Latvia’s Basic Education System Faces Inequality Concerns, Audit Finds
Riga, Latvia – A recent audit by the State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia (VK) has revealed significant disparities in the quality of basic education across the country. The findings, published on February 18, 2026, indicate that children in Latvia are receiving vastly different educational opportunities depending on their school’s location and resources.
Unequal Access to Quality Education
The audit concluded that state and local governments have not adequately ensured equal access to high-quality basic education for all students, particularly at the school closest to their residence. This results in children acquiring basic education with significantly different opportunities and outcomes. As of October 1, 2025, 183,659 students were enrolled in 583 schools across Latvia in basic education programs (grades 1–9).
Increased Spending, Variable Implementation
Despite a 31% increase in local government spending on general education (grades 1–12) between 2021 and 2024, reaching €904 million, the audit highlights inconsistencies in how these funds are utilized and implemented. The Latvian education standard allows for considerable flexibility in the scope and implementation of subjects, leading to substantial variations between schools.
Significant Discrepancies in Teaching Hours
For example, the standard curriculum for mathematics in grades 1–9 stipulates 1,501 teaching hours. However, schools are permitted to adjust this number by up to 25%, resulting in a potential difference of up to 751 teaching hours between schools. Although schools can increase teaching hours for 9th-grade exam subjects by up to 40%, other subjects often experience significant reductions.
The audit found reductions in teaching hours for several key subjects:
- Design and Technology: Up to 50% reduction
- Social Sciences and History: Up to 67% reduction
- Computer Science: Up to 40% reduction
the audit revealed instances where subjects were completely integrated into other subjects, effectively eliminating dedicated instruction time.
Lessons Taught Often Fall Short of Planned Schedules
The audit also revealed that the actual number of lessons taught frequently falls below planned schedules. Over a three-year period, mathematics lessons were reduced by up to 46%, Latvian language lessons by up to 27% and English lessons by up to 24%.
Fragmented Planning and Lack of Coordination
The State Audit Office also identified a lack of coordination in education development planning between the state, local governments, and schools. Planning documents often lack clear, measurable performance indicators, hindering the assessment of progress and effectiveness. Objectives and priorities are not consistently aligned across different levels of the education system.
Recommendations for Improvement
The Audit Office issued 10 recommendations to the Education and Science Ministry, focusing on:
- Justifying and monitoring subjects and teaching hours
- Providing targeted support for individual student development
- Improving school accreditation processes
- Reducing administrative burdens
Ongoing Financial Audit Concerns
Separately, the State Audit Office has repeatedly raised concerns about the verifiability of the State Revenue Service’s (VID) annual tax report, despite €31 million invested in the system. Issues within the VID Payment Administration Information System (MAIS) continue to prevent auditors from obtaining sufficient evidence for the report’s accuracy. BNN reported on this issue in August 2025.
State Audit: Basic education in Latvia not equal
State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia