National News and Educational Reform. Delfi also covered the educational reform in “The government approved the transfer of all schools to state language: from grade 10 onwards, only in Latvian”. The article discusses the Latvian Cabinet’s approval of the educational reform amendments and describes what the amendments will mean in terms of the future trajectory of the Latvian educational system. The author references Latvia’s Minister of Education and Science, Karlis Shadurskis, who promises “that his department will responsibly abide by international obligations to ensure the development of education for national minorities, including by providing the necessary funding”.230 The journalist further details the specific conditions in the reform law relating to both private and state institutions, in addition to describing the timetable during which the reform will take place. The piece then brings attention to Riga’s Mayor, Nils Ushakovs, who suggests that the reform is “a huge mistake [… and] a political provocation that xxxxx the quality of education and stability of the country”.231 The article concludes by stating the reform will move on to the Saeima before it is enacted. Delfi is straightforward in explaining the processes behind the proposed educational reform and the projected future for Latvia’s educational system if the reform is to pass. The article states that the reform will apply different standards to state institutions and private minority institutions—meaning that the transition and 230 xxx.XXXXX.xx, “Правительство одобрило перевод всех школ на госязык” 231 xxx.XXXXX.xx, “Правительство одобрило перевод всех школ на госязык” implementation of the reform will have a larger and more immediate impact on state institutions as compared to minority schools.232 Despite what will be a more immediate impact on state schools, the Delfi article depicts the reform as a gradual change over the course of a few years; the reform’s main goal will be to further the transition of classes to the Latvian language. However, the article does bring attention to controversy regarding the proposed amendments, as it highlights the facets of the reform expressed by Riga’s Mayor that clearly cast a shadow of disapproval on the reform as he questions the benefit of the amendments and whether they will increase educational quality. The article finishes up by leaving the passage of the reform as an open-ended question, as it suggests the reform will be sent to the Saeima before anything permanent takes place. ...
