Last year 28 previously convicted persons allowed to work as teachers in Latvia
According to the State Education Quality Service’s annual review, 28 out of 31 applicants with prior convictions were granted permission to work as teachers in 2025, while three were refused.
In 2025, the Personnel Evaluation Commission of the State Education Quality Service received 31 applications from people with prior convictions who wanted to work as teachers. A permit was granted in 28 cases, while three applicants were refused. According to the service, none of the issued permits included restrictions concerning the groups of students the teacher is allowed to work with.
Decisions are made in accordance with the Education Law and Cabinet of Ministers regulations. The law stipulates that a person convicted of an intentional criminal offence cannot work as a teacher. An exception may be made only after the conviction has been expunged or removed, if the service evaluates that it will not harm students’ interests and grants a permit.
When assessing risks, the service takes into account the type and nature of the offence, the person’s attitude towards it, as well as the time elapsed and the person’s activities since the offence. It also considers potential risks to students’ health, safety, intellectual and physical development, the person’s ability to perform general teaching duties and other relevant factors.
In addition, last year the service continued to advise school principals and teachers on the evaluation procedure and carried out personnel checks in the Ministry of the Interior’s Punishment Register before accreditation of educational institutions and professional assessment of school heads.
