On Thursday, 18 June, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Education Law aimed at strengthening the professional autonomy of teachers, while improving the governance of educational institutions and cooperation mechanisms.
The quality and sustainability of the education process are closely linked to teachers’ professional autonomy, the development of their competences, and their ability to make independent professional decisions. As noted in the explanatory report to the draft law, the previous regulatory framework did not sufficiently clearly enshrine teachers’ rights to professional freedom in the implementation of the learning process, nor did it adequately emphasise teachers’ right to decide on the development of their professional competence as a precondition for high-quality education.
Accordingly, the amendments are necessary to enshrine in law the teacher’s right to independently implement the content of a subject or course, as well as to choose teaching methods, resources, and assessment approaches, in compliance with the national pre-school education guidelines, the state education standard, and the relevant educational programme.
The amendments also clarify the involvement of parents in the education process, emphasising shared responsibility and the need to respect teachers’ professional autonomy. They provide that individual proposals by parents regarding improvements to the education process are to be discussed in the council of the educational institution. Directors of educational institutions will be required to establish procedures for resolving significant differences of opinion and disputes between teachers and the student’s family in matters related to education.
As indicated by the authors of the draft law—the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee—situations frequently arise in practice where substantial disagreements occur between a student’s family and a teacher regarding the organisation of the learning process, assessment, support measures, or other aspects of education. The lack of clear resolution mechanisms in such cases may negatively affect both the work of the teacher and the interests of the learner.
The amendments will help promote the timely and professional resolution of conflict situations, reduce tensions, and ensure a balanced assessment of the interests of all parties involved.
The Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees has previously expressed support for advancing the amendments in the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee, noting that teachers in practice experience a lack of balance between their rights, duties, and responsibilities. The amendments adopted by the Saeima represent a step towards restoring this balance.
Saeima Press Service