Latvia to Phase Out Russian as Second Foreign Language in Schools

On April 21, 2024, Latvia's Education Ministry decided to progressively eliminate Russian as a second foreign language in schools, affecting 37.7% of the population who speak Russian as their mother tongue. This decision is part of the country's ongoing de-Russification efforts, as reported by Delfi.

The Latvian government is expected to make a decision on April 23 regarding the incremental removal of Russian as a second foreign language in schools. Currently, Russian is taught in almost half of Latvian schools, but from the 2026/27 academic year, pupils will have to choose one of the official EU languages as their second language.

The changes proposed by the Ministry stipulate that starting from the 2026/2027 school year, schools will have to gradually offer students one of the recognized languages of the European Union or member states of the European Economic Area, or a foreign language regulated by intergovernmental agreements on education, as a second foreign language.

During the public discussion, a large number of objections were reportedly received from individuals and representatives of various associations, most of which were directed against the phased removal of Russian as a second foreign language in schools. Critics argued that children should not be restricted in learning their mother tongue and should be free to decide which language they want to learn, and that the abandonment of Russian for political reasons is unacceptable.

The decision has reignited debates on language policy and cultural identity in Latvia, with proponents seeing it as aligning with EU integration and fostering linguistic diversity, while opponents view it as infringing upon linguistic rights and eroding cultural heritage.

Why this matters: The decision to phase out Russian as a second foreign language in Latvian schools has significant implications for the country's language environment and its ongoing efforts to distance itself from Russian influence. This move is likely to have far-reaching effects on the education system, cultural identity, and social dynamics within Latvia.

The Latvian government has defended the policy, stating that it is a reasonable request for residents to have fundamental understanding of the national language and that there has been ample time for residents to learn it. This decision aligns with Latvia's support for Ukraine and mirrors similar measures taken by neighboring countries, highlighting the ongoing changes in the Baltic region's language and cultural environment.

Key Takeaways

• Latvia to phase out Russian as 2nd foreign language in schools by 2026/27.
• 37.7% of Latvians speak Russian as their mother tongue, affected by the change.
• Proposed changes require schools to offer EU/EEA languages as 2nd foreign language.
• Decision sparks debates on language policy and cultural identity in Latvia.
• Latvian govt defends policy as aligning with EU integration and linguistic diversity.