In the last three years, more than 20,000 people have taken state language proficiency exams. The reasons vary — naturalization, obtaining a residence permit, or job-related requirements.
In the future, it is planned to introduce a knowledge test of the state language for everyone who studied Latvian at the state’s expense. This is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of state-funded language courses, noted Lana Franceska Dreimane, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science.
As reported by Latvian Radio, the Latvian Language Agency will become the main institution responsible for adult Latvian language education.
Dreimane emphasized that the assessment of Latvian language proficiency is a rather complex process that now requires special attention, partly due to immigration.
It is expected that in the coming years, the number of exam takers will increase — both because starting next year, the requirements for knowledge of the state language will also apply to Ukrainian refugees, and due to the enactment of the new Immigration Law.
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## Changes Will Allow for a Unified Approach
Inita Vitola, Director of the Latvian Language Agency, notes that the changes will allow for a comprehensive approach to adult education and the assessment of their knowledge, as well as evaluating quality indicators.
For example, when deciding which educational centers should receive funding for conducting Latvian language courses, the exam results of individuals who previously studied at these centers can be taken into account.
The State Education Development Agency and the Latvian Language Agency have collaborated before; however, as Dreimane noted, the system lacked a “sense of a single home.”
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## Providus Points Out a Lack of Information
The Providus analytical center recently completed a study on adult Latvian language education. One of the authors of the study, the center’s director Sanda Liepina, believes that in recent years, this area, including the conduct of exams, has not received sufficient attention. Therefore, changes are necessary.
“There is too little information. Right now, we have many unanswered questions — how exactly this function will be organized. There are justified concerns about whether the Latvian Language Agency truly has the necessary capabilities and resources to ensure [examinations], and clearer answers are needed here,” she noted.
In Liepina’s opinion, the future of the State Language Center, which is under the Ministry of Justice, should also be discussed in the framework of the discussion.
Vitola also noted that the institution responsible for assessing knowledge of the state language is not changing for the first time in Latvia.
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## Combining Education and Quality Control Poses Risks
In the near future, employees of the State Education Development Agency, who are responsible for organizing state language exams, will transition to work at the Latvian Language Agency. The agency’s structure will also change due to the new function.
Vitola explained: “We also need to ensure that these functions — adult language acquisition and language assessment — are still viewed as sufficiently separate areas that do not mutually influence each other, as language learning is one process, while language assessment is another, and objectivity must be guaranteed here.”
Liepina also sees risks in combining education and quality control within one institution.
Vitola acknowledged that ensuring such separation and objectivity will not be easy, but she promises to do it. At the same time, combining education and exams within one institution is not unique — such practice exists both in Latvia and abroad.
Importantly, due to the reorganization, the conduct of exams will not be suspended for any period.
The procedure for conducting exams is also not planned to be changed for now. In the future, the agency will consider how to improve this process. No additional funding from the state budget will be requested for the reorganization.