The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) in Latvia proposed amendments to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians on 23 February 2024, in order to impose a mandatory requirement for people displaced from Ukraine to study in Latvian education institutions.

According to IZM, the current system allowing parents displaced from Ukraine to decide that their children will continue studying remotely in Ukrainian schools - rather than in person in Latvia - negatively affects not only the social development of these children but also their integration into wider Latvian society.

The main cause of this, IZM states, is the lack of opportunity afforded them to develop Latvian language skills if they study remotely in Ukraine. IZM is therefore proposing that €4 million be allocated to delivering additional Latvian language classes, teaching assistants and learning materials.

The proposal still needs to be approved by the government's Cabinet of Ministers, the highest executive power of the state. Once it has been, schools can expect to see their pupil numbers rise by approximately 30%, with an expected minimum of 2 600 children displaced from Ukraine starting school in Latvia in September 2024.