The document outlines Latvia's education system. It has three levels of administration: national, municipal, and institutional. Pre-school education is available for children ages 2-7, with ages 5-7 being compulsory. Basic education spans ages 7-16 and is compulsory. Secondary education includes general, vocational, and vocational basic programs. Higher education includes professional programs leading to qualifications or degrees, as well as academic programs leading to Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

1. Dobele, 2011 EDUCATION SYSTEM LATVIA

2. Educational System in Latvia 20+ Academic higher education (Bachelor's degree) Professional higher education (Bachelor's degree) Professional higher education College education 19 Vocational secondary education Follow-up courses 18 General secondary education Vocational education and training 17 Vocational basic education and training 16 15 Basic education 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 Pre-school education 5 4 Kindergarten 3 2

4. Pre-school E ducation 2-5 year old children – parents free choise to educate children at home or kindergarten; 5-7 year old children have to participate in pre-school programmes provided by general education establishments or kindergartens as a part of the compulsory basic education.

5. Basic Education 9-year single structure basic education (primary and lower secondary education) is compulsory for all children from the age of 7. The curriculum is determined by the national basic education standard. The Ministry of Education and Science supervises and determines the content of the final national examinations.

7. Secondary Education 4-year vocational secondary education programmes (vocational secondary schools) are offered to students who have successfully completed compulsory basic education Graduates of these programmes have an opportunity to combine vocational qualification with completion of their secondary education.

8. Secondary Education 2-3 year vocational education and training programmes (vocational secondary schools) are offered to students who have completed the basic education and provide the opportunity to acquire vocational qualification. Education can be continued in 2-year programmes leading to higher qualification l evel or 1-2 year programmes leading to a Certificate of the secondary education .

9. Secondary Education 3 year vocational basic education and training programmes ( vocational schools ) for students without a certificate of the basic education (after completion of at least 7 grades of basic education, but not before the calendar year when they become 15 years old). Besides acquiring of vocational qualification students also have the opportunity to accomplish the basic education

10. Higher Education P rofessional higher education : 1st level of professional higher education or college education (2-3 years) leading to professional qualification ; 2nd level of professional higher education leading to professional qualification ; or 2nd level of professional higher education leading to the professional Bachelor’s degree

11. Higher Education Academic higher education programmes are based upon fundamental and/or applied science; they usually comprise a thesis at the end of each stage and lead to a Bachelor’s degree (Bakalaurs ) and Master’s degree (Maģistrs) . Bachelor’s degree is considered as a complete academic qualification . (d uration - 3 or 4 years ).