General Education A Level of General Basic Education 2

1
General Education (A)Level of General Basic
Education (2)

• Ministry of Education and Science
• 2004

2
Number of students in general and special
education institutions
Data source LR Central Board of Statistics, 2003
3
Norms for establishing classes

• MoES has set the minimum and maximum number of
  students in a class (group) in a general basic
  education programme
• in regional centres 18 to 34 students
• in towns with rural territories 12 to 34
  students
• in other places 8 to 34 students

Delegation in the point 6 of Article 5 of MoES
Law On General Education MoES Instruction No.313
of May 5, 2000
4
Network of general education institutions in
the school year of 2003/04
Data source LR Central Board of Statistics, 2003
5
The goal of general basic education(grades 1-9)

• By encouraging the harmonious
• formation and development of every students
• self-identity,
• to promote the development of students sense of
  responsibility towards themselves, their family,
  community, their nation, state of Latvia, mankind
  and the highest moral values
• to ensure the acquisition of the skills and
  knowledge necessary for personal and public life
• to develop the foundations for further education

From Regulation No.462 On National Standards of
Compulsory Education of December 5, 2000 issued
by the Cabinet of Ministers
6
Areas of activities of the Ministry of Education
and Science for providing quality assurance in
general basic education (1)

• developing national curriculum, by facilitating
• the integration of children with special needs in
  general education mainstream schools
• the integration of ethnic minorities and gradual
  acquisition of the state language
• introducing the principle of education programme
  implementation
• introducing the system of subject standards and
  upgrading curriculum (curriculum reform of basic
  education)

7
Areas of activities of the Ministry of Education
and Science for providing quality assurance in
general basic education (2)

• upgrading the assessment system of learning
  achievements
• establishing a single education quality
  evaluation system
• computerizing education system
• introducing an internationally comparable system
  of education indicators

8
Development of national curriculum (1)

• common requirements for the implementation of
  curriculum have been set by National Standards of
  Compulsory Education, which outline the MoES
  policy for the curriculum reform of general basic
  education
• (Regulation No.462 On National Standards of
  Compulsory Education of 5th December, 2000
  issued by the Cabinet of Ministers)

9
Development of national curriculum (2)

• curriculum emphasizes the following
• inclusion of modern themes and topics, and skills
  useful for life
• cross-subject curriculum integration and
  coordination
• skills to apply and utilize information
• curriculum has been organized in 4 educational
  spheres and 7 educational components

10
Structure of general basic education
Regulation No.462 On National Standards of
Compulsory Education of 5th December, 2000
issued by the Cabinet of Ministers)
11
Subjects within educational spheres (1)

• Languages
• Latvian language
• Literature
• 1st foreign language
• 2nd foreign language
• Native language of ethnic minorities
• (only in the programmes of education for ethnic
  minorities)

• Fundamentals of Technology and Sciences
• Mathematics
• Computer Studies
• Natural Sciences
• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Geography

Model programme for Basic Education, MoES
Instruction No. 303. of May 16, 2001
12
Subjects within educational spheres (2)

• Self and Society
• History
• Social Studies (Ethics, fundamentals of
  Economics, Citizenship Education)
• Health Education
• Home Economics
• Sports

• The Arts
• Music
• Visual Arts
• Handicrafts

Model programme for Basic Education, MoES
Instruction No. 303. of May 16, 2001
13
Programmes of education (1)

• is a document which sets
• - objectives and aims of the education programme
• - requirements concerning the previous education
  
• - contents of education
• - a plan for implementing the education
  programme
• - criteria and procedure for assessing the
  acquired education
• - estimates and justification of human,
  financial and material resources required for the
  implementation of the education programme

Articles 17 and 18, Law On General Education
14
Programmes of education (2)

• the programmes of general education shall be
  developed by their implementers in compliance
  with the Regulation No.462 On National Standards
  of Compulsory Education of December 5, 2000
  issued by the Cabinet of Ministers
• programmes of education shall be licensed and
  accredited

15
Programmes of general basic education (1)

• basic education is provided in
• general education programmes
• programmes of basic education (grade 1 9)
• programmes of partial basic education
• programmes of stage 1 education (primary school)
• programmes of stage 2 education (grades 7-9)
• programmes of education of a certain profile (for
  example, language programmes)

Law On Education, Law On General Education, MoES
Instruction No.381 On The Classification Of
General Education programmes And Approval Of
programme Codes of July 21, 1999
16
Programmes of general basic education (2)

• special types of programmes of general education
• programmes of special education
• programmes of education for ethnic minorities
• programmes of social and pedagogic correctional
  education

17
The total number of licensed programmes of
general basic education in 2002 and 2003

• 90 implemented in full time schools
• 3,5 implemented in night (part time) secondary
  schools
• 1,4 implemented in the form of extramural
  education

Data source MoES General Education Licensing
Commission, 2003
18
Special types of programmes of education

• Education programmes of pedagogic correction
• envisaged for students, who have difficulties
  with the acquisition of curriculum either due to
  their developmental or social behavioural
  problems (except medical problems)

• Education programmes of social correction
• envisaged for juveniles of 12 to 16 years of age
  with deviate social behaviour

19
Education programmes of pedagogic correction (1)

• the programme, not exceeding 3 years, can be
  implemented in an education institution founded
  by state, municipality, any legal entity or
  physical person
• the decision that a student has to acquire this
  programme is made by the School/ Pedagogical
  Board, receiving an agreement from parents
• the programme shall provide a day-care-centre

20
Education programmes of pedagogic correction (2)

• the programme envisages study and pedagogical
  correction work that is based on individual
  classes for reducing (eliminating) students
  emotional, mental or physical stress and
  developing new models of behaviour
• having acquired such a programme, a student
  should be able to align with the mainstream
  teaching and learning process successfully
• in the school year of 2002/03, 243 education
  programmes of pedagogic correction have been
  licensed

21
Education programmes of social correction

• programmes to be implemented in the education
  institutions of social correction only (education
  and reform institutions), where learners, having
  infringed the law, are placed following the
  rulings of the Court or Judge
• in Latvia there are 2 education institutions of
  social correction established by the Ministry of
  Education and Science
• in the course of implementing these programmes,
  education is being provided simultaneously with
  the social rehabilitation of juveniles

22
General basic education reform (1998 2005)

• Aim of the general basic education reform
• by shifting the emphasis in education and
  modernizing the system of education,
• to ensure the preparation of the rising
  generation
• for living in the changing world of today and
  tomorrow

National Standards of Compulsory Education
(1998), which outline MoES policy of general
basic education reform
23
Main emphasis in the curriculum for general
basic education (1)

• establishing a common understanding about the
  development processes of a human being, nature
  and society
• balanced curriculum that is outlined and
  scientifically presented appropriately to the
  specific features of students age group

National Standards of Compulsory Education(1998),
which outline MoES policy of general basic
education curriculum reform
24
Main emphasis in the curriculum for general
basic education (2)

• inclusion of modern and future oriented themes
  and topics in the curriculum
• emphasizing cultural heritage, Christian and
  ethical values in the curriculum
• emphasizing functional knowledge and skills for
  practical life

25
Main emphasis in the general basic education
curriculum reform

• progression towards the implementation of a
  coordinated learning content and integrated
  subjects within the framework of educational
  spheres (Language, Self and Society, Fundamentals
  of Technology and Sciences, Arts)
• a changed focus from the quantitative and formal
  acquisition of information to the multiple skills
  for information application and utilization
• introduction and use of modern teaching and
  learning methods and information technologies in
  teaching/ learning process

National Standards of Compulsory Education(1998),
which outline MoES policy of general basic
education curriculum reform
26
Organization of education process (1)

• the state and municipality shall guarantee and
  provide for the acquisition of compulsory general
  basic education within the time period of 9 years
  or continuing its acquisition until the age of
  18
• (Article 17 and 18, Law On Education)

27
Organization of education process (2)

• the acquisition of general education shall be
  provided in education institutions established by
  state, municipality or legal entities/ physical
  persons, which are accredited and implement one
  or several programmes of general education
• (Part 2 of Article 25, Article 27, Part 3 of
  Article 33, Law On Education)
• in 2002, 95,7 of the children who had reached
  the age of compulsory schooling (born in 1987
  1997) were included in the system of education
• (Law On Education, Regulations No.439
  Procedure for Registering The Children Who Have
  Reached the Age of Compulsory Schooling" of
  December 28, 1999, issued by the Cabinet of
  Ministers)

28
Registering of the children who have reached the
age of compulsory schooling (born in 1987-1997)
in 2002
Statistical data of MoES, 2002
29
Organization of education process (3)

• school year starts September 1 and finishes at
  the end of May
• school year consists of two semesters
• the length of a school year  
• in grade 1 34 weeks
• in grades 2-8 35 weeks
• in grade 9 37 weeks (out of them a 2 week
  exam period)
• (including the development of students
  individual or group projects related to the
  learning content)

Articles 35 and 35, Law On General Education
30
Organization of education process (4)

• holidays
• 1 week in autumn
• 2 weeks during Christmas time
• 1 week in spring
• Grade 1 has an extra week of holidays in the
  second semester
• the length of a lesson
• in grades 1 9 40 45 minutes

31
Length of a school year (in astronomical hours)
in grades 1 6 (school year 2000/01)
 
Key Data on Education in Europe 2002, Euridice,
2002
32
Maximum weekly study load of a student
Article 33, Law On General Education
33
Evaluation of students maximum study load (1)
SKDS surveyThe distribution of students
learning load in curriculum acquisition in the
opinion of students parents October November
, 2002
34
Evaluation of students maximum study load (2)
SKDS surveyThe distribution of students
learning load in curriculum acquisition in the
opinion of students parents October November
, 2002
35
Evaluation of students maximum study load (3)
SKDS surveyThe distribution of students
learning load in curriculum acquisition in the
opinion of students parents October November
, 2002
36
The breakdown of educational spheres in in the
subject and lesson model plan of general basic
education in the school year of 2001/02

• In grades 1 3 students learn their native
  language, foreign language, Mathematics, Natural
  Sciences, Handicrafts, Music, Visual Arts, Sports
• students begin to acquire the first foreign
  language (English) in grade 3
• in the education programmes for ethnic
  minorities students learn also Latvian language

Information from MoES GED, 2002
37
Share of the subjects of Native
language,Foreign language,Mathematicsin the
total study load in grade 3
Die Fremdsprachenunterricht an den Schulen in
Europa, Euridice, 2001
38
Students weekly study load (lessons)in grades
1 3
World data on education, UNESCO International
Bureau of Education, 2001
39
The breakdown of educational spheres in in the
subject and lesson model plan of general basic
education in the school year of 2001/02

• students learn their native language and
  Literature, first foreign language, Mathematics,
  Natural Sciences, IT, Social Studies, History,
  Home Economics, Music, Visual Arts, Sports
• in the education programmes for ethnic
  minorities students learn also Latvian language

Information from MoES GED, 2002
40
Share of the subjects of Native
language,Foreign language,Mathematicsin the
total study load in grade 6
Die Fremdsprachenunterricht an den Schulen in
Europa, Euridice, 2001
41
Time allocated for studying Natural Sciences in
grades 1 6 in the school year of 2000/01
(lessons)
 

Key Data on Education in Europe 2002, Euridice,
2002
42
Students weekly study load (lessons)in grades 4
6
World data on education, UNESCO International
Bureau of Education, 2001
43
The breakdown of educational spheres in in
the subject and lesson model plan of general
basic education in the school year of 2001/02

• students learn their native language and
  Literature, first and second foreign language,
  Mathematics, IT, Biology, Physics, Chemistry,
  Geography, Social Studies, History, Home
  Economics, Music, Visual Arts, Sports
• in the education programmes for ethnic
  minorities students learn also Latvian language

Information from MoES GED, 2002
44
Share of the subjects of Native
language,Foreign language,Mathematicsin the
total study load in grade 9
Die Fremdsprachenunterricht an den Schulen in
Europa, Euridice, 2001
45
Students weekly study load (lessons)in grades 7
9
World data on education, UNESCO International
Bureau of Education, 2001
46
Number of grade 9 students (in ) acquiring
languages in the school year of 2002/03
not including the number of students acquiring
Russian as their native language
Statistical data of ISVD, 2003
47
Choice of first foreign language
SKDS surveyThe distribution of students
learning load in curriculum acquisition in the
opinion of students parents October November
, 2002
48
Acquisition of first foreign language in the
school year of 2000/01
Key Data on Education in Europe 2002, Euridice,
2002
49
Acquisition of second foreign language in the
school year of 2000/01
Key Data on Education in Europe 2002, Euridice,
2002
50
Development of life skills (1)

• The development of skills required for practical
  life is especially facilitated
• in the classes of Social Studies (Health
  Education, Fundamentals of Economy, Citizenship
  Education), Ethics, Christian Education
• in the class teachers classes

51
Development of life skills (2)

• in the class teachers classes in the discussions
  of
• road safety
• action and behaviour in emergencies
• basis of a healthy lifestyle and preventing
  dependency
• vocational choice
• moral values and qualities
• behaviour and communication culture, citizenship
  education
• ethical perceptions and ideals of nations

52
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (1)

• a single assessment system, introduced in 1992,
  is based on a 10 point assessment scale and
  non-grading assessment system or descriptive
  assessment

53
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (2)

• the assessment system has been established in
  order to enable to assess
• the scope, quality and level of the acquired
  learning content
• the acquisition of supplementary/ complementary
  information, initiative, independent learning
• cooperation and communication skills
• the dynamics of leaning achievements
• and encourage
• the development of attitudes towards learning,
  the self, surrounding world/ community
• the development of the qualities of accuracy,
  diligence, goal-directness, self-control skills,
  motivation

54
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (3)

• In grade 1
• a brief evaluative written or oral description of
  students learning activities, style of work,
  communication and cooperation skills, attitudes
  and development of learning dynamics
• In grades 2 and 3
• a 10-point assessment scale in Latvian language,
  Mathematics and the ethnic minority language, in
  other subject areas descriptive evaluation

Regulation No.462 On National Standards of
Compulsory Education of December 5, 2000 issued
by the Cabinet of Ministers
55
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (4)

• In grade 4
• a 10-point assessment scale in Latvian language,
  Mathematics, Natural Sciences and the ethnic
  minority language, in other subject areas
  descriptive evaluation
• In grades 5 9
• a 10-point assessment scale
• in separate subjects (Ethics, Health Education)
  there is the complete/ incomplete designation

56
Meaning of the points in the 10-point assessment
scale
Regulation No.462 On National Standards of
Compulsory Education of December 5, 2000 issued
by the Cabinet of Ministers
57
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (5)

• Purpose for introducing this system
  international recognition of the education
  provided in Latvia and the comparability of
  students achievements
• in the course of teaching/ learning process and
  at the end of it students achievements are
  assessed by teachers
• diagnostic and/ or final tests can be organized
  on school level

58
Assessment system of students learning
achievements (6)

• national tests at the end of grades 3 and 6 and
  centralized examinations at the end of the
  general basic education level (grade 9) are
  organized on national level
• the content and procedure for 13 national tests,
  3 examinations, 1 centralized examination and 1-2
  diagnostic tests are devised for the level of
  general basic education on national level

59
National tests

• In grade 3
• a combined cross-curricular test, a test in
  Latvian language (for the education programmes of
  ethnic minorities)
• In grade 6
• a test in the language of instruction, a test in
  Mathematics, a test in Latvian language (for the
  education programmes of ethnic minorities)
• In grade 9
• a test in a Foreign language, a test in Natural
  Sciences, a test in Sports, a test in History and
  Social Studies
• an examination in Latvian language, an
  examination in Mathematics, an examination in the
  language of instruction and literature (for the
  education programmes of ethnic minorities)

60
Documents of education showing learning
achievements (1)

• the learning achievements in general basic
  education are shown in a school-report (in each
  grade, at the end of semester) and certificate
  (of basic education)
• the students of grade 9, having received an
  assessment in all the subjects set by the general
  basic education programme and state examinations,
  receive a certificate of general basic education
  and an achievement sheet

Article 39, Law On General Education, normative
documents of MoES
61
Documents of education showing learning
achievements (2)

• at the end of general basic education (grade 9) a
  student receives a school-report (statement of
  achievements) only, if he/ she
• has not got an assessment for a subject for the
  whole year
• has not got an assessment in a state examination
• has received an assessment of less that 4 points
  in more than three national tests or subjects for
  the whole year
• at the end of general basic education (grade 9) a
  student receives a school-report (statement of
  achievements) only, if he/ she
• has not got an assessment for a subject for the
  whole year
• has not got an assessment in a state examination
• has received an assessment of less that 4 points
  in more than three national tests or subjects for
  the whole year

62
Students choices for continuing their education
in the school year of 2002/03
Data source LR Central Board of Statistics, 2003
63
The breakdown of students, who have completed
general basic education programmes, in further
education in 2002
Information source LR Central Board of
Statistics, 2003
64
Latvias participation in international
comparative studies in education (1)

• in the time period from 1991 till 2003, Latvia as
  a member state has been involved in the
  comparative studies carried out by International
  Association for Evaluation of Educational
  Achievements (IEA) and programme for
  International Student Assessment (PISA)

65
Latvias participation in international
comparative studies in education (2)

• since 1992, Latvia has participated in the
  following studies of International Association
  for Evaluation of Educational Achievements (IEA)
• Trends in International Mathematics and Science
  Study (TIMSS) (1995, 1999, 2003)
• Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
  (PIRLS) (1991, 2000-2002)

66
Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (1995 1999) IEA TIMSS-RInternational
Association for Evaluation of Educational
Achievement IEATrends in International
Mathematics and Science Study TIMSS(1995
TIMSS 1999 TIMSS-R)

• The changes during four years (from 1995 till
  1999) in the achievements of grade 8 students in
  sciences indicate that the average achievements
  of Latvian students have raised most rapidly (for
  27 points with a standard error of 5,9) out of
  26 countries, which participated in the study

67
International Reading Literacy Study (2000
2003) IEA PIRLSInternational Association for
Evaluation of Educational Achievement
IEAProgress in International Reading Literacy
Study PIRLS

• The reading literacy achievements of grade 4
  students from 35 counties have been compared (the
  average age of students is 10,3, for Latvia
  11,0), assessing in points (average international
  result is 500 points).
• Students achievements have been shown in
  relation to the average of all countries, i.e.
  above or below 500 points. Latvia holds the 5th
  place in this comparison.

68
Knowledge and skills for life . Latvia in OECD
programme for International Student Assessment
(1998 2001) OECD PISAOrganisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development
OECDprogramme for International Student
Assessment PISA

• As to the achievements of 15 years old
  students (who at the time of testing were from
  15 years and 3 months up to 16 years and 2 months
  old, irrespective of the type and education
  acquisition form in the visited education
  institution) skills to work with texts (to find
  information, interpret it and evaluate) Latvia
  holds the 28th place in the international
  comparison in relation to the average of all
  countries (average value is 500 points).

69
Closing comments

• The curriculum reform of general basic education
  is
• a complex of activities,
• the implementation of which facilitates
• access to education and quality assurance in the
  whole Latvia
• development of future education system that is
  adequate to the size of investments and
  contributions
• competitiveness of Latvian students in
  international comparative measurements of
  education