SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM

IN LATVIA

Pre-school educationup to 5 years

Pre-school education2 years

Basic education9 years

Sp

ecia

l need

s

ed

ucatio

n

54321

765

16151413121110987

Vocational secondary education

4 years

Vocational education and

training3 years

19181716

Secondary education

3 years

Comprehensive schools

Primary -37

Basic-354 Secondary-362

Special education-

61

Total-814

Amount of students in Latvia 2011\2012 school year

Primary

BasicSecond

ary schools

Special educatio

n schools

and classes

Total

5 42045 772

147 269

7 971206 440

Special education creates possibilities and conditions for students with special needs, appropriate education in every school at the same time to provide psychological and medical correction

What is special education in Latvia?

Weak eyed\the blindPartially deaf\the deafDiseased in mind Language disordersLearning dissabilities connected with memoryStudents with psyhoneurosis deseases

Students with special needs in Latvia in context

That parents have possibility to choose the school very close to their neighbourhoodIt is not allowed to make a selection of studentsIt is not allowed to send down students from school till the age of 18

The law of education predicts

Special or general education schools where are provided special programms or special correction programmsStudents can study at home with a help of teacher.

Where are studying special education students

Speech therapistPsychologistSpecial pedagogueA nursePhysiotherapistSocial employee

The staff of support in schools with special programm

61 special schools8 regional inclusive education support centres

Latvia has

Pedagogical medical commision functions, recommending for students having functional disorders education programm and support activities appropriate to their abilities, health status and development level

Consultive support covering regional municipalities

Methodogical and consultive free of charge support for educational

Inclusive education support centres provide (IESC)

Methodogical and consultive free of charge support for educational institutions, parents, specialists and other persons regarding the ensuring of appropriate education for students with special needsSuppervision of the pedagogical process organizing within the education institutions for students having functional disordersPromotion and development of cooperation with family doctors, socila srevice institutions and public organizationsWorking in unified databases with State’s Pedagogical medical commission

At homeCare centresSpecial schoolsComprehensive school with a special educations classesComprehensive school, general education class

Possible model for students where to study

Long term disease childrenSpecial needs childrenDisable Children who are not ready to take up general education Children with slower thinking“ silent” childrenChildren with low social skills from social risk families

Children who have the biggest problems in getting education

look after these children by involving different specialists stimulate parents visit ped-med commisionsschools are looking for possibilities to accept special education programms make essential staff at every schoolthink how to include these students in comprehensive schools

What to do

Motivated conversations with parentsSchools provide after school activities by learningLearn students how to studyTeachers work in different way

Difficulties with management of the lesson More time for lesson preparationMore attention to these students during the lessonsKnowledge about work by these childrenLess paid for teachers

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