Latvia - Teaching Profession

The teaching profession is not highly respected and has limited authority because the income of teachers is below average. In order to survive and help their families, many teachers seek other career opportunities.

The Division of Educational Workers (DEW) coordinates the education and continuing education of teachers. It creates regulations and documents, organizes the certification of teachers and head teachers, analyzes the continuing professional development needs depending on the demands of the market, as well as composes the state order to universities regarding teacher training. Several private companies offer commercial programs for teachers. Due to lack of funds, however, teachers mainly depend on the state budget and courses organized with state financing.

In 1995 the average wage rate of a preschool teacher was approximately 78.4 percent of the country's average salary and 90.9 percent of the average teacher wage rate in general education.