educational
institution and society;
8) shall inform of its activities and taken decisions in
accordance with the procedures laid down in the regulatory
enactment governing the work of the council of the educational
institution;
9) is entitled to create interest groups and institutions [of
parents (persons who exercise custody), educatees], involving
educatees and their parents (persons who exercise custody) of the
respective educational institution therein;
10) shall fulfil other obligations specified in the regulatory
enactment governing the work of the council of the educational
institution and in other laws and regulations.
(4) The council of the educational institution shall operate
in accordance with the regulatory enactment governing operation
of the council of the educational institution which is issued by
the council itself, coordinating it with the head of the
educational institution.
[9 July 2013; 18 June 2015; 20 September 2018]
Chapter
IV
Guidelines for State Pre-school Education, State Education
Standards and Educational Programmes
[1 December 2009]
Section 32. State Education
Standard
(1) The State education standard is a document which specifies
the following according to the level and type of education and
the target group:
1) the strategic objectives and the principal tasks of
educational programmes;
2) the compulsory content of education;
3) the basic principles and procedures for the assessment of
the education acquired by an educatee.
(2) Conformity with the State education standard is compulsory
for each legal and natural person who develops and implements the
relevant educational programme.
(3) The State education standard shall include model
educational programmes corresponding to the requirements of the
respective education standard, except for model vocational
education programmes and model academic education programmes.
[15 March 2012; 9 July 2013]
Section 33. Educational
Programmes
(1) An educational programme is a document governing
educational activities of an educational institution or another
authority specified in this Law by which, according to the level
and type of education, the target group, and the State education
standard or the guidelines for the State pre-school education,
the following shall be determined:
1) the objectives, tasks, and planned results of the
educational programme;
2) the requirements for the previous education of educatees
(except for pre-school education programmes);
3) the education content as a single unit of the contents of
subjects or courses (except for pre-school education
programmes);
4) the plan for the implementation of the educational
programme;
5) evaluation of the personnel, funds, and material resources
necessary for the implementation of the educational programme in
accordance with the Cabinet regulations regarding the minimum
costs for the implementation of educational programmes per one
educatee.
(2) Educational programmes shall be developed by an
educational institution according to the guidelines for the State
pre-school education or the State education standards and norms,
agreeing thereupon with the founder of the institution.
(3) An educational programme shall be accredited in accordance
with the procedures specified by the Cabinet within two years
from the day of commencement of its implementation, and not less
than once in six years. If significant violations of laws and
regulations are established in the implementation of the
educational programme, the authority which decides on the
accreditation of the educational programme may, on the basis of a
proposal of the founder of the educational institution or the
Ministry of Education and Science, take the decision on
extraordinary accreditation of the educational programme.
(4) Paragraph three of this Section shall not apply to higher
education institutions and colleges.
[11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 5 February 2004; 1 December
2009; 9 July 2013; 23 November 2016]
Section 34. Subject or Course
Programmes
(1) Programmes for subjects or courses may be developed or
selected by the teachers implementing such programmes according
to the educational programme.
(2) The head of the educational institution shall approve a
programme for subjects or courses.
Section 35. Assessment of the
Acquired Education
(1) The basic principles for the assessment of the acquired
education shall be specified in the guidelines for the State
pre-school education, the basic criteria and procedures shall be
specified in the State education standards.
(2) Acquisition of education under accredited educational
programmes at an educational institution shall end with State
examinations.
(3) The procedures for the acquisition of professional
qualification shall be determined by the Vocational Education Law
and the Law on Higher Education Institutions.
(4) Assessment of the acquired academic education shall take
place in accordance with the Law on Higher Education
Institutions.
[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010]
Section 35.1 State
Examination Information System
(1) The State Examination Information System is a State
information system in which information regarding State
examinations in general education programmes, including
information regarding examinations of an international testing
authority in a foreign language, information regarding State
examinations in vocational education programmes, except for the
first and second level vocational higher education programmes, as
well as information regarding examinations of the proficiency in
the official language is entered.
(2) Information regarding educational institutions in which
State examinations are taken, regarding persons who must take
State examinations, and regarding persons who have ensured the
examination process, regarding tasks and assessments of State
examinations, as well as information regarding documents
certifying the results of State examinations shall be entered in
the State Examination Information System.
(3) If an examination of an international testing institution
included in the list of the Cabinet has been passed in a foreign
language and it replaces the State examination in a foreign
language in a general secondary education programme or vocational
secondary education programme, information regarding the
authority in which the examination of an international testing
institution was taken and regarding the results of such
examination shall be entered in the State Examination Information
System.
(4) The information referred to in Paragraph two of this
Section shall be entered in the State Examination Information
System regarding examinations of the proficiency in the official
language.
(5) The data of the State Examination Information System shall
be accessible in the cases specified in laws and regulations.
(6) The amount of the information to be entered in the State
Examination Information System, the procedures for the inclusion
of information therein, as well as the procedures for ensuring
access to the data included in such system shall be determined by
the Cabinet.
[21 March 2019 / See Paragraphs 85 and 86 of
Transitional Provisions]
Part V
Types of Educational Programmes and Their Implementation
Section 36. Implementation of
Educational Programmes
(1) Educational programmes are implemented at an educational
institution, association, foundation, craftsperson workshop,
studio or unit of the National Armed Forces the tasks of which
include implementation of adult education programmes.
Implementation of an educational programme must be commenced
within one year from the day of its licensing.
(11) If an educational programme corresponding to
the sample of the educational programme specified by the Cabinet
is to be licensed, the educational institution shall enter
information thereon in the State Education Information System. An
educational programme shall be considered licensed if, in
accordance with the procedures for the licensing of educational
programmes specified by the Cabinet, there are no grounds for
taking the decision to refuse to licence the educational
programme.
(2) An educational institution is entitled to implement
several educational programmes.
(3) Educational programmes shall be implemented in conditions
that are safe for the life and health of a person.
[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013; 5 May 2016; 20 September
2018]
Section 37. Implementation of
Educational Programmes in Respect of Time
(1) Educational programmes shall have a specific
implementation period.
(2) The educational work units of time shall be the academic
or scholastic year, semester, study week, study day and study
lesson (academic hour).
Section 38. Types of Educational
Programmes
(1) The types of educational programmes shall be as
follows:
1) general education programmes;
2) vocational education programmes;
3) academic education programmes;
4) further education programmes;
5) interest-related educational programmes.
(2) The specific types of educational programmes shall be as
follows:
1) educational programmes for ethnic minorities;
2) special education programmes;
3) social correction education programmes;
4) adult education programmes;
5) vocationally oriented education programmes;
6) international baccalaureate programmes.
(3) A detailed classification of educational programmes shall
be specified by the Classifier of Educational Programmes approved
by the Ministry of Education and Science.
[5 July 2001; 20 September 2018]
Section 39. Register of Educational
Programmes
(1) Data on all licensed and accredited educational programmes
shall be entered in the Register of Educational Programmes, which
is a component of the State Education Information System, within
one month after licensing or accreditation of a programme.
(2) The Register of Educational Programmes shall be accessible
to any person free of charge (also on the Internet). The list of
the licensed and accredited educational programmes shall be
published once a year not later than by 1 March.
[4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 20 September 2018]
Section 40. General Education
Programmes
(1) General education programmes shall ensure the overall
development of mental and physical capabilities of educatees and
prepare them for the continuation of education, for work, and for
life in society.
(2) The General Education Law shall determine the procedures
for the implementation of general education programmes. General
education programmes and programmes of special types shall be
licensed in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet.
[11 May 2000; 15 March 2012; 20 September 2018]
Section 41. Educational Programmes
for Ethnic Minorities
(1) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall be
developed by an educational institution selecting any of the
model educational programmes included in the guidelines for the
State pre-school education or State basic education standard.
(11) From grades 1 to 6 in educational programmes
for ethnic minorities, the acquisition of learning content in the
official language shall be ensured in the amount of not less than
50 per cent of the total lesson load in an academic year,
including foreign languages.
(12) From grades 7 to 9 in educational programmes
for ethnic minorities, the acquisition of learning content in the
official language shall be ensured in the amount of not less than
80 per cent of the total lesson load in an academic year,
including foreign languages.
(2) Educational programmes for ethnic minorities shall
additionally include the content necessary for the acquisition of
the relevant ethnic culture and integration of ethnic minorities
in Latvia.
(3) [15 March 2012]
[1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 22 March
2018 / Amendments to Paragraph one regarding the
replacement of the words "in the respective State education
standard" with the words "in the State basic education standard"
and regarding the supplementation of the Section with Paragraphs
1.1 and 1.2 in relation to the
implementation of pre-school education programmes and the
implementation of basic education programmes in grades 1-7 shall
come into force on 1 September 2019, in relation to the
implementation of basic education programmes in grade 8 and the
implementation of secondary education programmes in grades 10 and
11 shall come into force on 1 September 2020, and in relation to
the implementation of basic education programmes in grade 9 and
the implementation of secondary education programmes in grade 12
shall come into force on 1 September 2021. See Paragraph
66 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 42. Special Education
Programmes
(1) A person with special needs may acquire special education
at an educational institution if it provides the possibilities
for such person to acquire an education corresponding to the
health condition and the nature of developmental disorders.
(2) Special education programmes shall be implemented, taking
into account the health condition of the educatee.
(3) The General Education Law, the Vocational Education Law,
and other laws shall determine the procedures for the
implementation of special education programmes.
[5 July 2001]
Section 43. Social Correction
Education Programmes
(1) Social correction education programmes are undergone by
persons with socially deviant behaviour.
(2) Social correction education programmes shall be
implemented at social correction education institutions.
[20 September 2018]
Section 44. Vocational Education
Programmes
(1) Vocational education programmes shall ensure the
development of the mental and physical capacities of educatees,
and also their practical and theoretical preparation for
professional practice in a particular profession and for life in
society.
(2) The Vocational Education Law and the Law on Higher
Education Institutions shall determine the procedures for the
implementation of vocational education programmes. Vocational
education programmes shall be licensed in accordance with the
procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.
[11 May 2000; 20 September 2018]
Section 45. Academic Education
Programmes
(1) Academic education or study programmes shall be
implemented by higher education institutions.
(2) The procedures for the implementation of academic
education programmes shall be determined in the Law on Higher
Education Institutions. Academic education programmes shall be
licensed in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the
Cabinet.
[11 May 2000; 20 September 2018]
Section 46. Adult Education
Programmes
(1) Adult education may be offered in formal and non-formal
educational programmes.
(2) The procedures for the implementation of formal adult
education programmes shall be determined in this Law, the
Vocational Education Law, the Law on Higher Education
Institutions, and other laws and regulations.
(3) Non-formal adult education programmes shall lay down the
content of such education and the conformity thereof with the
interests of the State and employers, as well as individual
development, and adults have the right to undertake the
completion of such programmes throughout their lives regardless
of the previous 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
education programmes are entitled to implement non-formal adult
education programmes without obtaining a licence, but other legal
and natural persons which are not registered in the Register of
Educational Institutions - after receipt of a licence from a
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 level of education shall
not be required for its commencement.
(2) Educational institutions are entitled to implement
interest-related educational programmes without the receipt of a
licence.
(3) After receipt of the relevant licence from a local
government, other legal persons and natural persons not
registered in the Register of Educational Institutions are also
entitled to implement interest-related educational
programmes.
(4) [11 May 2000]
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010]
Section 47.1 Vocationally
Oriented Education Programmes
(1) Vocationally oriented education is voluntary. Vocationally
oriented education programmes shall be developed by an
educational institution.
(2) The procedures for the implementation of vocationally
oriented education programmes shall be determined in the
Vocational Education Law. Vocationally oriented education
programmes shall be licensed in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Cabinet.
[5 July 2001; 20 September 2001; 4 March 2010; 20 September
2018]
Section 47.2
International Baccalaureate Programmes
International baccalaureate programmes are educational
programmes developed by the International Baccalaureate within
the scope of which specific subjects or courses are completed in
a foreign language. The abovementioned programmes shall be
considered as licensed and accredited after the International
Baccalaureate has authorised the educational institution to
implement such programmes. An educational institution shall
implement the international baccalaureate programmes concurrently
with general education programmes.
[20 September 2018]
Chapter
VI
Teachers and Educatees
Section 48. Right to Work as a
Teacher
(1) A person who has pedagogical education or who is acquiring
pedagogical education conforming to the professional
qualification requirements specified by the Cabinet has the right
to work as a teacher. These requirements shall not apply to
non-formal adult education.
(2) A certificate must be obtained at the State Service of
Education Quality for the commencement of a private practice of a
teacher.
(3) All teachers working at educational institutions and
private practices are registered in the Register of Teachers. The
Register of Teachers is a component of the State Education
Information System.
(4) The requirements for education and qualification of
teachers of higher education institutions and colleges shall be
determined in the Law on Higher Education Institutions.
(5) A person who is loyal to the Republic of Latvia and its
Constitution, inter alia, does not violate the prohibition of
discrimination and differential treatment towards a person, has
the right to work as a teacher.
(6) It is prohibited to hold the position of a teacher if the
State Education Quality Service has established in accordance
with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations a
non-conformity of the teacher or his or her actions with the
requirements laid down in Section 30, Paragraph four, Paragraphs
one and five of this Section, or Section 51, Paragraph one,
Clause 2.1 of this Law.
[11 May 2000; 16 June 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 18
June 2015; 23 November 2016]
Section 49. Acquisition of Education
and Professional Qualifications and Improvement of Professional
Competence of Teachers
(1) The education necessary for working as a teacher shall be
acquired at educational institutions implementing 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
implementing relevant further educational programmes.
(4) [11 May 2000]
[11 May 2000; 9 July 2013]
Section 49.1 Assessment
of the Quality of the Professional Activity of Teachers
(1) A teacher whose pedagogical experience is not less than
one year and who participates in the implementation of general
education programmes, including general education programmes for
the level of pre-school education, and vocational education
programmes for the level of basic or secondary education, in the
implementation of vocationally oriented education or
interest-related education programmes, has the right to request
the assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a
teacher.
(2) The quality of the professional activity of a teacher
shall be assessed by a commission established by the head of an
educational institution in conformity with the criteria for the
assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a
teacher. Such criteria shall be developed by the educational
institution according to the directions for the assessment of the
quality of the professional activity of a teacher and the list of
quality levels specified by the Cabinet.
(3) On the basis of the assessment of the quality of the
professional activity of a teacher, one of three quality levels
of the professional activity of a teacher may be awarded to the
teacher. The head of the educational institution shall decide on
the awarding of the relevant quality level of the professional
activity of a teacher or the refusal to award it within nine
months from the day of receipt of an application of the teacher.
The head of the educational institution shall take the decision
on the basis of a proposal of the commission. The quality level
of the professional activity of a teacher shall be awarded for
one, two, or three years.
(31) The head of the educational institution has
the right to take the decision to withdraw the quality level of
the professional activity of a teacher if a non-conformity of the
actions of the teacher with the general obligations of a teacher
referred to in Section 51 of this Law and the criteria for the
assessment of the quality of the professional activity of a
teacher is established.
(32) A teacher is entitled to submit an application
for repeat assessment of the quality of the professional activity
of a teacher not earlier than a year before the end of the term
of validity of the quality level.
(4) The conditions of this Section shall not apply to teachers
who participate in the implementation of higher education
programmes in colleges and higher education institutions.
[9 July 2013; 23 November 2016; 27 July 2017 / See
Paragraphs 56 and 57 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 50. Restrictions on Working
as a Teacher
(1) The following persons may not work as teachers:
1) a person who has been punished for committing an
intentional criminal offence (regardless of the criminal record
having been set aside or extinguished), except when after setting
aside or extinguishing the criminal record the State Education
Quality Service has evaluated whether it does not harm the
interests of educatees and has permitted that such person works
as a teacher. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which
the head of an educational institution shall ascertain whether
the person has restrictions to work as a teacher, as well as the
procedures for the evaluation whether the permission for such
person to work as a teacher will not harm the interests of
educatees;
2) a person whose capacity to act is limited in accordance
with procedures laid down in laws and regulations;
3) in State or local government educational institutions, as
well as secondary education institution of State higher education
institutions - a person who does not have a document issued in
accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet that
certifies the proficiency in the official language at the highest
level, except for the academic personnel of higher education
institutions - citizens of other countries and stateless persons
who are participating in the implementation of specific
educational programmes on the basis of an international
agreement;
4) a person who has been deprived, by a court decision, of the
right of custody;
5) a person who has been removed from the position of a
teacher if a non-conformity with the requirements laid down in
Section 30, Paragraph four, Section 48, Paragraph five, or
Section 51, Paragraph one, Clause 2.1 of this Law has
been found in his or her action in accordance with the procedures
laid down in laws and regulations and one year has not passed
since termination of employment legal relationship.
(2) Upon evaluating whether the permission for the person
referred to in Paragraph one of this Section to work as a teacher
will not harm the interests of educatees, the State Education
Quality Service is entitled to process the personal data
referring to criminal offences, criminal record in criminal cases
and cases of administrative violations, as well as to materials
of court rulings or court cases.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 5 July 2012; 18 June 2015; 23
November 2016; judgment of the Constitutional Court of 24
November 2017; 20 September 2018; 30 May 2019]
Section 51. General Obligations of a
Teacher
(1) The general obligations of a teacher in the educational
process shall be as follows:
1) to participate creatively in the implementation of the
relevant educational programmes with due responsibility;
2) to shape responsible attitude of an educatee towards
himself or herself, others, work, culture, nature;
21) to raise decent, honest, responsible human
beings - patriots of Latvia, to strengthen the belonging to the
Republic of Latvia;
3) to conform to the norms of pedagogical professional
ethics;
4) to improve their professional competence;
5) to respect the rights of an educatee;
6) to co-operate with the family of an educatee in educational
matters;
7) to participate in the improvement of education process and
in the council of an educational institution;
8) to fulfil other obligations laid down in laws and
regulations.
(2) Teachers of educational institutions shall be responsible
for their work, the methods, techniques, and results thereof.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 15 March 2012; 9 July 2013; 23
November 2016]
Section 52. Rights of Teachers
(1) Teachers have the following rights:
1) to participate in the council of an educational
institution;
2) to receive a State-guaranteed annual paid vacation of eight
weeks;
3) on the basis of a contract for the development of teaching
aids, to receive a paid leave of absence for creative work for up
to three months, or an unpaid leave of absence for up to six
months, in accordance with procedures specified by the
Cabinet;
4) to spend 30 calendar days in a three year period for his or
her professional skill improvement, retaining the basic salary at
the educational institution in which the teacher has principal
employment;
5) to receive and use the informative and material provisions
necessary for the implementation of an educational programme;
6) to receive public support for the implementation of an
educational programme;
7) to receive a benefit from the financial resources of the
founder of the educational institution due to death of a family
member (spouse, child, parents, grandparents, adopter or adoptee,
brother or sister) in the amount of not more than one minimum
monthly salary.
(11) Where external regulatory enactments do not
specify otherwise, State and local government educational
institutions and educational institutions of State higher
education institutions may specify the following additional
remuneration for a teacher from the financial resources of the
founder and the financial resources referred to in Section 59,
Paragraph four of this Law:
1) a benefit in the amount of up to 50 per cent of the monthly
salary once in a calendar year for each dependent disabled child
up to 18 years of age;
2) health insurance. The health insurance premium may not
exceed half of the amount specified in the laws and regulations
regarding personal income tax. If the insurance premium exceeds
the abovementioned amount, the teacher shall cover the difference
of the premium.
(12) The restriction specified in Paragraph one,
Clause 7 of this Section in relation to the amount of the benefit
shall not apply to private educational institutions.
(2) A teacher of general basic education and general secondary
education of a general education institution founded by a local
government who has less than three years left until the
attainment of the retirement age in accordance with the Law on
State Pensions and the total length of employment of the teacher
in State and local government educational institutions
implementing general education programmes is at least 25 years,
including the last five years prior to the liquidation or
reorganisation of an educational institution have been worked at
a local government educational institution implementing general
basic or general secondary education programmes, and who loses
employment in case of reorganisation or liquidation of an
educational institution and henceforth does not earn income from
paid employment, commercial activity, or economic activity,
regardless of his or her financial situation, has the right to
receive State social support up to the amount of the average
earnings of six months in accordance with the procedures
specified by the Cabinet.
(3) A teacher whom the State old-age pension has been granted
or who receives unemployment benefit in accordance with the law
On Unemployment Insurance shall not receive the State social
support referred to in Paragraph two of this Section.
(4) State social mandatory insurance payments for pension and
unemployment insurance from the State basic budget resources
allocated for such purpose are made from the State social support
referred to in Paragraph two of this Section. The Cabinet shall
determine the procedures by which State social mandatory
insurance payments for pension and unemployment insurance shall
be made and registered.
[11 May 2000; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 22 November 2017;
22 March 2018 / Clause 7 of Paragraph one shall come into
force on 1 September 2019. Paragraphs two, three, and four
shall be in force until 31 December 2020. See Paragraphs
62 and 73 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 53. Work Remuneration of a
Teacher
(1) The monthly salary for a teacher shall be determined
according to the rate of the monthly salary which is not lower
than the rate specified by the Cabinet and the workload. When
determining the monthly salary, the duration of employment of the
teacher may also be taken into account in accordance with the
Cabinet regulations regarding the procedures for the payment of
work remuneration of teachers and the amount thereof, as well as
the professional qualification of a teacher.
(2) A supplement to the monthly salary in the amount specified
by the head of an educational institution shall be established
for a teacher whom a quality level of professional activity has
been awarded, taking into account the financial resources at the
disposal of the educational institution for such purpose. The
quality level shall be taken into account in the educational
institution where the quality of the professional activity of the
teacher was assessed.
(3) The work salary for one full-time workload for a teacher
shall be not less than the work salary specified in the schedule
for increase in work remuneration of teachers approved by the
Cabinet in the relevant period of time.
[27 July 2017]
Section 54. Obligations of an
Educatee
An educatee has the following obligations:
1) to complete the basic education programme;
2) to comply with the by-laws or the constitution and the
internal regulatory enactments of the educational institution and
not discredit the educational institution by his or her
behaviour;
3) to treat the State of Latvia, the Constitution, history,
society, State symbols thereof and the Latvian language with
respect;
4) to respect the rights and interests of teachers, educatees,
and other persons;
5) to prevent emotional and physical violence;
6) not to endanger the health, safety, and life of himself or
herself or of other persons;
7) to be polite at an educational institution and outside of
it;
8) to be in an educational institution in clothing that
corresponds to the internal regulatory enactments, including
internal procedure regulations;
9) to participate in the cleaning up and orderly arrangement
of the environment of an educational institution.
[4 March 2010; 18 June 2015]
Section 55. Rights of an
Educatee
An educatee has the following rights:
1) to the acquisition of pre-school education, basic
education, and secondary education paid by the State or local
government;
2) to freely express and defend his or her views and opinions
during the educational and upbringing process, not insulting the
dignity and honour of other persons;
3) to use the premises, laboratories, equipment, devices,
cultural, sports and medical objects and inventory, schoolbooks,
other literature necessary for the learning process, teaching
aids and electronic teaching resources of an educational
institution, as well as to receive library, information and
career development support services during the learning process
in accordance with the procedures laid down in the internal
regulatory enactments, including internal procedure
regulations;
4) to receive scholarships, credits, benefits, discounts, as
well as grants for the use of public transport in accordance with
the procedures laid down in laws and regulations and material
assistance of another type;
5) to receive preventive health care, except for the
preventive examinations included in the preventive examination
programme provided for in the laws and regulations regarding
organisation and financing of health care, and emergency medical
assistance at the educational institution and the organised
events thereof;
6) to participate in the improvement of learning process and
in the council of the educational institution;
7) to the protection of belongings at the educational
institution;
8) to safe circumstances for life and health at an educational
institution and the organised events thereof;
9) to exercise other rights laid down in laws and
regulations.
[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June 2015]
Section 56. Rights of an Orphan and
Child Left without Parental Care to Acquisition and Improvement
of Education
(1) An orphan and a child left without parental care have the
right to acquire education at any State or local government
educational institution.
(2) An orphan and a child left without parental care shall be
educated in the official language. The orphan and the child left
without parental care shall continue their education in the
official language or the language in which it has been commenced
in a Latvian State or local government educational
institution.
(3) Minor orphans and children left without parental care who
are members of the same family shall be educated at the same
general basic education institution and shall not be separated,
except when one of them is placed in a special education
institution, class, or social correction education institution or
it is in the interests of the children to be educated at
different educational institutions.
[2 February 2004; 4 March 2010; 20 September 2018]
Section 57. Rights of Parents
(Persons who Exercise Custody) in the Provision of Education of a
Child
Parents (persons who exercise custody) have the following
rights:
1) to choose the educational institution in which the child
will acquire education;
2) to participate in the improvement of the learning process
and in the council of the educational institution;
3) to conclude a contract with the educational institution for
the education of and care for the child at the educational
institution;
4) to provide and receive information regarding issues related
to the upbringing and teaching of the child;
5) to propose the performance of inspections at the
educational institution;
6) to exercise other rights laid down in laws and regulations
for the provision of the education of the child.
[4 March 2010; 9 July 2013]
Section 58. Obligations of Parents
(Persons who Exercise Custody)
(1) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have the following
obligations:
1) within the scope of their abilities and material
possibilities, to ensure the necessary conditions in the family
for the education, health, development, and social life of the
child;
2) to co-operate with the educational institution in which the
child acquires education, with the teachers and other persons
involved in the learning process;
3) to respect the lawful rights and interests of children,
teachers, and other persons;
4) to inform the head of an educational institution of the
health condition of the child and other circumstances, if they
may be significant for the learning process.
(2) The parents (persons who exercise custody) shall be
responsible for ensuring that the child acquires the compulsory
education.
(3) Parents (persons who exercise custody) have an obligation
to ensure, within the limits of their financial possibilities,
the individual study accessories referred to in Section 1, Clause
12.5, Sub-clause "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; 20 September 2018]
Chapter
VII
Financial and Material Resources of the Education System
[5 February 2004]
Section 59. Sources of Financing of
the Education System
(1) State educational institutions shall be financed from the
State budget in accordance with the annual State budget law.
Local government educational institutions shall be financed from
local government budgets. Secondary education institutions of
State higher education institutions shall be financed from the
budgets of higher education institutions. The State shall
participate in the financing of local government educational
institutions and secondary education institutions of the State
higher education institutions in the cases provided for in this
Law. In order to promote the acquisition, development, and
preservation of the minority ethnic culture and the integration
of minorities in Latvia, the State may participate in additional
financing of work remuneration for the teachers employed at
educational institutions which, on the basis of bilateral and
multilateral international agreements of the Republic of Latvia,
are implementing educational programmes for ethnic minorities in
which the number of minority educatees does not exceed six per
cent of the total number of educatees who are acquiring
educational programmes for ethnic minorities.
(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 specified by the
Cabinet if these educational institutions implement pre-school
education programmes for children from the age of five years
until commencement of the acquisition of basic education,
accredited basic education and general secondary education
programmes, industrial education, and vocational secondary
education programmes. The State shall participate in the
financing of work remuneration for teachers employed in
vocationally oriented education programmes implemented in
accredited private vocationally oriented education institutions.
Local governments may participate in the financing of work
remuneration for teachers of private educational
institutions.
(21) The purchase of study literature,
methodological aids, additional literature (reference literature)
and digital teaching 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) Local government special education institutions which
implement special education programmes at the level of basic
education or secondary education and ensure the services of a
boarding school, as well as special education institutions -
development or rehabilitation centres - shall be financed from
the State budget in accordance with the procedures specified by
the Cabinet.
(31) Catering of such educatees who are completing
basic education programmes in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 at
educational institutions in full-time studies shall be financed
from the State budget in accordance with the procedures and in
the amount specified by the Cabinet. Local governments shall
participate in covering the costs of catering of such educatees
who are acquiring basic education programmes in grades 1, 2, 3,
and 4 at educational institutions (except for State educational
institutions) in the administrative territory of the relevant
local government in full-time studies. The amount of the
resources allocated from the budget of a local government for the
catering of one educatee per day shall not be lower than that
ensured by the State.
(4) Educational institutions may receive additional financial
resources:
1) in the form of donations and gifts;
2) by providing paid services in the cases provided for in the
by-laws or the constitution of the institution;
3) from other income.
(5) Education support institutions shall be financed by the
founders thereof.
(6) The State shall financially support and a local
government, in accordance with the procedures specified thereby
and in conformity with the criteria specified thereby, may
financially support adult education by financing non-formal adult
education programmes, as well as by supporting employers in
additional education of employees.
[11 November 1999; 11 May 2000; 5 February 2004; judgment
of the Constitutional Court of 14 September 2005; 13 November
2008; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 15 December 2011; 9 July
2013; 18 June 2015; 23 November 2016; 22 November 2017; 22 March
2018; 14 November 2019. Amendment to Paragraph three
regarding the deletion of the words "or rehabilitation" shall
come into force on 1 September 2020 and shall be included in the
wording of the Law as of 1 September 2020. Amendment to
Paragraph two in relation to the financing of work remuneration
for the teachers employed at industrial and vocational secondary
education programmes of private educational institutions shall
come into force on 1 January 2023. Paragraph six in
relation to the State financial support to adult education shall
come into force not later than on 31 December 2022. See
Paragraphs 30, 44, and 77 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 60. Procedures for the
Financing of Educational Institutions
(1) Founders of educational institutions shall ensure the
financing of such institutions, taking into account:
1) the minimum costs for the implementation of educational
programmes per one educatee specified by the Cabinet;
2) the maintenance and economic expenditures of educational
institutions, including salaries of the general service
personnel, as well as expenditures related to international
co-operation;
3) the maintenance expenditures for educatees at the
educational institution.
(2) In certain administrative territories, the Cabinet may
specify different costs for the implementation of educational
programmes per one educatee.
(3) Costs of educational programmes to be implemented in
educational institutions shall include expenditures which are
necessary for the work remuneration of teachers involved in the
implementation of an educational programme, for the provision the
educational institutions with teaching aids, economic expenditure
thereof, as well as for other necessary expenditures. The work
remuneration for teachers at State or local government
educational institutions, as well as secondary education
institutions of State higher education institutions, including
the work remuneration for teachers employed in the education of
children from five years of age, as well as the work remuneration
for teachers in special education groups of pre-school special
education institutions and special education groups of secondary
education institutions is ensured from the State budget funds and
the earmarked grants from the State budget. The work remuneration
for other teachers implementing pre-school education programmes
in local government educational institutions, if it is not
otherwise provided for in other laws, shall be provided from the
local government budget. Local governments may participate in the
financing of work remuneration for teachers of educational
programmes implemented by the State and local government
educational institutions. Local governments may finance the
social guarantees of teachers of local government educational
institutions from their budgets in the amount and according to
the procedures laid down in the binding regulations. Social
guarantees may be provided for teachers of educational
institutions subordinate to ministries within the scope of the
approved budget. Preparation and publication of teaching aids in
conformity with the guidelines for the State pre-school education
and the State education standards shall be financed within the
amount of the funds granted by the annual State budget.
(31) The purchase of study literature,
methodological aids, additional literature (reference
literature), and digital teaching aids and resources (electronic
editions) corresponding to the guidelines for the State
pre-school education, State standards for basic education and
general secondary education in State and local government
educational institutions, as well as secondary education
institutions of State higher education institutions shall be
financed from the State budget funds and earmarked grants from
the State budget.
(32) [Paragraph shall come into force on 1
September 2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as
of 1 September 2020. See Paragraph 64 of Transitional
Provisions]
(4) If an educational institution implements several
educational programmes, financial resources shall be planned for
each educational programme according to its implementation costs.
Several educational programmes may be implemented at one
educational institution, and they may be financed from various
sources - from the resources of the State, local governments, as
well as State higher education institutions which are derived
public persons, as well as other legal and natural persons.
(5) Allocations from the State budget and local government
budgets for the activities of educational institutions shall be
planned according to the draft estimates (budgetary requests)
submitted by educational institutions and used according to the
approved estimate. Financing of educational institutions shall be
planned according to the number of educatees at an institution
and the minimum costs for the implementation of the educational
programme per one educatee.
(6) Income from economic activity of educational institutions
and paid services provided thereby and other types of own revenue
shall not affect the amount of State budget grant from the
general income and local government annual budget
allocations.
(7) The financial resources referred to in Section 59,
Paragraph four of this Law shall be paid into the relevant budget
account of the relevant educational institution and shall only be
used for the following purposes:
1) development of the educational institution;
2) purchase of teaching aids;
3) purchase of equipment for the institution;
4) bonuses and gratuities for teachers and material incentives
for educatees and for the work remuneration of teachers
implementing vocational basic education, vocational secondary
education, or vocationally oriented education programmes in
sports, music, and arts at State or local government educational
institutions.
(8) Money balances of paid services provided by State and
local government educational institutions and of other types of
own revenue at the end of a financial year shall remain at the
disposal of the relevant State or local government educational
institution for the next financial year and they shall not be
directed for other purposes.
(9) The procedures for the financing of higher education
institutions and colleges shall be determined by the Law on
Higher Education Institutions.
(10) [Paragraph ten shall come into force on 1 September
2021 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1
September 2021. See Paragraph 78 of Transitional
Provisions]
[5 August 1999; 11 May 2000; 5 July 2001; 5 February 2004;
16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 4 March 2010; 9 July 2013; 18 June
2015; 22 November 2017; 22 March 2018]
Section 61. Support for Education
System
The accumulation, management, supervision, and distribution of
the State budget resources and local government budget resources,
gifts of legal or natural persons of Latvia and foreign
countries, donations, and other resources granted for the
implementation of support for the educational system shall be
provided in accordance with the procedures laid down in the
law.
[16 June 2009]
Section 62. Material Resources of
Educational Institutions and Education Support Institutions
(1) Material resources of educational institutions and
education support institutions are the immovable and movable
property owned, administrated, or used by such institutions. If a
State educational institution, except for State higher education
institutions, is located on immovable property owned by the
State, such property shall be registered in the Land Register in
the name of the State, represented by the Ministry of Education
and Science. The State property transferred into the
administration of State higher education institutions shall be
registered in the name of the State, represented by the relevant
higher education institution.
(2) The property of educational institutions shall be formed
according to the requirements of the educational programmes and
used for the implementation of educational programmes and
maintenance of educational institutions.
(3) Material resources of educational institutions and
educational support institutions shall be formed and developed,
using resources allocated by the founders of such institutions
and supplementary financial sources.
(4) Buildings, parts thereof and land managed or used by the
State and local government educational institutions shall be used
for the performance of the 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 educatees, if it is not in
contradiction with moral and ethical norms, and does not
interfere with the educational process, as well as with the
performance of other activities provided for in this Law.
Transfer of buildings, parts thereof or land to third parties
shall be permitted by entering into a written contract which
shall be registered with the Ministry of Education and Science,
another sectoral ministry, or with the relevant local
government.
(5) A contract which an educational institution has concluded
with a legal or natural person in regard to the use of the land,
buildings or separate parts thereof which have been transferred
into the management or use of the educational institution shall
include a provision which provides that the educational
institution may terminate the contract, giving a notice to the
user thereon one month in advance, if the used object is
necessary for the educational institution in order to carry out
the educational process or other activities provided for in this
Law, or if such use endangers the health, life, or safety of
educatees, or if it is in contradiction with moral and ethical
norms.
[5 February 2004]
Chapter
VIII
Administrative Violations in the Field of Education and
Competence in the Process of Administrative Violations
[Chapter shall come into force
on 1 July 2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as
of 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 63. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 64. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 65. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 66. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 67. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 68. [Section shall come into force on 1 July
2020 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July
2020. See Paragraph 87 of Transitional Provisions]
Transitional
Provisions
1. This Law shall come into force on 1 June 1999.
2. With the coming into force of this Law, the Education Law
of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās
Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, No. 31./32; Latvijas
Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1995, No.
18; 1997, No. 3) is repealed.
3. The Minister for Education and Science shall, by 1
September 1999, ensure the development of the laws and
regulations related to this Law and submit such to the Cabinet
for approval.
4. Section 53 of this Law shall come into force on 1 September
2004. Until 1 September 2004, the work remuneration for teachers
shall be determined in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 73
of 15 February 2000, Regulations Regarding Work Remuneration of
Teachers.
[5 February 2004]
5. Section 48, Paragraph one of this Law shall come into
force:
1) on 1 September 2004 -
a) with respect to teachers with higher education who
implemented general education programmes already in the 2000/2001
academic year and continue to do so up to the coming into force
of this provision,
b) with respect to teachers who have documents issued by State
educational institutions on the pedagogical secondary education
or an appropriate professional secondary education in the
relevant subject (course) and additional pedagogical education,
and who implemented general education programmes already in the
2000/2001 academic year, 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;
2) on 1 September 2002 - with respect to the education of such
teachers who implement other educational programmes.
Until coming into force of this provision, the requirements
for the education of the teachers implementing educational
programmes shall be determined by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
[10 May 2001; 5 February 2004]
5.1 Teachers whose education does not conform to
the requirements of Section 48, Paragraph one of this Law, but
who have documents issued by State educational institutions on
pedagogical secondary education or an appropriate professional
secondary education in the relevant subject (course) and
additional pedagogical education, and for whom on 1 September
2004 five or less years are left until reaching the retirement
age specified by the State , have the right to continue to work
as a teacher up to the end of the academic year in which the
State specified retirement age is attained.
[5 February 2004]
6. State and local government educational institutions which
have commenced the implementation of educational programmes in
line with the type and profile of the educational institution
until the day of coming into force of this Law may continue to
implement these programmes by obtaining a licence for the
implementation of the relevant educational programme within three
years.
7. A private educational institution which has obtained a
licence for the opening of an educational institution until the
day of coming into force of this Law is entitled to continue the
implementation of the relevant educational programme until
expiration term of the licence.
8. Until the day of coming into force of this Law, an
accredited educational institution, if it does not have an
accredited educational programme, is entitled to issue
State-approved education documents on the acquisition of
education according to educational programmes until the end of
the accreditation period.
9. Section 9, Paragraph one and Paragraph two, Clause 2 of
this Law shall come into force progressively:
1) on 1 September 1999 - with respect to higher education
institutions;
2) on 1 September 1999 - State and local government general
education institutions with another language for studies shall
commence the implementation of educational programmes for ethnic
minorities or a transition to studies in the official
language;
3) on 1 September 2004 - in State and local government general
secondary education institutions which implement minority
education programmes, commencing from the tenth grade, learning
shall take place in the official language according to the State
general secondary education standard; in State and local
government vocational education institutions commencing from the
first academic year learning shall take place in the official
language according to the State professional education standard
or the State vocational secondary education standard. The State
general secondary education standard, the State professional
education standard, and the State vocational secondary education
standard shall specify that the acquisition of the learning
content in the official language shall be ensured for not less
than three-fifths of the total lesson load in the academic year,
including foreign languages, and shall ensure that content
related to the minority language, identity and culture shall be
taught in the minority language.
[5 February 2004]
10. All educational institutions and other institutions
implementing educational programmes shall, within a year from
coming into force of this Law, submit to the Ministry of
Education and Science all the data necessary for registration in
the Register of Educational Programmes, Register of Educational
Institutions and the Register of Teachers, and shall agree upon
the names of the educational institutions with the classification
of the Register of Educational Programmes and the Register of
Educational Institutions.
11. Extracurricular institutions which have been founded
before the day of coming into force of this Law shall retain
their status and their activity shall, within a year, be
coordinated with the provisions of Section 47 corresponding to
interest-related education.
12. Educational institutions which have been founded before
the day of coming into force of this Law and continue to operate
shall be registered in the Register of Educational Institutions
until 1 March 1999 in conformity with the provisions of Sections
24 and 39 of this Law.
13. Amendments to Section 59, Paragraph two of this Law
regarding the financing of private educational institutions
(which implement accredited basic education and general secondary
education programmes in the official language) according to the
minimum costs for the implementation of educational programmes
per one educatee stipulated by the Cabinet shall come into force
on 1 September 2001.
[11 May 2000]
14. The Cabinet shall develop the procedures by which
preventive health care and access to emergency medical assistance
shall be provided to educatees at educational institutions by 31
December 2001.
[5 July 2001]
15. Amendments to Section 4 of this Law regarding the
preparation of five-year old and six-year old children for the
acquisition of basic education and to Section 60, Paragraph three
regarding the ensuring of the work remuneration for teachers from
State budget funds and earmarked grants from the State budget in
State or local government educational institutions for the
teaching of five-year old and six-year old children shall come
into force on 1 September 2002.
[5 July 2001]
16. From 1 January 2002, interest-related education programmes
which on 1 September 2001 were already being implemented at local
government educational institutions (music, art schools and sport
education institutions) shall constitute vocationally oriented
education programmes and shall receive funds from the State
budget earmarked for the work remuneration of teachers starting
from 1 January 2002. This provision shall not apply to
interest-related education programmes in general physical
preparation groups and theatre interest-related education
programmes implemented by the abovementioned educational
institutions.
[20 September 2001]
17. The provisions of Section 47.1, Paragraph two
of this Law regarding the obtaining of a licence for the
implementation of a vocationally oriented education programme
shall come into force on 1 March 2002. In order to continue
implementation of vocationally oriented education programmes and
to receive funds from the State budget earmarked for the work
remuneration of teachers in 2003, the licence for the
implementation of vocationally oriented education programmes must
be received by 1 September 2002.
[20 September 2001]
18. Samples of vocationally oriented education programmes
shall be approved by the Minister for Education and Science by 1
March 2002.
[20 September 2001]
19. Accredited music and art schools which were already
implementing interest-related education programmes on 1 September
2001 and which shall constitute vocationally oriented education
programmes from 1 January 2002 shall be recognised as accredited
educational institutions until the end of the time period
specified for the accreditation.
[20 September 2001]
20. Amendments to Section 30, Paragraph four of this Law
regarding concurrent accreditation of educational institutions
and heads of a State or local government basic or secondary
education institution shall come into force on 1 September
2003.
[20 September 2001]
21. The educatees of State or local government educational
institutions who have commenced completion of interest-related
education programmes on 1 September 2001 which are to be
vocationally oriented education programmes from 1 January 2002
shall, after completion of such programmes, receive a certificate
on the acquisition of vocationally oriented education.
[20 September 2001]
22. Amendments to Section 1, Clause 9 (regarding the
supplementation of the term "education administration
institution" with a word "structural unit"), Section 17,
Paragraph three (regarding the determination of functions of city
local governments and municipality local governments), 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 accordance with this Law, the remuneration specified in
State and local government authorities (salary, bonuses,
gratuities, allowances, etc.) in 2009 shall be determined in
accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and
Employees of State and Local Government Authorities in 2009.
[12 December 2008]
24. The Cabinet shall, by 1 January 2010, issue the guidelines
for State pre-school education determined in Section 14, Clause
18.1 of this Law.
[1 December 2009]
25. In 2011, bonuses shall not be paid to teachers of
educational institutions founded by the State and local
governments, but they shall be materially incentivized and
allowances shall be disbursed thereto in accordance with the Law
on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local
Government Authorities.
[16 December 2010]
26. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in
amendments to this Law which come into force as of 26 March 2010
by 31 August 2010, but the regulations provided for in Section
14, Clauses 31 and 34 of this Law - not later than by 31 December
2022.
[4 March 2010; 17 December 2014; 23 November 2016]
27. Until issue of the Cabinet regulations provided for in
Paragraph 26 of the Transitional Provisions of this Law, but not
later than until 31 August 2010, the following Cabinet
regulations shall be applied insofar as they are not in
contradiction with this Law:
1) Cabinet Regulation No. 773 of 18 October 2005, Procedures
for the Acquisition of Education and Professional Improvement for
Vocational Education Teachers;
2) Cabinet Regulation No. 570 of 28 August 2007, Procedures
for the Professional Improvement for General Education Teachers
and Interest-related Education Teachers;
3) Cabinet Regulation No. 264 of 15 April 2008, Regulations
Regarding Procedures for State Examinations in Accredited
Educational Programmes.
[4 March 2010]
28. Amendments to Section 14, Clause 26 of this Law regarding
the procedures by which the State shall finance vocationally
oriented education programmes shall come into force on 1 January
2012.
[4 March 2010]
29. Amendments to Section 27 of this Law regarding
accreditation for six years of educational institutions
implementing basic and secondary level education programmes shall
come into force on 1 January 2012.
[4 March 2010]
30. Section 59, Paragraph six of this Law in relation to
financial support of local governments to adult education shall
come into force on 1 January 2013, but in relation to State
financial support to adult education - not later than on 31
December 2022.
[15 November 2012; 17 December 2014; 23 November
2016]
31. In 2012, bonuses shall not be paid to teachers of
educational institutions founded by the State and local
governments, but teachers shall be materially incentivized and
allowances shall be disbursed thereto in accordance with the Law
on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local
Government Authorities.
[15 December 2011]
32. After coming into force of amendments made to Section 14,
Clause 18 of this Law (regarding the guidelines for educational
development for the following seven years), the Cabinet shall
submit the first guidelines for educational development for the
following seven years for approval to the Saeima for the
time period from 2014 to 2020.
[15 March 2012]
33. The Cabinet shall, by 31 August 2012, develop and submit
to the Saeima the necessary amendments to the Law on the
Protection of the Childrenʼs Rights in order to harmonise it with
the amendments made to Section 50, Clause 1 of this Law (in
relation to the prohibition to work as a teacher to a person who
has been punished for committing an intentional criminal
offence).
[5 July 2012]
34. In 2013, a severance benefit shall be disbursed to
teachers at educational institutions founded by the State and
local governments in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of
Officials and Employees of State and Local Government
Authorities.
[15 November 2012]
35. The quality levels of professional activity of a teacher
awarded to teachers the quality of whose professional activity
has been assessed during the time period from 1 September 2009 to
31 May 2014 on the basis of the criteria developed and according
to the procedures laid down in the project of the European Social
Fund "Raising Teachers' Competitiveness during Optimisation of
Education System" are considered equivalent to the levels of
quality of professional activity of a teacher which have been
determined by the Cabinet in accordance with Section 14, Clause
37 of this Law.
[9 July 2013]
36. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in
Section 14, Clauses 12.2, 15 and 36 of this Law by 30
August 2013, and the regulations referred to in Section 14,
Clause 37 of this Law - by 31 May 2014.
[9 July 2013; 17 December 2014]
37. Section 59, Paragraph 2.1 and Section 60,
Paragraph 3.1 of this Law shall come into force on 1
September 2013.
[9 July 2013]
38. Amendments to Section 11.1, Paragraph one of
this Law providing for the specification by the Cabinet of the
price list of paid services provided within the scope of
expert-examination of documents shall come into force on 1 July
2015.
[17 December 2014]
39. The services provided within the scope of an
expert-examination to a person who has submitted an education
document issued in a foreign country or a document certifying an
academic degree acquired in a foreign country to the Academic
Information Centre for expert-examination until 30 June 2015
shall be free of charge.
[17 December 2014; 18 June 2015]
40. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2016, issue the
regulations referred to in Section 14, Clause 1.1 of
this Law.
[18 June 2015]
41. [20 September 2018]
42. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2016, issue the regulations
referred to in Section 14, Clause 38 of this Law.
[18 June 2015]
43. Amendments regarding the deletion of Section 15, Clause 24
and Section 16, Clause 7 of this Law, as well as regarding the
supplementation of Section 14 with Clause 7.1
regarding approval of the by-laws of State educational
institutions shall come into force on 1 September 2018. The
by-laws of State educational institutions which have been
approved by the Ministry of Education and Science or another
sectoral ministry until 31 August 2018 shall be in effect after
this time period insofar as they are not in contradiction with
this Law. Amendments to these by-laws shall be approved by the
Cabinet. The text of amendments to the by-laws of an educational
institution, as well as full text of the by-laws in the new
wording must be submitted to the Cabinet.
[18 June 2015]
44. Amendment to Section 59, Paragraph two of this Law in
relation to the financing of work remuneration for teachers
employed at industrial and vocational education programmes of
private educational institutions shall come into force on 1
January 2023.
[18 June 2015; 23 November 2016]
45. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 October 2015, make
amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 1616 of 22 December 2009,
Procedures for the Calculation and Division of the Earmarked
Grant from the State Budget for Local Government Educational
Institutions for the Work Remuneration for Teachers of Pre-school
Education Employed in Education of Children from Five Years of
Age and for the Work Remuneration for Teachers of General Basic
and General Secondary Education Institutions of Local
Governments, determining the procedures by which the earmarked
grant from the State budget for the work remuneration for
teachers of secondary education institutions of State higher
education institutions shall be calculated and divided.
[18 June 2015]
46. Amendments to Section 60, Paragraph three of this Law
regarding the work remuneration for teachers of secondary
education institutions of State higher education institutions
shall come into force on 1 January 2016.
[18 June 2015]
47. The Cabinet shall, by 1 February 2016, issue the
regulations provided for in Section 14, Clause 36 of this Law
regarding the methodology by which a local government shall
determine the average costs necessary per one educatee in the
pre-school education programme (from the age of 18 months until
commencing acquisition of basic education) at local government
educational institutions, and the procedures by which a local
government shall, according to the costs specified thereby, cover
the costs of a pre-school education programme for a private
educational institution. Until the day of coming into force of
the Cabinet regulations, Cabinet Regulation No. 1523 of 17
December 2013, Procedures by which a Local Government shall Cover
the Costs of a Pre-school Education Programme for a Private
Educational Institution According to the Specified Average Costs
Thereof, shall be applied.
[3 December 2015]
48. Certificates for the commencement of a private practice of
a teacher which have been issued until 31 December 2016 shall be
valid until the end of their term of validity.
[5 May 2016]
49. The provisions of Paragraphs two and three of Section 24
which come into force on 1 June 2016 shall apply to the
educational institutions already included in the Register of
Educational Institutions if they, starting from 1 June 2016, make
changes in any of the information already included in the
Register of Educational Institutions.
[5 May 2016]
50. The maintenance expenses in boarding schools of local
governments from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 shall be
covered from the earmarked grant from the State budget for
educatees of a boarding school who are orphans or children left
without parental care, as well as for educatees from poor and
low-income families in conformity with the Cabinet regulations
governing the procedures for the financing of boarding
schools.
[23 November 2016]
51. The maintenance expenses in pre-school special education
institutions of local governments from 1 January 2017 to 31
December 2017 shall be covered from the financial resources from
the State budget in the amount of 30 per cent from the State
financing allocated to pre-school special education institutions
of local governments in 2016.
[23 November 2016]
52. The Cabinet shall, not later than by 31 March 2017, make
amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 350 of 17 June 2014,
Procedures for the Quality Assessment of the Professional
Activity of Teachers, in accordance with amendments to Section
49.1, Paragraph two of this Law (regarding
determination of three quality levels of the professional
activity of teachers). In order to ensure the improvement of the
system for the assessment of the quality of the professional
activity of teachers, quality levels of professional activity of
teachers shall not be awarded until the day when the
abovementioned amendments to Cabinet regulations will come into
force, but not longer than until 31 August 2017.
[23 November 2016]
53. A document certifying the quality level of the
professional activity of a teacher which has been issued until 31
December 2016 shall be valid until the term of validity indicated
therein. The third, fourth and fifth quality level of the
professional activity of a teacher which has been awarded in
accordance with the legal framework that was in force until 31
December 2016 is considered equivalent to the first, second and
third quality level of the professional activity of a teacher
accordingly in accordance with amendments made to Section
49.1, Paragraph two of this Law determining the three
quality levels of the professional activity of teachers.
[23 November 2016]
54. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2017, make amendments to
Cabinet Regulation No. 445 of 5 July 2016, Regulations Regarding
Work Remuneration of Teachers, in accordance with amendments to
Section 53, Paragraph one of this Law (regarding determination of
work remuneration of a teacher if the length of employment of a
teacher is taken into account).
[23 November 2016]
55. The Cabinet shall, by 30 September 2017, issue the
regulations referred to in Section 14,Clause 37 of this Law.
[27 July 2017]
56. Educational institutions implementing the educational
programmes referred to in Section 49.1, Paragraph one
of this Law shall, by 30 November 2017, develop the criteria and
procedures for the assessment of the quality of the professional
activity of teachers in conformity with the provisions of laws
and regulations. Applications for the assessment of the quality
of professional activity shall be submitted to an educational
institution starting from 1 December 2017.
[27 July 2017]
57. Applications of teachers for the assessment of the quality
of professional activity which have been submitted until 9 August
2017, on the basis of the provisions of Section 49.1
of this Law, shall be examined in conformity with the provisions
of this Law which were in force until 9 August 2017.
[27 July 2017]
58. Teachers whose quality of professional activity has been
assessed in accordance with the provisions of this Law which were
in force until 31 December 2016 and the term of validity of the
certificates of quality of professional activity issued to whom
expires on 31 August 2017 have the right, until 31 August 2018,
to continue the receipt of the supplement for the quality level
of professional activity in the amount in which the teacher has
been receiving it until 9 August 2017.
[27 July 2017]
59. Teachers to whom the document certifying the quality level
of professional activity has been issued until 9 August 2017 have
the right, until the end of the term of validity of the document
certifying the quality level, to continue the receipt of the
supplement for the quality level of professional activity in the
amount in which the teacher has been receiving it until 9 August
2017.
[27 July 2017]
60. Amendments to Section 17, Paragraph three, Clauses 1, 2,
12, and 13 of this Law in relation to the deletion of the words
"boarding school" shall come into force as of 1 August 2019.
[22 November 2017]
61. New boarding schools may not be founded after 1 January
2018. The State shall continue to co-finance the boarding schools
founded until the abovementioned date until 31 December 2018.
[22 November 2017]
62. Section 14, Clause 40 and Section 52, Paragraphs two,
three, and four of this Law shall be in force until 31 December
2020.
[22 November 2017]
63. Section 14, Clauses 41 and 42 of this Law shall come into
force on 1 September 2018. The Cabinet shall, by 31 August 2018,
issue the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 14, Clauses
41 and 42 of this Law.
[22 November 2017]
64. Section 60, Paragraph 3.2 of this Law shall
come into force on 1 September 2020. Until 31 August 2020, the
State shall provide work remuneration for the teachers employed
at the level secondary education of general education programmes
implemented by general education institutions of local
governments, general education institutions of State higher
education institutions, and private general education
institutions in accordance with the provisions of Section 59,
Paragraph two and Section 60, Paragraph three of this Law.
[22 November 2017 / The abovementioned amendment
shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September
2020]
65. The Cabinet shall, by 31 March 2018, develop and submit a
draft law to the Saeima regarding the necessary amendments
to the General Education Law, providing for exclusion of the norm
regarding the possibilities of acquiring education at boarding
schools from the Law.
[22 November 2017]
66. Amendments to Section 9 of this Law regarding the
supplementation of this Section with Paragraph 1.1 and
the rewording of Paragraph two, Clause 2 and amendments to
Section 41, Paragraph one in relation to to the replacement of
the words "in the respective State education standard" with the
words "in the State basic education standard" and the
supplementation of Section with Paragraphs 1.1 and
1.2 shall come into force:
1) on 1 September 2019 - in relation to the implementation of
pre-school education programmes and the implementation of basic
education programmes in grades 1-7;
2) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of
basic education programmes in grade 8 and the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grades 10 and 11;
3) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of
basic education programmes in grade 9 and the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grade 12.
[22 March 2018 / The abovementioned amendments shall
be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2019, 1
September 2020, and 1 September 2021]
67. Amendments to Paragraph 9, Sub-paragraph 3 of the
Transitional Provisions of this Law in relation to the deletion
of the second sentence shall come into force:
1) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grades 10 and 11;
2) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grade 12.
[22 March 2018 / The abovementioned amendment shall
be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September 2020 and
1 September 2021]
68. The Cabinet shall, by 30 April 2018, make amendments to
Cabinet Regulation No. 533 of 31 July 2012, Regulations Regarding
the State Guidelines for Pre-school Education, and Cabinet
Regulation No. 468 of 12 August 2014, Regulations Regarding the
State Standard in Basic Education, the Subject Standards in Basic
Education and Model Basic Education Programmes, in accordance
with amendments to Section 9, Paragraph two, Clause 2 and Section
41, Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of this Law.
[22 March 2018]
69. The Cabinet shall, by 30 April 2018, make amendments to
Cabinet Regulation No. 211 of 27 June 2000, Regulations Regarding
the State Vocational Secondary Education Standard and the State
Industrial Education Standard, and Cabinet Regulation No. 281 of
21 May 2013, Regulations Regarding the State General Secondary
Education Standard, Subject Standards and Sample Educational
Programmes, in accordance with amendments to Section 9, Paragraph
two, Clause 2 and Section 41, Paragraph one of this Law.
[22 March 2018]
70. Educational institutions shall ensure the conformity of
educational programmes at the level of pre-school and basic
education with the requirements of Section 9, Paragraphs one and
1.1, Paragraph two, Clause 2, and Section 41,
Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 and submission for
licensing by 30 April 2019.
[22 March 2018]
71. Educational institutions shall ensure the conformity of
educational programmes of the level of secondary education to the
requirements of Section 9, Paragraphs one and 1.1,
Paragraph two, Clause 2, and Section 41, Paragraph one and their
submission for licensing by 30 April 2020.
[22 March 2018]
72. The Ministry of Education and Science shall, not later
than within three years after implementation of the relevant
education reform, ensure substantiated and independent evaluation
of the reform based on scientific research to determine its
impact on the quality of achievements in education.
[22 March 2018]
73. Section 52, Paragraph one, Clause 7 of this Law shall come
into force on 1 September 2019, and the benefit referred to in
this Clause may be disbursed to a teacher also before1 September
2019 within the scope of the financial resources available for
such purpose.
[22 March 2018]
74. Amendments which provide for the deletion of Section 1,
Clause 14 of this Law shall come into force:
1) on 1 September 2020 - in relation to the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10;
2) on 1 September 2021 - in relation to the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grades 2, 5, 8, and 11;
3) on 1 September 2022 - in relation to the implementation of
secondary education programmes in grades 3, 6, 9, and 12.
[20 September 2018 / The abovementioned amendment
shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September
2020, 1 September 2021, and 1 September 2022]
75. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in
Section 14, Clause 43 of this Law by 31 December 2018.
[20 September 2018]
76. General education institutions which on the day of coming
into force of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 14,
Clause 43 of this Law are implementing general education
programmes in the form of extramural studies or distance learning
shall, by 31 July 2020, ensure the conformity of the procedures
for the implementation of such educational programmes with the
abovementioned regulations.
[20 September 2018]
77. Amendments to Section 17, Paragraph three, Clauses 7 and
10, as well as Section 59, Paragraph three of this Law shall come
into force on 1 September 2020.
[20 September 2018 / The abovementioned amendments
shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September
2020]
78. Amendments to Section 14, Clause 24 of this Law which
provide that the Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the
financing of interest-related education institutions of national
significance, as well as Section 14, Clause 24.1,
Section 19.1, and Section 60, Paragraph ten of this
Law shall come into force on 1 September 2021.
[20 September 2018; 3 April 2019; 14 November 2019 /
The abovementioned amendments shall be included in the wording
of the Law as of 1 September 2021]
79. Amendments to Section 17 of this Law in relation to the
supplementation of Section with Paragraph 2.5 shall
come into force on 1 September 2021. The Cabinet shall issue the
regulations referred to in Section 17, Paragraph 2.5
of this Law by 31 May 2021.
[20 September 2018; 3 April 2019; 14 November 2019 /
The abovementioned amendment shall be included in the wording
of the Law as of 1 September 2021]
80. The Cabinet shall develop and, by 31 December 2018, submit
amendments to the Vocational Education Law to the Saeima
for its alignment with the amendments made to Section 23,
Paragraph five of this Law in relation to the informing of
authorities and persons not later than three months in advance,
and the amendments made to Section 24, Paragraph four, Section
25, Paragraph two, Section 36, Paragraph one, Section 39,
Paragraph one, Section 44, Paragraph two, and Section
47.1, Paragraph two of this Law according to which the
registration certificate of an educational institution and a
licence for the implementation of an educational programme need
not be issued.
[20 September 2018]
81. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2018, develop and submit
amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions to the
Saeima for its alignment with the amendments made to
Section 24, Paragraph four, Section 25, Paragraph two, Section
36, Paragraph one, Section 39, Paragraph one, Section 44,
Paragraph two, and Section 45, Paragraph two of this Law
according to which the registration certificate of an educational
institution and a licence for the implementation of an
educational programme need not be issued.
[20 September 2018]
82. Amendments to the first sentence of Section 60, Paragraph
3.2 of this Law regarding the substitution of the
words "the number of educatees in the relevant grade or group of
grades does not conform to the minimum admissible number of
educatees stipulated by the Cabinet" with the words "the
educational institution does not meet the quality criteria
stipulated by the Cabinet" and to the second sentence regarding
the deletion of the words "including the quality indicators of
the education acquired at the educational institution" shall come
into force on 1 September 2020.
[20 September 2018 / The abovementioned amendments
shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 September
2020]
83. Section 11.2 of this Law shall come into force
on 1 June 2020.
[21 March 2019 / The abovementioned amendment shall
be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 June 2020]
84. The Cabinet shall, by 31 May 2019, issue the regulations
referred to in Section 35.1, Paragraph six of this Law
in relation to State examinations in general education programmes
and State examinations in general education subjects in
vocational education programmes, and by 31 May 2021 - the
regulations referred to in Section 35.1, Paragraph six
of this Law in relation to State examinations for the acquisition
of professional qualification and for examinations of the
proficiency in the official language.
[21 March 2019]
85. Entry of the information referred to in Section
35.1, Paragraph two of this Law in relation to State
examinations for the acquisition of professional qualification in
the State Examination Information System shall be started from 1
September 2021.
[21 March 2019]
86. Entry of the information referred to in Section
35.1, Paragraph two of this Law in relation to
examinations of the proficiency in the official language in the
State Examination Information System shall be started from 1
September 2021, and such information shall refer to those
examinations of the proficiency in the official language which
have been taken from 1 January 1991.
[21 March 2019]
87. Amendments regarding the deletion of Section 20, Paragraph
four, Clause 6 of this Law and Chapter VIII of this Law shall
come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative
Liability.
[30 May 2019 / The abovementioned amendments shall
be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July 2020]
Informative
Reference to European Union Directives
[4 March 2010]
This Law contains legal norms arising from:
1) Council Directive of 25 July 1977 on the education of the
children of migrant workers (77/486/EEC);
2) Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing
the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of
racial or ethnic origin;
3) Directive 2002/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 23 September 2002 amending Council Directive
76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal
treatment for men and women as regards access to employment,
vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. Text
with EEA relevance;
4) Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying down
minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers;
5) Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on minimum
standards for the qualification and status of third country
nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who
otherwise need international protection and the content of the
protection granted;
6) Council Directive 2004/114/EC of 13 December 2004 on the
conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the
purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or
voluntary service;
7) Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of
equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in
matters of employment and occupation (recast);
8) Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in
Member States for returning illegally staying third-country
nationals.
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 © 2020 Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre)