From January 1, 2026, Latvia is set to prohibit the teaching of Russian as a second foreign language in schools.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7224815

From January 1, 2026, Latvia is set to prohibit the teaching of Russian as a second foreign language in schools.

Starting the same date, Russian-language TV and radio broadcasting will be banned in state media. Additionally, the VAT on sales of Russian-language books will increase to 21%.

These measures aim to reduce the presence of the Russian language and strengthen the role of the Latvian language in society.

Russian is the native language for 36% of Latvians.[1]

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language_in_Latvia ↩︎

    • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      12·
      1 month ago

      First foreign language is always English, then later they can choose a 2nd foreign language to study, now restricted to official languages of EU countries

      Latvia has a very large Russian minority, over 20% of the population, so Russian has been popular language to pick - partially because many schools just may not have (enough) teachers for other options

  • ryannathans@aussie.zoneEnglish
    32·
    1 month ago

    That’s insane, IIRC Ukraine tried the same but that didn’t seem to go so well for them

  • bluGill@fedia.io
    58·
    1 month ago

    Russian is useful to know if you are a spy but otherwise not worth it

    • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.chEnglish
      8·
      1 month ago

      I think a language’s usefulness is rather subjective and subject to experience: I love learning all sorts of languages that I have no daily exposure to but I wouldn’t say knowing them is “useless.”

      • bluGill@fedia.io
        12·
        1 month ago

        normally I’d agree but the language in question here is russian that currently needs to die for political reasons. Too bad, it is a pretty language from the little I’ve heard it.