1. Education For All (B) Special Education (1) Ministry of Education and Science 2004 Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

2. Every person shall have a place on this planet and be entitled to education that is appropriate to his/ her abilities in an education institution that is most appropriate to him/ her Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

3. International documents on special education (1) UN Declaration On The Rights of Disabled People (1975) UN Convention On the Rights of Child (1989) The World Declaration on Education For All (1990) The Standard Rules for the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

4. International documents on special education (2) The Salamanca statement and framework for action (1994) The Madrid Declaration (1997) Key Principles for special Needs Education from European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education (2003) The Declaration of Malaga (2003) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

5. Main approach in special education Special education shall provide opportunities and conditions for learners with special needs, in accordance with their health condition, aptitude and level of development, to receive education in any education institution, and at the same time shall provide psychological and medical help to the learner and prepare him/her for work and integration into society. Article 49, Law On General Education Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

6. Areas of activity of special education (1) in Latvia, both types of special education provision have always been equal –operation of special education institutions –special support to children in general mainstream education institutions Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

7. Areas of activity of special education (2) the possibility to receive education in the most appropriate education institution is provided for each child with special needs by ensuring –the help of qualified specialists –acquisition of knowledge –development of life skills and work skills –practical orientation in education –preparation for work and integration into society –special correction and rehabilitation Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

8. Number of students and special education institutions Special education School year 2003/04 School year 2002/03 School year 2001/02 School year 2000/01 School year 1999/2000 Number of education institutions6363636363 Total number of students in grades 1-12 98221005510169102508475 Number of students with special needs in % out of the total number of students 3,14 3,09 3,01 2,97 2,44 Total number of students with mental impairments 5574 5860 5829 Number of students with physical and mental impairments s integrated in general mainstream full time schools 1785 1663 128712231283 Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science 5670 Data source: MoES Statistics Department

9. Network of general special education institutions (1) programmes of special education may be provided by state, municipal and private general special education institutions or general education institutions in the school year of 2002/03 there were 63 general special education institutions founded by the state and municipalities, out of them –in Riga – 12 –in the regions and towns of Latvia – 51 Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

10. Network of general special education institutions (2) it is being encouraged –to establish special education classes in general education institutions that are close to the place of residence of children –to integrate learners with special needs in general mainstream education institutions (in they have the required equipment and provision) –technical adaptation of education institutions to the needs of children with serious movement impairments Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

11. Network of general special education institutions in 2004 Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Schools for children with mental impairments Sanatorium-type boarding schools Schools for children with other impairments

12. Objectives of special education development centres (1) provision of methodological and pedagogical support to teachers of general education institutions, which implement licensed programmes of special education in general education institutions Regulation No.221 of April 29, 2003 Criteria And Procedure For Conferring The Status Of Special Education Development Centre to An Institution Of Special Education issued by the Cabinet Of Ministers Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

13. Objectives of special education development centres (2) provision of opportunities for learners with special needs to receive consultative and methodological support in their learning and correction of developmental impairments provision of consultations for the parents of children with special needs at pre-school and school age Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

14. Special education institutions – development centres in Latvia in 2004 Strazdumuiza boarding school – development centre for children with impaired vision Valmiera boarding school – development centre for children with impaired hearing Pelci special boarding school – development centre Koknese special boarding school – development centre Riga special basic school – development centre Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

15. Education provision for children with medium and serious mental retardation Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Data source: MoES GED

16. National and municipal Pedagogical and Medical Commissions in each region and town of republican significance there is a municipal Pedagogical and Medical Commission, whose activity is coordinated by the National Pedagogical and Medical Commission managed by the Ministry of Education and Science Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Regulations No.480 of November 20, 2001 On The Responsibilities of National Pedagogic And Medical Commission and Municipal Pedagogical and Medical Commissions" issued by the Cabinet of Ministers

17. Main tasks of National and Municipal Pedagogical and Medical Commissions –to advise parents the programme of education that is appropriate to learners age, aptitude, health condition and level of development –to facilitate the integration of students with mental or physical impairments, speech problems, psychic development impairments and learning difficulties, psychic- neurological or somatic health problems, as well as students with impaired vision and blind students, students with impaired hearing and deaf students in general education institutions –to coordinate the provision of special education services Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Regulations No.480 of November 20, 2001 On The Responsibilities of National Pedagogic And Medical Commission and Municipal Pedagogical and Medical Commissions" issued by the Cabinet of Ministers

18. State guarantees for special education (1) The state guarantees and ensures –the acquisition of general education appropriate to the health condition and type of developmental impairment of the student with special needs –the possibility that children with special needs can start studying in the programmes of special education following a statement from National Pedagogical and Medical Commission Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

19. State guarantees for special education (2) The state guarantees and ensures –the financing from national budget for the education of all children with special needs, setting a funding procedure for the institutions of special education –the financing of teacher salaries and maintenance costs of special education institutions from national budget –gradual integration of students with special needs into general mainstream education institutions Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

20. Target groups of the programmes of general special basic education Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Children with impaired vision Children with impaired hearing Children with speech problems Children with impaired psychic development and learning difficulties CLASSIFICATION GROUPS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Children with impaired mental development Children with psychic – neurological health problems Children with impaired physical development Children with somatic health problems

21. Target groups of the institutions of general special education Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Specialization 1993/ 94 1994/ 95 1995/ 96 1996/ 97 1999/ 2000 2003/ 04 Children with impaired hearing 222222 Children with impaired vision 111111 Children with speech problems 333333 Children with impaired physical development 222333 Children with impaired psychic development and learning difficulties 122333 Children with impaired mental development 42 43 Children with psychic – neurological health problems 455555 Children with somatic health problems 333333 Total 5860 63 Data from MoES

22. State contribution for providing the quality and accessibility of general special education (1) in the result of introducing the principle of education programmes, 27 different model programmes of general special basic education and general special secondary education have been devised Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

23. State contribution for providing the quality and accessibility of general special education (2) a regular state funding has been determined for publishing textbooks in Brile (relief) printing (in 2001 – Ls 26940, in 2002 – Ls 25610, in 2003 – Ls 21000) and with enlarged fonts (in 2002 – Ls 8874, in 2003 – Ls 9970) a regular state funding has been determined for publishing textbooks for the students of general special education institutions (in 2001 partial state funding of Ls 22264, in 2002 – Ls 30619, in 2003 – Ls 8396) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

24. Financing for special education (including special boarding schools and special pre-school education institutions) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Data from MoES School year Amount of financing ( Ls) Teacher salariesOther expenditureTotalFinancing per one student 1999/20007 766 4829 742 92817 509 4102066,- 2000/019 263 2819 922 01619 185 2971871,- 2001/0210 947 98110 310 22821 258 2092090,- 2002/0312 495 71811 285 86023 781 5782365,- 2003/0413 698 06611 879 74225 577 8082604,-

25. Programmes of special education (1) is one of the special types of general education programmes shall be implemented in accordance with the type of learners impairment, their aptitude and health condition, which shall be statemented by the National Pedagogical and Medical Commission learners with impaired audition, vision, and blind learners can acquire general primary education in 10 school years, and general secondary education – in 3 school years Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

26. Programmes of special education (2) for learners with mental impairment the envisaged length of education programmes is 9 years, but it may last up to 12 years, if the possibility to acquire vocational education and training is provided for learners with impaired psychic development and learning difficulties or with serious speech impairment the acquisition of general basic education takes 10 school years Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

27. Programmes of general special education licensed in 2002 and 2003 Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science Data source: MoES General Education Licensing Commission, 2003

28. Supplementary provision offered by general special education institutions (1) Medical treatment, rehabilitation –therapeutic physical education –remedial gymnastics in a swimming pool –physical therapy –individual classes of remedial gymnastics –choreographic therapy –massages –therapeutic swimming –correctional classes –intensive reading classes –speech therapy, speech rhythmic –rhythmic classes etc. Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

29. Supplementary provision offered by general special education institutions (2) Clubs and optional classes in tourism sports chess checkers wood and metal processing art of words music and singing computers fine arts visual arts technical creativity beekeeping ball dancing etc. Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

30. Supplementary provision offered by general special education institutions (3) Vocational training house keeper assistant builder assistant for carpenters work assistant joiner agricultural labourer assistant cook assistant gardener assistant repairman forest labourer assistant machinist assistant carpenter wallpaper gluer assistant building supervisor care provider etc. Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science 963 children with special needs are learning a vocation (with the respective vocational qualification) in special education institutions

31. International cooperation projects (1) With the aim to facilitate the integration of children with special needs into general and vocational mainstream education institutions and to improve the work of special education institutions, Latvia has participated in several international cooperation projects Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

32. International cooperation projects (2) –Teacher training in Latvia 2000 – 2004 (cooperation partners – Norway, Iceland, Latvia) –Facilitating the inclusive transition of students with Special Educational needs from special schools to vocational schools (cooperation partners – Norway, Iceland, Latvia) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

33. International cooperation projects (3) –The provision of services needs for children with Special Educations needs in the city and district of Rezekne (cooperation partners – Norway, Iceland, Latvia) –Action for Latvia (cooperation partners – Austria, Latvia) Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

34. International cooperation projects (4) in conjunction with Norway and Iceland experience models are being developed Establishment of special assistance networks and provision of special needs close to the childs place of residence Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

35. International cooperation projects (5) in 2004, in cooperation with Norway and Iceland, it has been envisaged to commence a new project The Development of Children Pedagogical Psychological Assessment and the competence of PMC Aims of the project –to upgrade the activities of Pedagogical and Medical Commissions and expertise of their specialists –to facilitate the integration of children with special needs into general and vocational mainstream education institutions and to provide that all children can access education at the place of their residence or close to it Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

36. Priorities set in international cooperation projects (1) –to identify the development possibilities and tendencies of special education in Latvia –to facilitate the commenced cooperation among general and special education institutions and teacher training higher education institutions of Latvia and Scandinavian countries –to establish a mutual cooperation network of project participants and education institutions Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

37. Priorities set in international cooperation projects (2) –to raise the awareness of project participants about modern tendencies in pedagogy in the world, international experience in educating children with special needs –to foster the development of inclusive education in Latvia Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

38. Development tendencies of special education (1) In order to facilitate that all students with special needs can access education at the place of their residence or close to it, the main future tasks are the following: –establishment of national and regional support system for special education –extended functions of special education institutions, providing methodological and practical support to teachers and to the parents of children with special needs, who have been integrated in general mainstream education institutions Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

39. Development tendencies of special education (2) –facilitating the establishment of special education classes in general mainstream education institutions –continuation of the gradual and partial conversion of special education institution into integrative schools –activities promoting the establishment of psychologically, socially (transport network) and technically suitable environment Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

40. Issues to be solved for including the children with special needs in general mainstream education institutions (1) psychological readiness of the teaching staff, students and their parents in general mainstream education institutions to welcome children with special needs technical suitability of general mainstream education institutions for children with special needs professional readiness of teachers to work with children with special needs Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science

41. Issues to be solved for including the children with special needs in general mainstream education institutions (2) financial provision for the implementation of rehabilitation activities required for children with special needs provision of transport services for children with special needs acquiring a vocation or profession within the system of vocational education and training Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science