Latvia Education and Researchers’ Union (LIZDA) At an extraordinary meeting of the Council on Thursday, November 12, the Minister of Education and Science Ilga Šuplinskas had not yet decided to demand the resignation, LizDA Chairwoman Inga Vanaga informed journalists at a press conference.
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The Minister has been given time until November 23 to respond to the requirements set by LIZDA. At the trade union meeting on November 25, they will be considered and it will be assessed whether to demand the resignation of the minister.
“After hearing the Minister’s opinion, it is disappointing, the Minister allows to express the opinion that everything is in order, but in reality it is different. We continue to speak two different languages and do not approach dialogue. The Minister acknowledges the shortcomings in training, Vanaga.
The union has put forward a total of 15 demands, on which the minister must give his vision by 23 November. Vanaga mentions as the most important the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the qualitative and quantitative criteria of schools, which envisage a reduction of funding if the school does not meet these criteria.
“We expect whether and within what timeframe LIZDA’s demands will be heard – whether amendments will be made, whether funding will be found and whether a culture of dialogue will be developed. LIZDA’s response will depend on this. demands – it will already confirm a change of attitude. It will prove that not only listen, but also hear, “Vanaga pointed out.
At the press conference, Šuplinska confirmed that the ministry will try to answer the questions raised by LIZDA within the set deadline, marking the course of the set reforms and the issues that are being updated in the ministry.
“On the one hand, it is relatively difficult to solve even the smallest educational problem by dictating requirements. Both the letter and the list of problems contain those problems that have not worsened in the last two years – it is a systemic disorder,
It has already been reported that trade union members questioned and listened to Šuplinskas and others. IZM representatives of, in the opinion of the trade union, the low-quality reforms in the field of education. It should be recalled that LIZDA made several demands: Minister Šuplinskas to apologize to the industry for its attitude; Resources must be allocated for the implementation of reforms – who, when and by what means will be necessary for the full implementation of reforms, and significant reforms must be implemented in consultation with the social and cooperation partners.
LIZDA also previously requested coordination with the social partners in case of amendments to the regulatory enactments with the aim to reduce the spread of Covid-19, to reimburse the expenses for distance learning; to make amendments to the specified regulatory enactments, to revoke the submitted amendments in others and to introduce the improved workload and remuneration as of 1 September 2021.
The Ministry of Education and Science has indicated that now the industry has an opportunity to allocate more funding than before – additional funding allocated to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 and stimulate the economy in 2020 and 2021 is 57.2 million euros, which includes more than 6,000 computers delivered to Latvian schools. The establishment of an internationally acclaimed “Your Classroom” teaching video platform, the “middle mile” of broadband infrastructure, providing quality internet for schools, digitization of curricula, strengthening the excellence of scientific institutions, increasing the number and number of scholarships, supporting the sports industry and other activities.
In its turn, the basic funding for teachers’ salaries in 2021 has been increased by 40.5 million euros.
By submitting the informative report “On the Preconditions for Ensuring Quality General Secondary Education”, The Ministry of Education and Science indicated that it is aware of the expenses of schools and local governments in organizing the distance learning process and will look for solutions if the increase of these expenses will be related to distance learning. The ministry is currently preparing a report in which funding from the MES budget has been found in the amount of more than 1 million euros to support the work of teachers.
Support mechanisms include the provision of free digital literacy training for teachers. Vacancies are still available in the courses and the MES encourages teachers to make active use of them. The Ministry of Education and Science also encourages the redistribution of more than 1 million euros to provide support to educational institutions for the purchase of digital and other teaching aids.
The wide range of support activities includes webinars on the practical application of distance learning guidelines, regular online consultations for teachers on the “zoom” platform, online meetings with learning leaders.
Samples of teaching aids developed within the framework of the “School2030” project 1, 4, 7, 10. class are available on site http://mape.skola2030.lv, they are downloadable, transferable and in a changeable format. Currently, the “TavaKlase.lv” platform has also been improved, the search option for the existing 1,200 video lessons for grades 1-6, 9th and 12th will be available from December 2020. New training videos will be published gradually, including on terrestrial TV – from January 2021.
It has already been reported that a decision on hasty and low-quality reforms in education has been made at the extraordinary meeting of the Board of LIZDA request explanations from several officials and the New Conservative Party.
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