2025

Investment in the acquisition and development of educational materials 

An additional €8.9 million will be invested in the acquisition of educational materials for general education, as well as for vocationally oriented education in sports, arts, music, and dance, and for the development of educational materials, with the support of European Union (EU) funds. This is stipulated in the amendments to the regulations prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The additional funding of €8.9 million for educational materials is intended for the purchase of learning aids (books and workbooks) for general education content, educational materials for vocationally oriented education in sports, arts, music, and dance, as well as for the development of educational resources, with priority given to materials for special education needs and advanced upper-secondary school courses.

The approved amendments also foresee an expansion of the range of cooperation partners. In addition to municipalities and state vocational education institutions, the provision of educational materials will be extended to other state and private education institutions. EU fund support for educational materials is planned for all education institutions, regardless of their founder, provided they implement specific education programmes (excluding distance education) – 

• preschool programmes for children aged five and up until the start of basic education,
• general basic (integrated primary and lower-secondary) education programmes,
• general upper-secondary education programmes,
• special education programmes,
• vocational education programmes that include general education content, and
• vocationally oriented education programmes. 

The amendments also specify that funding for educational materials will be allocated based on the number of students. In 2025, an additional €5.5 million will be available for educational materials, and in 2026 – an additional €3.4 million.

This additional funding is necessary because the annual state budget earmarked grants for the purchase of educational materials are insufficient to ensure a high-quality learning process. The shortfall in funding is currently covered by the institution’s founder, within the limits of their own budget, which creates inequality in the provision of quality education. The additional funding for the acquisition and development of educational materials is being provided by reallocating resources from EU fund programmes, a solution that has been agreed upon in discussions with social partners – the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, and others.

The Cabinet regulation amendments “Amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 358 of 11 June 2024 ‘Implementation Rules for the EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027 Specific Objective 4.2.2 “To improve the quality, inclusiveness, efficiency, and labour market relevance of education and training systems, including through the validation of non-formal and informal learning, to support the acquisition of key competences, including entrepreneurial and digital skills, and to promote the implementation of dual education and apprenticeships,” Measure 4.2.2.3 “Improvement of the quality of the learning process through the development of a professional support system for teachers, activities for student excellence, and the development of methodological support materials for teachers”’” are available on the website of the Legal Acts of the Republic of Latvia.

Support for the induction year will now be available to apply for within the first two years after obtaining a teacher qualification
 

New teachers will now be able to apply for induction year support within the first two years after obtaining their qualification. As before, during one working year, they will have access to scholarships and practical professional development support to help them integrate more successfully into the school environment. 

The amendments were necessary due to the insufficient engagement of the planned target group — newly qualified teachers — in the induction year activities. By extending the application eligibility for induction year support to two years after graduation, it is expected that a larger number of new teachers will be reached and supported during the remaining course of the project. The amendments also create the opportunity for new teachers to receive professional support in the second year after graduation, in cases where they did not initially recognize the need for support.

The induction year provides systematic support to new teachers after obtaining their teaching qualification. Within the first two years of work in a school following graduation from a teacher education programme, new teachers are entitled to 

• one year of individualized support through professional development groups and lesson observation, which are essential for receiving feedback and strengthening teaching skills,
• enhance their knowledge through professional development programmes,
• a monthly scholarship of EUR 200 for 10 months.

Graduates from initial teacher education study programmes at the University of Latvia, Daugavpils University, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Riga Stradiņš University, and Riga Technical University are expected to participate in the newly established support programme.

Support for graduates of initial teacher education study programmes is provided with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU) funds. The amendments to the regulations — "Amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 403 of 13 July 2023 on the Implementation of Measure 4.2.2.7 'Implementation of the Induction Year in Teacher Education Programmes' under Specific Objective 4.2.2 of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027" — were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and are available on the official website of the Cabinet.

It is worth mentioning that according to the newest OECD TALIS 2024 survey, 78% of newly employed Latvian teachers (in the 5 years prior to the survey) have participated in formal or informal induction programmes in their school (OECD average 72%), which is 35 percentage points more than in 2018 (OECD increase - 31 percentage points). 26% of new teachers (with up to 5 years of teaching experience) have been assigned a mentor (the same as OECD average: 26%), and compared to 2018, this figure has increased by 10 percentage points in Latvia. 83% of new teachers work in schools that offer mentoring programmes (similar to the OECD average: 81%) however, in Latvian schools this is the second highest increase among OECD countries compared to 2018. 

Teaching Force programme 

With the motto "The force comes from teaching", applications for the work-based learning programme Teaching Force were open from February until March 2025. Professionals with higher education who wish to obtain a teaching qualification at the University of Latvia, Daugavpils University or Riga Technical University (RTU) Liepaja Academy, while working as a teacher in an educational institution, were invited to apply. Professionals with higher education who have not yet obtained a teaching qualification were invited to apply.

For the sixth year in a row, Teaching Force, a unique work-based pedagogical study programme in Latvia, invites professionals with higher education to obtain a qualification as a teacher. A total of 2014 applications have been received during these five years of implementing the programme, 627 applicants have passed the "Teaching Force" intake, of which 447 started their studies, while 309 teachers have now obtained their teaching qualification.

Teaching Force comprises two phases. In the first year, participants study pedagogical psychology, the professional activity of a teacher and teaching methodology in full-time studies on Fridays at the University of Latvia, Daugavpils University or RTU Liepaja Academy, while working in a school. At the end of the studies, a teacher qualification is obtained. After obtaining the qualification, participants have the opportunity in the second year to supplement their knowledge in one of the professional development programmes for teachers offered at the University of Latvia. 

Throughout the learning process, Teaching Force teachers have access to additional support in the form of a tutor, a placement supervisor and a mentor to support them in their daily school work. A supervisor is also provided when needed. Throughout their training, teachers also receive a stipend, which serves as additional support to enable them to work part-time and successfully complete their training. 

2024

Teachers will be compensated for transport and housing rental costs 

Teachers of educational institutions founded by the State and local governments will be able to receive additional remuneration, compensating for the expenses of transport and housing rent. This is provided for by the amendments to the Education Law approved by the government in August.  

The amendments to the Education Law will provide an opportunity for the founders of state or local government educational institutions to solve issues of material remuneration important to teachers related to the compensation of housing or transport expenses.
Amendments to the law are necessary in order to provide the founders of educational institutions with additional opportunities to attract new teachers and to find solutions so that housing and distance to school do not create obstacles to attracting teachers to the profession. Often, it is the distance to the educational institution and the expenses associated with renting a home that is the reason why teachers have to choose another place of work or type of employment. 

The amendments to the Law provide for possibilities for the founder of educational institutions to determine the conditions, amount and procedures by which teachers are compensated for the expenses incurred. In relation to educational institutions founded by the State, it will be determined by the Cabinet, but for other educational institutions - by their founder. The founder of educational institutions will be able to constantly determine, for example, whether only public transport or only personal expenses, or both, are compensated. The founder of the educational institution will be able to decide under what circumstances the expenses are compensated, for example, the teacher lives at a certain distance from the educational institution and does not have the opportunity to get to the workplace by public transport. 

The amendments to the law complement the initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) so far in order to create the attractiveness of the pedagogical profession and motivation to choose work in educational institutions. The MoES has purposefully ensured and continues to attract additional funding for raising teachers' salaries over the past two years, ensuring the raising of the minimum salary rate, which since 1 January 2024 reaches EUR 1526 per 40-hour working week. According to the approved schedule for increasing the salary of teachers, from January 1, 2025, it is planned to raise the minimum wage to 1656 euros for a 40-hour working week. The MoES also solves important issues related to support for pedagogical studies by providing scholarships, budget study places, as well as repayment of study loans.

As of January 1, teachers' salaries are increasing

From January 1, 2024, the minimum salary rate for teachers will increase by 12%, while for preschool teachers it will increase by 23%, equalizing it with the lowest monthly salary rate for other general education teachers.  

To ensure high-quality and high-quality education, while continuing to increase the salary of teachers, the Ministry of Education and Science has prepared a conceptually new model of financing teachers' wages. In general, the 2024 state budget provides an additional 96.2 million euros for increasing teachers' salaries. The lowest hourly rate for teachers increases from 8.50 euros to 9.54 euros from January 1, which is 12.2% more than before, reaching 1374 euros per month for a workload of 36 hours a week.  

The minimum hourly wage rate for preschool teachers will increase from the current 7.75 euros or 1240 euros per month to 9.54 euros, which is 23.1% more than before, reaching 1526 euros per month for a 40-hour work week. 

The lowest monthly salary rates for heads of general education and interest education institutions, as well as educational methodologists, are also increased. According to the salary increase schedule for teachers approved by the government, the lowest monthly salary rate for teachers for a 36-hour work week will reach 1490 euros from January 1, 2025. The previous increase in the minimum salary rate for teachers to 1020 euros was ensured from September 1, 2023.

2023

Local governments have access to the EU funding for the creation of a modern and comfortable learning environment in special education institutions

To improve the quality and accessibility of special education, municipalities in Latvia invest 14.7 million euros from the European Union funding, promoting the learning performance of students, and creating a learning environment that contributes to the well-being of students and teachers. 

With the support of available EU funds, local governments will be able to improve modern, comfortable, and accessible infrastructure and learning environment in thirty special education institutions. With the available support for the introduction of modern teaching methods and techniques, there will be opportunities to modernize the classrooms, also ensuring the purchase of appropriate furniture and specialized equipment, the introduction of information and communication technologies and solutions. To improve household and improving self-care and independent skills of students, the available funding provides opportunities for municipalities to make investments as well in improving the boarding school infrastructure of special education institutions and equipment, as well as in development of territories, including for sports activities. 

One of the basic principles of the Latvian education system is to provide equal opportunities to receive a good education for every child, regardless of the family's financial situation and educational institution locations. It is planned that when implementing investment projects, municipalities will help to improve the network of special educational institutions. In case of implementation of the projects, no more than one although strong and modernized special education institution will be established in local governments (except for the city of Rīga). Thus, it is planned that seven special education institutions and six places of implementation of special education programmes will be reorganized. Changes in the network of special education institutions are implemented to ensure quality education and provide full support for children with special needs.
 

Local governments and private schools will provide meals to Ukrainian students in the same amount as in state educational institutions

For minor citizens of Ukraine who are studying primary education programmes in grades 1-4 in educational institutions, meals in municipal and private schools will be covered from the state budget in the same amount as it is covered for one Latvian student in a state educational institution, the government decided in November.

The Ministry of Education and Science has calculated that 233 604 euros will be needed to provide free lunches for Ukrainian refugee students for the period from September to December this year, and 295 151 euros for the period from January to May 2024.
 

The government provides additional funding for participation in school subject olympiads and science events

With the additional support of the European Union (EU) funds participation, transport, insurance and other costs will be provided for students in subject Olympiads and scientific research competitions at the national and international level in the 2022/2023 school year. This is foreseen by the amendments to the regulations prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, which were approved by the government in May 2023.

It is planned that the allocated funding will ensure students' participation in the international mathematics and physics olympiads in Japan, the biology olympiad in the United Arab Emirates, the geography olympiad in Indonesia, as well as scientific research work in the GENIUS olympiad in the United States.

During the implementation of the project, a total of 195,379 students and 7,386 teachers were involved in various events for the development of students' talents. During six years, Latvian students have won 20 gold, 72 silver, 147 bronze medals and 56 certificates of appreciation for participation in international subject olympiads and scientific research contests at international events.