MP Armaņeva: education problems can't be fixed with a single rule

Speaking on TV24's "Ziņu TOP" program, Saeima deputy Maija Armaņeva sharply criticized recent decisions in Latvia's education policy, arguing that the sector's problems cannot be solved through isolated rules alone.

She specifically targeted a proposal to limit grade corrections, which would allow students to redo a grade only once per subject. Armaņeva said that before imposing such restrictions, policymakers should examine the actual situation in schools and students' real needs. She stressed that grade correction rules are not the core problem — far more important are the processes that affect students over the long term.

School closures and student wellbeing

Armaņeva pointed to school closures as a major concern, noting they create uncertainty for both children and parents and can affect academic results as well as emotional wellbeing. She said these factors, combined with teacher shortages and a lack of teaching materials, form a much broader set of problems than simply how often grades can be corrected.

She also warned that continuously introducing easier conditions could undermine students' motivation to take their studies seriously, so requirements and accountability within the system need equal attention. Still, she acknowledged students need the chance to correct mistakes and improve results, provided it is part of a broader, well-considered approach rather than a standalone fix.

Planned grading changes

The Ministry of Education and Science has drafted amendments that could change how student achievement is assessed starting next school year. The changes would drop the mandatory nationwide weighting of grades, letting each school decide, and would let students improve grades during the school year rather than only at its end.

The amendments would also remove the minimum score threshold for ninth-grade exams and make the advanced-level centralized exam in upper secondary school optional rather than mandatory.