1. ”ONCE Again-st Abandon, Opening to New Countries Experiences” ”ONCE Again-st Abandon, Opening to New Countries Experiences” 28 – 31 May 2008 Bucharest, Romania

2. - LATVIA -

3. LATVIA Area – 64, 589 sq.km Population - 2,27 millions (July 2007) Urban – 67%, Rural – 33% Capital – RIGA (731 thousand inhabitants)

4. School Year 2007/2008 Number of General education schools – 960 Total number of pupils – 250 941 (ages 6/7 – 19)

5. General Education (pupils’ age 6/7 – 19) Total number of pupils in general education – 250 941 Pupils repeating the year (or 2 years) 3.4% 2006/2007 3.2% 2005/2006 2.8% 2004/2005  Majority of pupils (6.3%) repeating the study year are in grades 7 and 8 (13-15 years old)  20.75% of these pupils were repeating the study year for the 3 rd time  The number of boys repeating the year is 2-3 times bigger than girls

6. Pupils not attending general education schools 4 509 1,4% from the whole number of pupils 2003/2004 Pupils not continuing studies after the age of 15/16 (after graduating basic education) 20 000 5,6% from the whole number of pupils 2006/2007 15-24 years old unemployed 6000 – 7000 14% from the whole number of unemployed – 51 000 2006 48,4% from the whole number of unemployed have basic education. Total number of pupils in general education – 250 941

7. European Union Structural Funds National Programme “SUPPORT TO INTRODUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION AND CAREER EDUCATION IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM” PROJECT: “Provision of career education programmes within education system”

8. “Provision of career education programmes within education system”Period: February, 2005 – August, 2008 Organisation: State Education Development Agency, Centre for Vocational Guidance

9. Research “PRIMARY EDUCATION: DROPOUTS AND PROBLEM SOLUTION” Period of research: November, 2006 – August, 2007 Organisation: “Baltic Institute of Social Sciences” Range of age considered: 14-20 years old dropouts

10. Classes of Social and Pedagogic Correction Total number of general education schools – 960 Total number of pupils in general education – 250 941 Number of pupils in social and pedagogic correction 3 348 2007/2008 2 958 2006/2007 Number of general education schools with classes (programmes) of social and pedagogic correction 117 2007/2008 116 2006/2007 The pedagogic correction program of basic education may be implemented from Grade 1 to 9 (6/7 – 15/16 years old)