Riga - Latvia

The students in our school learn form 1st all the way until 12th from ages 6-19. Our school has a fouryear primary school course, a five-year elementary school course and a three-year middle school course. We have a general education program. But In middle school we have two specified in-depth courses – in mathematics or in informatics. Our school has an in-depth study course in Mathematics and Politics. Students take part in many activities and competitions issued by the European Parliament.
Also, there is a specially developed business course and because of it students take part in a national level business fair. The values for which in the educational process of students are developing the understanding of the life, health and safety, as well as spirituality and morality, respectful, responsible and tolerant human natural relationships. In Latvia, to implement these tasks, the State Education Quality Service is implementing the European Social Fund project "Support for reducing ESL", "PuMPuRS" This project was launched in the last academic year and will be implemented by 31 December 2022. The target group of the project is pupils from 5th to 12th grade of comprehensive school, as well as students of vocational education institutions from 1st to 4th year. The project is implemented in cooperation with city and county municipalities and state vocational education institutions. Within this framework, pupils at risk of ESL receive individual support at school (training in subjects, support from a psychologist and other specialists, compensation for accommodation, catering or transport, etc.). It is planned to involve at least 80% of municipalities in Latvia, covering 614 general and vocational education institutions. The project promotes the development of a sustainable cooperation system between the municipality, school, educators and parents to identify children and young people at risk of early school leaving and provide them with personalized support. Teachers are given the opportunity to professionally develop and strengthen their skills for working with young people.
There will also be a single database that will provide regular exchange of information at national, municipal and school level on identified pupils and students at risk of dropping out, preventive measures taken and their outcomes. Firstly, it will provide full-fledged statistics and, secondly, will allow the effectiveness of the measures to be assessed in the long term. The project also supports initiatives by young NGOs to raise awareness of the problem of early school leaving among young people, to reach out to peers and to involve them in activities. Another important issue in Latvia and in our school is the issue of career. The school has a special plan for working with pupils in each class to make the right choice for the profession, especially for pupils in grades 9 and 12 who complete a certain period of study.