Answers to most frequent questions
Ask your question: isec@isec.gov.lv
The Curriculum
Why do we need educational standards?
There are a lot of people who use educational standards. These standards are necessary:
1) for teachers to plan teaching/learning process,
2) for organizers of teachers’ professional development to secure continuity between levels of education and between school subjects,
3) for teacher - trainers to organize appropriate teachers’ professional development and qualification programs (teachers’ In-service training),
4) for parents to get clear and precise information about what their children should know and what they achieve in reality,
5) for state officials and society to discuss the quality of education, to evaluate and control it as well as to suggest the necessary changes,
6) for authors, publishers and producers of text-books and other teaching materials to see clearly how to insure teaching/learning process,
7) for specialists of national testing system to create testing system.
Who and how develop educational standards and teaching and learning
programmes models?
ISEC specialists organize development of documents by experienced school subjects’ teachers and methodologists help.
It is very complicated task. There are several steps for developing the educational standards and programs:
- School subject educational standard work group is created.
- Work group overlook existing subject content and evaluate its significance and conformity. They take into consideration:
a) judgment of experts based on latest researches, theories of subject importance, students’ needs etc.,
b) data of assessment as proof of students’ achievement,
c) comparison with the content of other school subject ,
d) comparison with the educational standards, subject content of other countries.
- Project of subject standard is popularized for any comments, additions and improvements.
- Subject consultative board draws a conclusion taking into consideration opinion of methods departments, professional associations, publishers of text-books, national test creators, parents and society at all.
- Work group gets a standard ready for piloting.
- Improved standard is presented for affirmation.
When were standards introduced?
Educational standards are introduced in school year 1992/1993.
Examinations and other tests
Where it is possible to pass centralized examinations?
If you have graduated school earlier and did not passed centralized examinations it is possible to pass centralized examinations in the University of Latvia. Before the examination you can study in special preparing courses. Certificate describing achievements in centralized examination is useful in every higher education institution which takes these certificates in consideration.
Is it possible to hasten the process of receiving certificates?
Students’ received assessment in examinations is described in special report card, but in centralized examination in special certificate given by the ISEC. It is no possible to hasten the time of receiving certificates.
The process of evaluation of centralized examinations is very complicated and long lasting. Order of this process is established by the normative documents, for example, Cabinet of Ministers order No. 545, Ministry of Education and Science instruction No. 4.
What students can do if they are not satisfied with the assessment of
centralized examination?
Students, their parents or guardians have rights to make an appellation about
the complement of examination commission or assessment. Order of appellation is
determined by the Ministry of Education and Science instruction No. 4. If
student has pretensions about assessment of centralized examination, he/she
should submit an application, received certificate and motivated explanation by
the teacher of school subject personally in ISEC during one week after
receiving a certificate. Special appellation commission overlooks pretensions
during one week. Decision of this commission is final.
Education Information Division
Where is it possible to study after primary or secondary school?
The Education Information Division gives such information, you can write to us info@isec.gov.lv
You can also visit web site www.aiknc.lv .
Teachers’ Professional Development
Where can the teachers get information about the teachers’ professional development programs?
List of teachers’ professional development programs is accessible in our web site. You can also get information in Teachers’ Professional Development Division, 11 Merkela Street room 535, Riga, phone/fax +371 7220780.
What are teachers’ professional development possibilities abroad?
There is information about the Council of Europe In-Service Training programmes for Educational Staff summarized in catalogue.
Coordinator of the program is Inta Baranovska, head of the Division of
Teacher’s Professional Development (11 Merkela Street room 535, Riga, phone +371
7503754, inta.baranovska@isec.gov.lv
.
State Language Certification
Where is possible to take the state language certification test?
It is possible to take the test:
What is conformity between state language command level in state language
certification and centralized examination?
| Language certification | Level in centralized examination |
|---|---|
| Lower level IA | F |
| Lower level IB | E |
| Middle level IIA | D |
| Middle level IIB | C |
| Higher level IIIA | B |
| Higher level IIIB | A |
