Latvia's Crackdown on Russian in Education Sparks Controversy

Latvia is moving forward with a policy to remove Russian from all schools, a decision that is particularly impacting cities with significant Russian-speaking communities such as Daugavpils. The new law, which comes into force on September 1, mandates that schools teach exclusively in Latvian, forcing educators and students alike to abandon their native language. This initiative has already led to protests, with numerous teachers resigning after facing mandatory Latvian language proficiency tests, a measure that has sparked heated debates.

In Daugavpils, the heart of Latvia’s Russian-speaking population, the consequences have been immediate, as many educators have chosen to leave their positions rather than undergo the proficiency checks being enforced by the State Language Center. Inspections have been conducted in several schools since January, leading to a significant surge in teacher resignations even before the examinations could take place. At one major secondary school, for instance, a substantial number of staff members resigned either immediately upon learning of the exams or after failing the tests.

Local administrators, such as principal Kristīne Ivantsova, have reported significant disruptions in school operations, including increased class sizes and altered schedules for subjects like mathematics and English. Ivantsova criticized the responses of some teachers, suggesting that the language tests were manageable and that the resignations were based on an overreaction to the policy.

The government’s position is underscored by statements from Justice Minister Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, who emphasized focusing the language checks on those teachers previously identified as not meeting the requirements. This move is part of a broader trend in Latvia, where similar restrictions have been applied to Russian-language university programs, media channels, and cultural organizations.

Internationally, the policy has drawn criticism from Moscow and human rights advocates, who view the measures as a systematic infringement on the rights of Russian speakers. The controversy is heightened by Latvia’s shrinking population and its ongoing challenges with integrating a sizable ethnic minority, many of whom hold “non-citizen” status, limiting their access to various rights in the country.