Latvian government postpones decision on changes to school assessment rules
Latvia's cabinet on Tuesday did not review Education Ministry proposals to overhaul how students are graded, pushing the decision to August 31. Coalition partners and education stakeholders warn the changes are being rushed just before the new school year.
Latvia's government did not, as originally planned, discuss on August 25 the Education and Science Ministry's (IZM) proposed amendments to basic and general secondary education standards, which would significantly change how student achievement is assessed, including rules for centralized exams. Finance Minister Māris Kučinskis said after a coalition meeting that the issue would instead be addressed on August 31.
Economy Minister Viktors Valainis called the delay unwelcome, noting that the school year starts in a week and uncertainty persists among parents, school principals and teachers. The Union of Greens and Farmers plans to meet with Education Minister Ilze Indriksone this week to discuss the reform, arguing it should be postponed and debated more thoroughly. Arvils Ašeradens of the New Unity party said his party is also ready to block the ministry's initiatives, arguing such reforms should be finalized by May rather than days before September 1.
What the amendments propose
The ministry proposes dropping the nationally mandated principle of weighting summative grades, letting each school decide instead. Schools would also be required to give students at least one chance per subject to improve a grade during the school year, rather than only at year's end.
A key proposal would eliminate the minimum score threshold on centralized exams in grade 9 — the exams would remain, but results would no longer determine whether a student receives a basic education certificate. For secondary education, the ministry proposes ending the requirement that all students take one advanced-level centralized exam, while keeping four mandatory state exams.
Criticism from the education sector
The Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees and the Latvian Parents' Organization have criticized the changes, saying there has been insufficient time for evaluation. Andris Priekulis, principal of Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, urged in an open letter that the government finalize decisions by September 1 or formally postpone the changes and keep current rules in place. The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments has also urged caution on scrapping the exam threshold and introducing a new exam this school year.
