On September 1, Latvia’s highest ranking officials congratulate pupils, students and their parents and teachers with the beginning of a new school year and note the big importance of education in people’s lives and the future of the country they live in.

«The Western culture has been tightly linked with educating its society and making said education available for everyone for centuries. Only in a free and democratic country an educated person is valued. Only an educated person is truly free. Free to create his own and his country’s destiny,»- notes Saeima Chairwoman Solvita Aboltina.

«In order to realize a dream, one should be full of motivation and education to reach the set goal. Education is the responsibility of every person. It is the responsibility of parents to prepare their children for school; it is the responsibility of teachers to motivate children to study; it is the responsibility of the government and the parliament to create high standards for education, support teachers, create new opportunities; finally, it is the responsibility of pupils and students before themselves, their knowledge and their future,»- says Aboltina.

In his September 1 congratulation, Education and Science Minister Roberts Kilis noted that students are the ones for who changes in Latvia’s education are made. «Your studies, knowledge and skills you acquire are your own business. But the story doesn’t with that. The form and conditions under which you study are our – teachers’, parents’ and education workers’ responsibility. Our calling is to make sure your studies are interesting and productive. So that all learn would be useful in your lives, because only curious, and free people can become a base for a strong country,»- says the minister.

When addressing parents, Kilis noted: «You are the tax payers. Therefore, your opinion matters. School effectiveness is your responsibility, because your voice and your rights can affect the flow of events. When the voucher system is introduced in 2014, you will be the ones whose influence will significantly affect the education process.»

«I am overjoyed that, for the first time since the restoration of our country’s independence, many parental organizations have united on the Parents forum, to become partners to the Education Ministry. They are responsible parents who are interested in their children’s future. They wish to follow the process of how important decisions are made and contribute to the process personally to make their children clever and far-reaching. I would like to welcome all Latvian parents to join one such organization and become part of the process of change,»- said the minister.

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