Latvia: adult skill development in focus

The event marked a significant milestone presenting the OECD Adult Skills Survey data from Latvia showing objective outcomes of its education system, which can be compared to other country data.

The conference also presented initial results after introducing the individual learning account (ILA) approach, and launched the skills management platform developed by the State Education Development Agency and supported by the European Union Recovery Fund. These tools are essential for building a unified and sustainable adult education system.

The platform allows learners to find the most suitable education programme based on their needs, including continuous vocational education programmes, professional development education programmes, non-formal education programmes, distance learning programmes, modular vocational education programmes, higher education courses and modules.

The ILA approach supports recognition of professional competences acquired outside the formal education system. It follows the example of similar initiatives in other countries, such as France, by covering direct educational costs such as tuition fees, as well as associated expenses such as transportation cost for disadvantaged groups. Unlike in Denmark, the ILA approach does not cover learner remuneration during their studies, leading more to an evening and weekend learning schedule.

The conference concluded with an award ceremony for the 2024 ‘Sun Boat’ travelling award for adult non-formal education. This award honours significant contribution to advancing non-formal education for adults, fostering quality learning processes and supporting innovative education initiatives. The ‘Sun Boat’ award, now in its ninth year, highlights the Ministry’s commitment to recognising excellence and innovation in adult education.