2nd Latvian Parent Conference "Learn in Native Language"

CompletedConference

November 24, 2001 — November 24, 2001

2nd Conference of Parents of Latvia "To Study in the Native Language"

Riga, 24.11.2000.

Brief Abstract about 2nd Conference of Parents of Latvia

The Conference was organised by the non-government organisation LAShOR (Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction) and was held in Riga on 24 November 2001 in the Riga Hall of Congresses.

The objective of the Conference was

  • to unite the parents of Latvia who want that the school instruction in the Russian language is maintained and developed in this country within the wide background of the integration of the society of Latvia;
  • to display to the society of Latvia and international commonwealth that there is a strong demand for the education in the Russian language in this country;
  • to offer such an alternative reform of education for minorities in Latvia that provides the domination of the native language of the minorities in the education in line with the high level of mastering of the state (Latvian) language as well as the effective integration of minorities children in the society and the reproduction of minority ethnic and cultural identity.

The participants of the Conference adopted the Decision, which comprises 11 resolutions and the Address to the Residents of Latvia.

1204 people registered at the Conference, among them 926 from Riga (the capital city), 92 from Yelgava, 52 from Daugavpils, 22, from Rezeknes, 22 from Ventspils, 22 from Valmieras, as well as from towns of Aizkraukle, Bauska, Tsesis, Dobele, Yekabpils, Kraslava, Liepaya, Livani, Ogre, Sigulda, Valka and form Riga district.

862 people registered as parents of schoolchildren (from all over 104 schools), 189 as schoolteachers and schoolmasters (from 70 schools), 102 as school pupils (of 32 schools), 40 as students (of 11 higher schools).

Together with the guests of the Conference and those who have not registered about 1300 people were participants of the Conference.

Please note: According to the pole, in March 2000 the population of Latvia was about 2,450,000 people. The Russian ethnic minority amounted to 29,6% of the population, that is about 70% of all minority population. 36.1% of the population were those who named the Russain language as their native language.

The total number of schools financed by the state in Latvia inlisted by the Ministry of Education and Science in the school year 2000-2001 was 998. Among them 159 schools implemented instruction in Russian (attended usually by Russian speakers) and 126 schools with both Latvian and Russian languages of instruction (mixed schools, where classes are held either for Latvian speakers and for Russian speakers within the same school).