Despite initial false hopes, the war in Ukraine has been in progress for year, with no end in sight. At the beginning of this year, there were almost 35,000 Ukrainian refugees in our country. Starting their life virtually from scratch in a foreign environment, where the language is unknown, is not an easy task for them. However, the newcomers often attempt to pursue their previously learned specialities in Latvia as well, which include teaching. This is to give information on how the process is organised and the legal framework which must be complied with for Ukrainian teachers to be able to fully perform their teaching duties in Latvia.

More refugees, fewer pupils

Although the number of Ukrainian refugees in our country has generally increased since the beginning of the war, the number of their children in Latvian schools has decreased. According to the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), there were 4,144 pupils last May, while this year, the number decreased by one thousand pupils. Last May, 41 Ukrainian citizens worked at the educational institutions of Latvia, but at the end of the year, according to the data of the National Centre for Education (NCE), approximately 250 Ukrainian teachers had expressed their wish to work in Latvia. However, not everyone has made it so far, since the path to full integration into the profession is quite complex.

Data on Ukrainian pupils and teachers in Latvian schools is highly variable, which is clearly illustrated by the example of Sigulda Municipality. A year ago, the municipality was considered a pioneer in using the experience of Ukrainian teachers.

For instance, according to Inga Reķe, the head of the Sigulda Municipal Education Board:

"At the end of March last year, as the war in Ukraine started, our municipality enrolled 22 pre-school children and 69 schoolchildren at municipal educational institutions. Most of the pupils and their families were concentrated in Mālpils, since the municipality was able to provide temporary accommodation there. Mālpils Secondary School initially employed six teachers – a teacher of English, a speech therapist working with Ukrainian children with special needs, a basketball coach and three teaching assistants. Two Ukrainian teachers worked as teaching assistants at the pre-school educational institution of Mālpils Rural Territory, while the Ukrainian teaching assistant of the pre-school education institution ‘Tornīši’ in Sigulda has learnt Latvian and passed the A1 level Latvian language test. Teaching assistants support pupils on a daily basis by translating the curriculum at the beginning, helping children to integrate into their class teams, and organising the leisure time of children."

However, there are currently only 11 Ukrainian children in kindergartens and 29 in schools of Sigulda Municipality. Currently, three teaching assistants and a basketball coach are still working at Mālpils Secondary School.

"These people are trying to learn Latvian, while the other teachers and their children have returned to Ukraine, or most of them – to a European country, where they can find better-paid jobs in English or German," says I. Reķe. "Ukrainian teachers are very supportive, helpful and have provided huge support to their Ukrainian children and also to Latvian children who experienced the integration of foreign pupils into their classrooms, as the number of pupils in a class increased by several new children every day. It was a serious test of mutual understanding, respect and humanity for both children and adults."

There is another reason why not all Ukrainian children attend Latvian schools. This is the option of distance learning in Ukraine, which allows avoiding the difficulties of learning Latvian, translating learning materials and other factors. For Instance, Irina, a mother of five, who moved to Riga with her family last spring, tells that her daughters previously studied at a lyceum in Sumi. When she started to inquire about education for her daughters in Latvia, it turned out that primary school curriculum here was a year behind the Ukrainian one. In order not to complicate the resumption of school after the war, the family opted for distance learning at the lyceum, which is, reportedly, quite successful.

Regulations and documents for the support of Ukrainian teachers

Ukrainians do come and go, but some of them have decided to stay in Latvia at least until they have a safe sky and shelter in their homeland again, and, therefore, a procedure has been set up to integrate teachers from the war-torn country into the Latvian education system.

As Senior Desk Officer of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education
Jeļena Semjonkina-Getmaņuka explains, Ukrainian teachers currently have three pathways to being employed in their profession.

The first one is coordinated by the National Centre for Education (NCE) in accordance with Part One, Section 15 of the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians, regarding the work of Ukrainian teachers with Ukrainian pupils.

The second – the submission of documents to the Ministry of Education and Science, which is temporarily free of charge and is governed by Part Four, Section 15 of the aforementioned Law: “The procedures stipulated by the Cabinet for the provision of temporary professional services in a regulated profession in the Republic of Latvia shall be applicable to work in the area of acquisition of vocational and interest-related education, and also foreign languages.”

The support provided for by this law shall be provided during the armed conflict, J. Semjonkina-Getmaņuka explains, noting that these teachers are working in collaboration with a mentor teacher.

The third – the submission of documents to the Academic Information Centre (AIC). In this case, the decision is also made by the Ministry. It must be noted here that the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad in the teaching profession is subject to a fee of EUR 240, but without time limits.

So, if a teacher from Ukraine comes to Latvia and is looking for a job in their specialty, what documents are required from them?

Proof of identity, as well as documents confirming education and professional qualifications are required. Authenticity thereof is verified by the AIC or the MoES, as appropriate.

"If the diploma / diploma supplement is not available due to hostilities in Ukraine, in accordance with the provisions of Part One, Section 13³ of the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians, the competent body is entitled to decide on the recognition of professional qualifications in a regulated profession on the basis of information at its disposal, if the applicant's educational document can be verified in Ukraine,"

J. Semjonkina-Getmaņuka informs. In cooperation with the AIC, the diploma information is checked against the database of the Ukrainian Education Information System.

If everything is in order with the documents, what are the next steps?

Baiba Bašķere, deputy director for adult education of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education and Science, explains, the Ministry shall make the decision regarding the provision of short-term services (interest education / vocational education / foreign languages). In this case, the matter is examined and the decision is made free of charge. If the job is permanent, the Ministry of Education and Science will make the decision, but then the applicant must pay the EUR 240 mentioned above. (Until last August, this service was free of charge.)

Baiba Bašķere, deputy director for adult education of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education and Science.

Acquisition of official state language skills

According to Part One, Section 16 of the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians, an employer is entitled to employ a Ukrainian civilian also without proficiency in the official language insofar as it does not interfere with the performance of the work duties. However, it is clear that the inability of a teacher to speak Latvian is an obstacle to comprehensive and independent work. Often, Ukrainian teachers have a deadline in their labour contracts, by which they must obtain official proof of their language skills.

As B. Bašķere says, Latvian language courses are held both in person and remotely, and they are available to Ukrainian teachers. These courses are mainly offered by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF), but also by the Latvian Language Agency (LVA), which provides various methodological materials.

Annex 1 to Cabinet Regulation No. 157 Regulations Regarding the Extent of the Knowledge of the Official Language, the Procedures for Examining the Proficiency in the Official Language and the State Fee for Examining the Proficiency in the Official Language, includes the requirements that a teacher needs official language skills that comply with Grade One of Level C.

That is why Ukrainian teachers mainly work with Ukrainian children. However, they are also allowed to teach certain subjects (for instance, foreign languages) to children who are learning in the official language, or to work in special-interest and vocational education, as long as this does not interfere with the comprehensive acquisition of the curriculum.

"Until August this year, LVA offered A1 Latvian language courses to Ukrainian teachers. With the purpose of implementing studies in the official language, the Agency offers a wide range of methodological materials, advice and, for instance, two groups of Ukrainian teachers have already started their A2 level language training in September. I would like to add that the teachers are highly motivated to learn the language, meanwhile we are thinking of all possible ways of providing support to these teachers,"

emphasises B. Bašķere. Training is ongoing, by offering progressively higher levels of instruction.

She is confident that Ukrainian specialists will gradually be able to reach the required level of proficiency in the official language, "Because, as I said, they are motivated, and we already see teachers who have acquired one language level but are passing their exam at a higher level (for instance, they have studied A1 but are passing the exam for the A2 level)."

The National Centre for Education (NCE) provides the official language proficiency test in accordance with the regulatory framework.

In early September, the Ministry had five decisions on the authorisation to provide short-term teaching services and more than 10 on the long-term recognition of professional qualifications adopted. There are currently 14 and 13 decisions adopted, respectively.

NCE coordinates an extensive system of support activities for Ukrainian students and teachers, including summer camps (more than 300 in summer of 2022), which included, among other things, Latvian language and communication skills training, as well as many courses dealing with the acquisition of the official language.

An important contribution is provided by the ESF project "Support for the development of individual competences", within the framework of which financial support may be received for the education of Ukrainian civilians at general education institutions. As Public Relations Specialist of NCE Liene Bērziņa explains, this covers the salary expenses of teaching assistants who are helping pupils in the acquisition of the content of the study subjects, as well as training for groups of Ukrainian pupils (grades 1–12) to ensure their command of Latvian at the A1 level. The project also covers the salaries of Ukrainian teachers at Latvian educational institutions.

NCE also maintains a methodological support system, which contains a database of teachers who have applied for work in our national education system. The Centre also provides on-line consultations for Ukrainian and Latvian teachers, management of educational institutions, as well as information exchange on job applications in municipalities.