Sprachenpolitik und Schulwesen in Lettland

Abstract

The language policy in Latvia is not only a linguistic but also a broader social and economical problem. About a hundred languages are represented in this country, though the main functional accent is on Latvian and Russian as well as on English. The language policy follows the ultimate goal to integrate the society, preserve and develop this language. The article provides an insight into the history and current development of minority schools, reveals trends in bilingual education, and introduces problems of minorities' children in schools with Latvian as the language of instruction.