Balancing the Official Language and Minority Rights in Latvia's Education System
by Kiryl Kascian
Question(s) at stake
Whether the increase in the percentage of instruction hours conducted in the official language in Latvia complies with the Constitution, particularly the equality and the rights of minority groups to develop their culture and use their language.
Outcome of the ruling
The Constitutional Court determined that the amendments to the Law on Education are consistent with the Constitution of Latvia and there are no legal barriers that would prevent the implementation of the education reform for minority schools.
Country:
Official citation
Latvian Constitutional Court, Judgement of 23 April 2019, Case no. 2018-12-01 aka Language of Education II (Izglītības ieguves valoda II: LR Satversmes tiesas spriedums lietā nr.2018-12-01. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2019. 24. aprīlis, nr. 81)
Topic(s)
Keywords:
Use of minority language in public education Regional or minority language Effective participation Right to maintain and develop a minority culture
Tag(s):
Minorities Constitutional court Segregation Policy of memory
Bibliographic information
Access case report
View case report in the CUREDI databaseAbout the authors
Kiryl Kascian (International Centre for Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity Studies, Prague, Czechia)
Dr. Kiryl Kascian is an expert in inter-ethnic relations, human rights, constitutional law, security issues and regional development with the focus on Central and Eastern Europe. He is editor-in-chief of the Belarusian Review. He holds doctoral degree in law from the University of Bremen. He has lectured in a number of Czech and German Universities and provided his expertise inter alia for the Office of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Government Council for National Minorities of the Czech Republic, and the Equal Rights Trust.