Latvia greenlights over $4.8 million for Ukrainian language training initiative

Latvian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a funding allocation of €4,685,625 to enable the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) to continue providing Latvian language courses for Ukrainian civilians.

The decision was made during the government meeting on February 4. It is expected that up to 6,375 individuals will benefit from the free courses in 2025, Caliber.Az reports via Latvian media.

Under the SIF-organised programme Latvian Language Learning for Ukrainian Civilians, the following groups will be eligible for the courses:

• Ukrainian civilians, including minors who have completed secondary education in Ukraine, as well as individuals aged 16 and over who are not enrolled in an educational institution registered in Latvia (such as general education, vocational secondary education, or professional orientation education institutions).

• Ukrainian civilians aged between 5 and 18, who will be able to take part in non-formal education courses suited to their initial proficiency level in Latvian.

Note that, SIF has been implementing this state-funded programme since 2022 and will continue to organize an open project competition for training providers. The courses will be available across all regions of Latvia, as close as possible to the places where Ukrainian civilians are residing, or remotely via online communication platforms.

In 2023, 6,049 people participated in the programme, with 4,378 successfully completing the courses. Among them, 2,388 attained A1 level proficiency, 1,383 reached A2, 536 achieved B1, and 71 reached B2.

In 2024, 6,114 individuals enrolled, with 4,799 completing the training. Additionally, 1,603 people have either taken or are preparing to take the Latvian language exam administered by the National Centre for Education (VISC), including 717 at A1 level, 546 at A2, 238 at B1, 78 at B2, and 24 at C1.

By Aghakazim Guliyev