From the next school year, the children of Ukrainian refugees will also have to study in Latvian schools

On the other hand, the implementation of the third model primarily ensures intensive learning of the Latvian language individually or in a group. Such a support measure is implemented for no longer than one school year. The learning of other subjects can be partially implemented.

Starting this school year, Latvia has introduced an inclusive school year for newcomers from Ukraine, where they are offered the opportunity to learn the language before starting regular studies.

In order to ensure the successful integration of Ukrainian refugee children into the Latvian school environment, the Ministry of Education and Culture implements close cooperation with other institutions and organizations involved in the integration of Ukrainian refugees – the Ministry of Welfare, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Culture, the Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, municipalities and non-governmental organizations.

During the discussion, representatives of the UN Refugee Agency emphasized in-person education as an essential prerequisite for a child’s well-being and psycho-emotional state, and praised the solutions proposed by the Ministry of Education and Culture for the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the Latvian education system, emphasizing the various solutions for children to integrate into the school environment as successfully as possible, learn the Latvian language, which will help also for successful learning of the educational program.

Currently, respecting the Ukrainian side, a liberal approach is provided in Latvia, allowing to choose the most appropriate form of education – face-to-face or distance learning. Many Ukrainian children choose distance learning, but this approach does not provide documented information on whether children are included in the Ukrainian education system.

According to PMLP data, there are 1,842 Ukrainian refugee children in Latvia who are not registered in any educational institution and these children are provisionally receiving their education through distance education in Ukraine. It is important to know whether learners attend school and to gain confidence that they are involved in the educational process and learning the curriculum.