The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has examined Latvia's report on the implementation of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Latvia in 2008-2017 and provided its recommendations for improving the quality of life of the citizens. Among other things, the committee has looked at minority languages. The recommendations on this topic can be seen as an encouragement for Latvia to restore bilingualism in the education system.
Arvils Ašeradens, Chairman of the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima, representing the New Unity (Jaunā Vienotība), has read the document and reassures that the restoration of bilingualism in Latvia is not on the table. In addition, the state makes every effort to ensure that for minorities, such as Estonians, Jewish people and Russians, the state-guaranteed right to acquire knowledge in their mother tongue is of the highest possible quality.
Should the recommendations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights really be seen as a call for the renewal of the bilingual education system?
After reading the text carefully, I did not really find any place anywhere where the concept of "bilingualism" was mentioned and we were encouraged to return to it. I would not agree with that. It is important to understand that the role of the UN committee is to give the Member States its independent view on how to proceed. In any case, it is our duty to evaluate and choose what to do and what not. These are not mandatory requirements.
In our country, do you think that national minorities have sufficient opportunities to learn in their mother tongue?
Yes, there has been a lot of discussion about this. I am sure that in Latvia such opportunities are provided at a sufficient level. Concerning the latest amendments to the Education Law - the latest education reform required us to provide bilingual education in public and private schools, and the state set an exact proportion for lessons in minority languages. Up to the sixth grade, it makes up 50%, from the sixth to the ninth - 20%, but from the tenth to the 12th grade, subjects related to language, literature, culture and history can be taught in the mother tongue.
Another thing, the Ministry of Education and Science even before this has been obliged to monitor the quality of bilingual education. Currently, the committee has already approved in the third final reading amendments to the Education Law on the establishment of an education quality management system. In it, both the founders of schools and the state will create a system and ensure that subjects in the mother tongues of minorities are taught in a high-quality manner.
How likely is it that Latvia could return to a bilingual education system in the foreseeable future?
Definitely not going to happen! There is no such discussion in the education system. Rather, it is looking for ways to ensure the quality of the existing system, but there are problems with teachers, their remuneration and motivation.
“Minority languages
While noting the information provided by the State party delegation in relation to support provided for the teaching of and in minority languages, the Committee is concerned that current language policies in the State party may have discriminatory impact against persons belonging to minorities in the enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, especially in the fields of education, employment, and access to services. The Committee notes the explanations provided by the State party delegation that the education reform itself is not discriminatory. However, the Committee remains concerned that the recent amendments to the Education Law and the Cabinet Regulation No. 716 of 21 November 2018 have discriminatory effect on minority groups and that they create undue restrictions on teaching of and in minority languages in preschool and primary education in both public and private schools (art. 15).
The Committee recommends that the State party take measures to ensure that its language policies and laws do not create direct or indirect discrimination against persons belonging to minority groups in the enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, and that they do not impede the ability of these persons to find employment in public and private sectors.
It also recommends that the State party consider revising its language policies and laws in education in order to promote the teaching of and teaching in minority languages and to ensure that they do not affect negatively the educational performance of children belonging to minority groups."
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