Education in Latvia

Education in Latvia is free and compulsory until the age of 15, or through the completion of primary school.

Education system is administered at three levels - national, municipal and institutional. The Parliament (Saeima), the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Education and Science are the main decision-making bodies at a national level. The Ministry of Education and Science is the education policy-making institution that also issues the licenses for opening comprehensive education institutions and sets educational standards along with the teacher training content and procedures.

Educational System

Pre-school education (ISCED level 0)

Basic education (ISCED level 1 and 2)

Secondary Education (ISCED level 3)

Post-secondary non-tertiary vocational education (ISCED level 4)

Tertiary Education (ISCED level 4-5) 

Postgraduate education (ISCED level 6)

Special needs education
Special schools or special education classes within general education schools provide education for children with special needs that correspond to their individual health condition. The structure of special education is very similar to that of the mainstream education providing opportunities for persons with special needs to attain knowledge in general education subjects as well as general skills with strong emphasis on applicability of the acquired knowledge and skills in order to facilitate social inclusion.