In Latvia the term for ISCED levels 1 and 2 is pamatizglītība ("basic education" or integrated primary and lower-secondary education). It is compulsory.
Single structure education pamatizglītība begins at seven years of age and lasts a total of nine years, consisting of 6 years of the first stage of pamatizglītība education (sākumskola) and 3 years of the second stage of pamatizglītība education.
Basic education is part of general education (vispārējā izglītība) which is implemented at the following levels:
Specific types of general education are the following:
Institutions providing single structure compulsory education are as follows:
The last years of basic education (grades 7 - 9) can also be acquired in ģimnāzija which principaly offers three years of full-time general upper-secondary education to students aged 16 to 19.
It is possible to obtain compulsory education also in vocational schools, in the schools providing education for children with special needs, in evening or boarding schools, social or pedagogical correction schools or classes or in other educational establishments providing compulsory education programmes.
Satversme (the Constitution) determines the right to education for everybody. The Children’s Rights Protection Law determines equal rights and possibilities of all children to acquire education according to personal abilities. The Education Law and the General Education Law defines different types and forms of general education (including integrated primary and lower-secondary education), management, compulsory school attendance, and also determines the types of general education institutions.
There are regulations governing curricula for schools providing integrated primay and lower-secondary (i.e. compulsory) education and upper-secondary education. At the central level curriculum is defined through the Regulations Regarding the State Basic Education Standard and Model Basic Education Programmes. These documents determine general aims of schooling, aims of each subject together with the description of content and time allocation.
National testing (diagnostical tests and examinations at the end of compulsory education) is regulated by specific prescriptions:
National Cente for Education administers national tests.
Each school, with the consent of the founder and in conformity with the General Education Law, accepts its own Regulations. They declare the legal status, the founder, describe the organisation of education process and economic activities, aims and tasks of the school, implemented education programmes as well as rights and duties of pupils and pedagogues.
Goals of compulsory education curriculum are:
The compulsory education curriculum should be implemented so that every pupil: