On 16 July, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Inga Vanaga, Chairperson of the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees, and her Deputy, Irina Avdejeva, at the Jūrmala residence. The meeting focused on the national budget preparation process, progress in the implementation of the “Programme at School” initiative, and proposals for reducing bureaucracy in the field of education. The President also listened to the union’s perspectives on support systems for teachers and school administrations, the application of artificial intelligence in schools, and the strengthening of professional autonomy for teachers.
“Far too many teachers leave the profession within their first five years. Every teacher’s departure is a significant loss. It is our shared responsibility to provide more targeted support for the new generation of teachers and to ensure a well-deserved retirement for those who have devoted their lives to education.
Unfortunately, bureaucracy has also entered the daily routine of teachers. While school practices vary, teachers frequently cite excessive requirements for documenting student performance assessments, as well as in reporting on student consultations and the implementation of individual learning plans. This detracts from the time and energy that could otherwise be devoted to working with children.
Municipalities, school leaders, trade union experts, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and supervisory institutions, must to agree on specific measures to remove those obstacles which we impose ourselves, whether for the sake of control, monitoring or self-protection. This must be a collective effort, aimed at abandoning the unnecessary, simplifying the excessively complex, and achieving a better balance between trust in the teacher’s work, reasonable supervision, and constructive parental involvement in the educational process,” said President Rinkēvičs.
