For people
with any type of disability
Find out the sports structure and educational structure
in your country! Check their websites and find information
about sportclubs, activities, lists of schools and
much more!
Education
Educational Structure
For children with special needs there is general as well as special education provided. The Regulation of the Ministers’ Council of Latvia (MCL) considers that general schools, which have appropriate provision for education of students with special needs, can include them in their education programs ( Regulation nr.579, MCL, 2003). However, students with severe disabilities mostly are educated in special education settings. The term “special needs” is administered to the child if she/he has assigned impairment that is included in the list developed by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science (LMES). This list includes eight categories of impairments and diseases such as visual, hearing impairments, learning disability, moderate and light mental retardation, language problems, some chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, movement problems, and some psychiatric diseases ( Regulation Nr.542, LMES, 2003.).
According to data compiled by the LMES, there are about 9000 (about 2,8%) children with various special needs included in general education programs in Latvia (Education in Latvia, Statistics, 2004). Therefore, the LMES has developed several documents and policies with the aim of guaranteeing children with disabilities the opportunity to acquire the education appropriate to their health, abilities and level of development ( Regulation nr.579, MCL, 2003, The General Education Law of Latvia, 2003).
The assignment of education setting for child with special needs is done by the local education department, particularly by the pedagogical/medical committee. There are several regulations developed by the LMES that defines structure and rules for this committee depending on the setting and type of disability of children (MCL, 20.11.2001. Regulations Nr.480) . However, parents can choose between special (segregated) or general (inclusive) education. Since there are no official provided teacher assistants in general education settings for students with special needs, it is parents or school decision about type and way of assistance.
Other interesting links
Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia
They have a separate chapter about special education - law, statistica etc.
Site about different education settings
Education for trainers/ teachers
The Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) is the only education institution in Latvia that offers physical education studies in all academic levels from undergraduate to doctoral degree. The education program in the LASE is conformed to the European education standards and administers ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
In 2000 the LASE initiated the general course in Adapted Physical Education (APE) (76 academic hours) for 5 th year undergraduate students. In this programm different subjects concerning people with a disability are educated, such as ‘Structure of Sports for Persons with a Disability. National and International perspectives’, ‘Classification in Sport for Disabled’ and others. The programm also contains practice.
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