Pedagogic correction – an educational program based on adopted methodology and organisational arrangements to persons at the age of mandatory education and requiring improvement of skills within the framework of the basic education program. Every school may open classes for students requiring pedagogic correction. The implementation of the pedagogic correction basic education program shall ensure the achievement of the tasks defined in the National Standard of Basic Education, and the special tasks set for the implementation of this program are as follows:
- to identify (establish) a student’s achievements within a particular study subject with the purpose to improve them and to select the possible ways, character, methods of providing optimum assistance to the student that could yield the best possible result for the person’s development and study work;
- to ensure the atmosphere of emotional well doing and mutual understanding at school for a student and to create an environment of positive cooperation for the mutual relationship between teachers, a student and his/ her family (parents, caretakers;
- to develop various incentives for studies in compliance to a student’s psychological peculiarities and encouraging a student to find his/ her incentive for studies;
· to support effective approach to studies, thus encouraging a student to form his/ her own opinion and interpretation of studies, to understand the relationship between studies and life.
The pedagogic correction program of basic education may be implemented from Grade 1 to 9. The length of the pedagogic correction program shall be set for every student on individual basis taking into account the individual development dynamics and the achieved results according to teachers’ assessment during every semester. Classes of pedagogic correction supplement the regular study lessons, the after-school care groups shall be funded for all the pedagogic correction classes. It is recommended that a teacher has qualification of a social teacher and/ or education psychologist for being able to organise pedagogic correction classes and to perform the social work.
Social correction – an education program based on adopted methodology and organisational arrangements to persons at the age of mandatory education with deviations of social behaviour. In Latvia such programs are implemented only in social correction educational establishments.
Social correction educational establishments perform a function of the general educational establishment by implementing social correction educational program and ensuring the completion of the mandatory general basic education or improving its quality. Social correction educational program provides for the organisation of the values education for students and their preparation for social reintegration. Knowledge and skills required for independent life within the society are provided to minor law-breakers. Minor law-breakers are also given an opportunity to master professional skills. An important task of a social correction educational establishment is also to take care of the improvement of students’ health and to provide addiction (alcohol, drugs, toxic substances, etc.) treatment in cases of necessity.
In compliance to the Law “On application of educational enforcement measures against children” two social correction educational establishments have been established and they operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science and in compliance of their approved Regulations.
In year 1994 in Alūksne region Alsviķi parish the social correction educational establishment “Strautiņi” was established. It is intended for 80 students aged between 11 and 18 years.
In year 1998 in Valmiera region Naukšēni parish the social correction educational establishment “Naukšēni” was established. It is intended for 30 girls aged between 11 and 18 years. Both during the initial period and also now there have been problems with forming groups of students. It is because regional courts apply the placement of a person in a social correction educational establishment as a measure of educational enforcement against girls less often than against boys. Therefore the Ministry of Education and Science has performed certain actions to make it possible to place also boys aged between 11 and 14 years, against whom a court judgement has been adopted in relation to less serious offences, in the social correction educational establishment „Naukšēni”.
Students are places in social correction educational establishments only based upon a court (judge’s) resolution. In compliance to the valid legislation enforcement measures of educational character may be applied against minors aged between 11 and 18 years. Placement of minors in a social correction educational institution is applied as a special measure against young persons, who have committed offences dangerous for the society provided for in the Criminal Code. In compliance to the Law “On application of educational enforcement measures against children” a court (judge) can release a minor from a penalty and impose an enforcement measure of educational character – placement in a social correction educational institution, considering special circumstances of committing a criminal offence. In such a case a young person is not brought to criminal liability. By applying an enforcement measure of educational character a person shall be considered as not criminally punished. This measure cancels all the criminal legal consequences of the committed criminal offence.
