When the academic year starts and ends
Academic year 2008/2009 starts on September 1, 2008 and ends on May 29, 2009 for students of Grades 1 – 8 and 10 - 11, it ends on June 12, 2009 for students of Grade 9 (classes end on May 23, 2009) and on June 19, 2009 for students of Grade 12 (classes end on May 23, 2009).
The First semester starts on September 1, 2008 and ends on December 19, 2008.
The Second semester starts on January 5, 2009 and ends on May 29, 2009 for students of Grades 1 – 8 and 10 - 11, it starts on January 5, 2009 and ends on June 12, 2009 for students of Grade 9, it starts on January 5, 2009 and ends on June 19, 2009 for students of Grade 12.
Academic year 2008/2009:
Autumn holidays – from October 27, 2008 until October 31, 2008;
Christmas holidays – from December 22, 2008 until January 2, 2009;
Spring holidays – from April 3 until April 8, 2009;
Summer holidays – from June 1, 2009 until August 31, 2009 for students of Grades 1 – 8 and 10 – 11.
Transfer to the next grade
A student is moved to the next grade if he/ she has obtained annual assessment in all the study subjects of the relevant grade (except the subjects a particular student is exempted from) and has not received an assessment not compliant with the results to be achieved and not below grade four: in more than one study subject (Grades 1 – 4) and more than two study subjects (in Grades 5 – 8 and 10 – 11).
Post- study tests and consultations at the end of an academic year are mandatory for students on the study subjects where the assessment does not comply with the results to be achieved or the annual assessment is below grade four or the annual assessment has not been received in Grades 1 – 4. In Grades 5 – 8 and 10 and 11 it is mandatory in study subjects where the annual assessment is below grade four or no assessment has been received.
Weight of a schoolbag
Schools shall promote a possibility to store the items, which are necessary at school on daily basis, at the school, so that the defined weight of a schoolbag is not exceeded:
- if a student younger than 9 years, his/ her schoolbag (items to be carried) shall weight 2.5 – 3.5 kg;
- if a student is from 9 to 11 years old, the weight of his/her schoolbag shall not exceed 3.5 – 4 kg;
- if a student is from 12 to 13 years old, the weight of his/her schoolbag shall not exceed 4 – 4.5 kg
- if a student is from 14 to 15 years old, the weight of his/her schoolbag shall not exceed 4.5 – 5 kg;
- if a student is 16 years old or older, the weight of his/ her schoolbag may reach 5 kg and exceed this limit.
Lunch at school
An educational establishment shall provide a possibility for students to receive warm food at least once a day and a break of at least 30 minutes shall be planned for this purpose.
No school in cold weather
Students aged 12 years and below may stay at home from school if the outside temperature is below minus 20 °C, and students aged 13 years and above may stay at home from school if the outside temperature is below minus 25 °C.
Available assistance?
Almost all the pre-school and general basic and secondary education establishments are subordinated to municipalities. Therefore answers to questions and solutions to problems can be found at the relevant municipality.
Information about a child’s situation at school and school-life can be obtained from the class master, subject teachers or school administration. Consultations at a school psychologist are also available to parents.
If a problem cannot be solved at the relevant educational establishment or municipality consultations on possible violations at an educational establishment are available at the State Inspection of Education supervising the compliance to education-related regulatory acts by all educational establishments irrespective of their founders.
State Inspection of Education
Raiņa blv. 4, Riga,
Phone: 7222504,
Fax: 7228573,
E-mail: inspekcija@ivi.gov.lv
Anonymous phone (answering machine): 7358075
Consultations on unclear issues related to education, for example, stipulations of regulatory acts, are available at the Information Centre of the Ministry of Education and Science:
Vaļņu Street 2, Riga,
Phone: 7226209
E-mail: info@izm.gov.lv
Questions on the contents of studies (syllabus) and exams can be answered at the Educational Content and Examination Centre :
phone: 7212415;
mailto:E-mail: isec@isec.gov.lv
