"Russian youngsters do not feel integrated in Latvia"
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Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 18:32:38 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: "Russian youngsters do not feel integrated in Latvia"
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
"Russian youngsters do not feel integrated in Latvia"
Diena,
22 September 1999
An article entitled "Russian youngsters do not feel integrated in
Latvia" has been published by "Diena" - one of the leading Latvian
newspapers. The article claims that "the majority of the pupils of
Russian schools do not feel attached to the Latvian society, are
unwilling to speak Latvian, absolute majority of them wants for the
Russian language to be recognised as a second state language and they
disapprove plans for minority schools to be switched over to education
in Latvian language.
The article is based on the results of opinion poll held by the Baltic
Data House at the beginning of summer 1999. Pupils of 9th to 11th
years of studies in 50 Russian schools of Latvia as well as their
teachers and parents have been interviewed.
The above mentioned research revealed that the sense of integration
into Latvian society is much weaker among the Russian schools' pupils
than among their parents and teachers. Answering the question "Do you
feel yourself being part of the society of Latvia?" only 35 percent of
the pupils replied positively, while 65 percent of their parents and
78 percent of the teachers did so.
Majority of the interviewed in all three groups would like to see
Russian language to be recognised as a second state language in
Latvia. This view is most spread among the youngsters - 77 percent of
the interviewed pupils support Russian as a second state language.
Their parents and teachers are less supportive for this view - 55 and
60 percent respectively.
The research also revealed that in general Russian schools' pupils are
reluctant to speak Latvian - only 17 percent of the interviewed are
willing to speak this language. This comes in a sharp contrast to
their language abilities - about 72 percent of the pupils have fairly
good knowledge of Latvian. Again, the opposite trend is seen among
their parents - 51 percent are willing to speak Latvian while only 42
percent are able to speak this language relatively good. The main
reason that prevents interviewed to use Latvian language is the
feeling of embarrassment for mistakes in their speech and generally
insufficient knowledge of Latvian.
Majority of the interviewed in all groups disapproves minority
schools' reform envisioned by the Education law. The Law stipulates
gradual transition to Latvian language of instruction in all minority
schools. By the year 2004 at least 75 percent of all subjects in
minority schools will have to be taught in Latvian language.
Finally, all three interviewed groups believe that the best way to
achieve higher level of Latvian language knowledge among the Russian
pupils is to improve the language teaching at schools, but not to
switch over to Latvian language of instruction.
-------------------------
Some comments from the moderator:
In short, the research results point out once again at importance of
the issue of societal integration in Latvia. The research has shaded
light at one of the key aspects of this problem - lack of adequate
state policies that can effectively facilitate the process of
integration. The pupils interviewed in the poll were raised up after
the independence was fully restored. Yet we can see that exactly this
group feels least integrated into Latvian society. Exactly this group
has reserved attitudes towards the state language. One can also
question whether the envisioned minority schools reform will actually
facilitate the integration process or, taking into account generally
negative attitude of the minority members towards it, will hinder the
process.
--
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