Experts Call for Unified Minimum of Teaching Aids in Latvian Schools

Need for a Clear Minimum of Teaching Aids

Latvia has allocated €9,129,452 from the state budget for teaching aids in 2026, or €35.20 per child. However, there is currently no defined minimum set of materials that this funding should cover. The Ministry of Education and Science has also pointed out this issue.

Printed Materials Essential in Primary School

For primary school children, the minimum must include printed materials, as children at this age are learning to write, follow a work sequence, and track their progress. A workbook allows children to see their progress, correct mistakes, and continue from where they left off, whereas separate photocopied sheets are more fragile and can be lost or treated as one-off tasks. Printed aids help build learning habits.

Digital Tools as Targeted Supplements

Digital tools in primary school should be used for specific pedagogical purposes, such as varying lessons or reinforcing a topic. They cannot replace printed materials for daily work where children need to write, correct, and continue themselves. In older grades, digital solutions can play a larger role, for example, in information research and self-assessment.

Inequality Between Schools

Without a defined minimum, a child's resources depend on the school and municipality. Some schools have textbooks and workbooks, while others rely on teacher-prepared materials and photocopies. This increases teacher workload and creates uncertainty for children and parents. A unified minimum would ensure every child receives the necessary foundation for learning, regardless of location.

Minimum Should Be Tied to Age Group

Experts stress that the minimum should be a pedagogical standard linking age group, learning objectives, and required tools. For primary school, this means printed materials; for older students, digital solutions can be more prominent. The state should define what foundation is needed for a four-year-old, a primary school student, and a secondary school student, and ensure funding reaches its goal and is verifiable.