To implement a systemic approach of developing VET provider investment and development strategies in line with the national education strategy 2021-27 and in compliance with the education ministry's manual.
To follow a uniform structure approach for these strategies and include clear goals in line with VET priorities at national level.
To encourage VET providers to set ambitious development goals allowing for growth and competitiveness at national and international levels.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Future development of every VET provider is to be stated in its development strategy, shaped in consultation with the sectoral expert councils and local municipalities. The strategies are aligned with the sectoral and regional development plans.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To implement a system preventing early school leaving and rendering timely and individualised support to young people at risk of dropping out.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The ESF project Support for reducing early school leaving (PUMPURS) aims at reducing the number of learners leaving education and training early. The project promotes the creation of a sustainable cooperation system between the municipality, educational institutions, educators, support staff and parents or representatives of the learners, in order to identify learners at risk of interrupting their studies and provide them with personalised support.
Educators are given the opportunity to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To establish the VET graduate tracking system and make the annual data/analysis available online.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The policy development envisages creating a coordinated approach to VET graduate tracking. It involves stakeholders, especially those dealing with statistics and taxation systems, and is based on the experience accumulated by the higher education graduate tracking and international experience.
The concept proposed by the education ministry is based on the analysis of available administrative data regarding the employment and income of VET graduates. The framework for graduate tracking...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To improve approaches to developing and implementing VET curricula and examination as well as recognition of prior learning.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
VET provision, curricula, examination
In December 2016, the ESF project 'Development of sectoral qualifications system for vocational education development and quality assurance' was launched to develop new occupational standards and modular VET programmes for most of professional qualifications (sectoral qualifications).
In 2017, amendments to the Vocational Education Law specified the legal framework for the modularisation of VET programmes. VET modules were included in the State vocational...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To ensure accessibility of career education in all general and vocational education schools; and Latvia's participation in the Euroguidance network aimed at supporting the development of the European dimension of lifelong guidance, supporting competence development of guidance practitioners, and providing information and communication on the European dimension of guidance.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In December 2015, the Government adopted regulations on career education. Within this framework, the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) launched a national ESF project Career support in general and vocational education schools (2016-20) to ensure accessibility of career education in all general and vocational education schools. New methodological materials were developed. In 2017-18, more than 20 seminars and two national conferences for schools' career guidance teachers/specialists...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To ensure that all VET providers apply a common procedure and criteria for awarding scholarships.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Regulations on scholarships have been amended to ensure the principle of equality and provide for a clear procedure for awarding scholarships, thus ensuring that all VET providers apply common basic criteria for eligibility and amount of scholarships. The regulations set the criteria, purpose and procedure for awarding scholarships and their amount.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To introduce apprenticeships in formal VET and promote sustainable collaboration mechanisms for apprenticeship/ WBL implementation.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Work-based learning approaches have been developed and implemented through a complex of interventions financed by the State budget, European Social fund, Erasmus+ and other EU programmes.
The Erasmus+ project 'National authorities for apprenticeships: Implementing work-based learning in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (WBL-Balt), the Baltic alliance for apprenticeships (BAfA)' was launched in June 2015 to develop and promote conceptual approaches for WBL, as well as ensure exchange of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To improve the education quality monitoring system based on statistical information, the results of comparative educational research, the achievement of students at the national level and other indicators characterising the results of the work of education institutions: analysis of the results of centralised examination and accreditation and licensing, as well as evaluation of the quality of teachers' work, the use and analysis of information, taking into account the medium and long-term...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The national approach to quality assurance was reviewed in 2016 and the outcomes of the review have been published. As a result, the Cabinet of Ministers approved new regulations concerning the procedures for accrediting education institutions, examination centres, general and vocational education programmes and evaluating the professional activity of heads of schools. The revision also supported the increased use of EQAVET indicators, including the collection of data on teachers and...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To review and increase the basic funding of VET programmes.
To ensure that VET providers under the auspices of local governments and other founders are eligible to receive State budget financing.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2019, a focus group was established to revise the basic funding for VET programmes in line with actual costs. The Union of Local Governments of Latvia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Culture participated in the group work.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To provide legal arrangements making modern tools and instruments, which have been tested in various projects, compulsory in VET.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Amendments to the law should allow students to receive a State-recognised partial vocational qualifications, thus promoting a competence-based approach in VET.
Introducing modular VET programmes should significantly reduce the time needed to respond to labour market skill demands. The content of the developed modular vocational education programmes needs to be flexible in vocational basic education, pre-secondary vocational education, vocational secondary education, vocational continuing...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To improve adult education offer (more individualised and flexible), develop VET modular programmes for adults, provide support for employers to upskill and reskill employees, upgrade skills recognition, and improve financing (socially responsible and sustainable), quality, governance and awareness (public and employer) of adult education.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Several activities support implementing the national policy for adult education:
updating the information about adult education and its policy making, linking the European Union and State priorities in adult education;
promoting the development of EU programmes in adult education and the dissemination of results in Latvia;
developing recommendations Upskilling pathways, to help those implementing adult education to implement education in a quality manner, observing the quality criteria set by...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The overarching goal of the national education strategy (guidelines) for 2021-27 called Future skills for the future society, is to provide for quality education to help realise people's potential, develop their ability to adapt and responsibly manage constant changes in society and the economy.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
There are four main areas of development envisaged in the national education strategy 2021-27:
Highly competent educators
Highly competent educational staff implies the training, attraction and retention of outstanding teachers and academic staff, as well as systematic and purposeful professional development, methodological and consultative support. Stimulating the motivation of teachers and academic staff is also important.
Availability of quality education to everyone
Quality education...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since 2016 the National Centre for Education (VISC) has been developing sectoral qualifications frameworks as part of vocational education reform supported by a 2016-21 ESF project. The frameworks have been developed in cooperation with sectoral experts and correspond to national qualifications framework levels 2 to 7. The project includes the development of:
occupational standards;
vocational education content;
modular vocational education programmes;
teaching/learning aids;
assessment...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The national education strategy (guidelines) 2021-27, sets highly qualified, competent and excellence-oriented teachers a priority. The strategic aim is to revise approaches to teacher training and improve status and prestige of the teaching profession.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Strengthening strategic approaches to the training of teachers:
annual identification of training needs for teachers based on evidence and using advanced teacher skills' assessment tools and methods;
targeted and needs-based planning of teacher training at municipal level, providing equivalent support facilities for all educators;
developing unified, coordinated and monitored VET by ensuring effective cooperation between stakeholders in teacher professional development;
support for...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since 2015, legislation has allowed secondary education students to choose between nationally organised centralised state exams in foreign languages and recognised international foreign language exams.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
19 vocational and higher education institutions have developed e-career platforms where employers can advertise practice placements and job offers for students. Career e-platforms are websites where the employer can easily register and post practice placements or jobs to students. Students can view, save and apply for these ads. It is no longer necessary for the employer to send word or pdf advertisements to the school, and contact the school administration if any corrections or changes are...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To integrate the long-term unemployed into society by engaging them in permanent employment or relevant training, thus reducing a risk of social exclusion.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In January 2016, the State Employment Agency (NVA) started the ESF 2016-21 project Support for the long-term unemployed. The target group of the project is those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more, or who have addiction problems that impede finding a job.
Professional rehabilitation for people with disabilities is provided by the Social Integration State Agency. In February 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers approved new procedures by which a person receives State-funded professional...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A national team of ECVET experts is in place since 2014 to promote general understanding of ECVET principles and provide informative support to vocational schools.
In 2017-18, several seminars and an international conference were organised with the participation of ECVET experts on the practical application of ECVET principles. In 2018, ECVET National experts prepared the e-brochure Why ECVET, and organised a webinar addressed to representatives of vocational and adult education, teachers,...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To promote a clear structure of qualifications and standards.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Latvian qualifications framework (LQF) is a comprehensive eight-level framework covering formal education and training, including VET. It is a framework for developing standards and qualifications, and promoting quality in education and training.
All VET diplomas include a reference to LQF.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The implementation plan adopted in June 2015 provides directions for improving the access to education and preventing early school leaving from general and vocational education, especially for young people subjected to social exclusion. Measures include scholarships in initial vocational education; a Youth guarantee scheme providing opportunity for young people to acquire a professional qualification in a short time (one to one-and-a-half year initial vocational education programmes);...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To strengthen the role of advisory bodies supporting the development of quality IVET programmes in line with the needs of the labour market.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Social partners (employer and employee organisations) have been actively involved in the design of the implementing regulations of apprenticeship through participation in the sectoral expert councils. The 2017 amendments of the VET law strengthen the role of the councils in their various roles: promote cooperation between companies and schools; evaluate and collect information about the companies involved in apprenticeship; consult companies on issues related to apprenticeship; evaluate the...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The overall aim of the activity is to raise the overall competitiveness of Latvian VET system and VET providers, with a particular emphasis on Baltic collaboration. Internationalisation has been set as a priority in individual development strategies 2021-27 of VET institutions. BAfA aims to share experience in implementing vocational education reforms in the Baltics, with the focus on introducing work-based learning and apprenticeships, and to promote examples of good practice.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2014, the Erasmus+ project National authorities for apprenticeships: Implementing work-based learning in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (WBL-Balt)' was launched, led by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. The project partners were: the Ministry of Education and Science (Latvia), Employers' Confederation of Latvia, National Centre for Education (Latvia), Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia, Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania), Qualifications and Vocational...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education and Science
The Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia
