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'How will our school ratings fare?' – Ombudswoman criticizes concealment of violence cases
🇱🇻 Latvia /Culture & Society

'How will our school ratings fare?' – Ombudswoman criticizes concealment of violence cases

From Delfi Latvia · () Latvian

Translated from Latvian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Latvia's ombudswoman criticizes the concealment of violence incidents within schools.
  • Approximately 70% of municipal leaders are unaware of such cases, while some school directors fear negative ratings.
  • The ombudswoman highlights that schools are not free from violence and calls for greater transparency.

Latvia's ombudswoman, Karina Palkova, has strongly criticized the practice of concealing incidents of violence within educational institutions. She described the situation as "the most terrible thing that can happen to a child, a teacher, an educational institution – to keep it within your own household." Palkova emphasized that this secrecy prevents proper intervention and resolution.

This is the most terrible thing that can happen to a child, a teacher, an educational institution – to keep it within your own household.

— Karina PalkovaLatvia's ombudswoman criticizing the concealment of violence incidents in schools.

According to Palkova, a significant issue is the lack of awareness among local authorities. "About 70% of municipal leaders are not even informed about such cases," she stated. Furthermore, some school directors are reluctant to address these problems openly, fearing a drop in school rankings, negative performance evaluations, or even the loss of their positions. This fear, she argued, contributes to the problem remaining hidden.

About 70% of municipal leaders are not even informed about such cases.

— Karina PalkovaOmbudswoman Palkova highlighting the lack of awareness among local authorities regarding school violence.

Palkova acknowledged that while it's difficult to definitively say whether violence in schools is increasing or simply being discussed more, the reality is that "the educational institutions are unfortunately not a violence-free environment." She expressed dismay that these incidents "remain within the institution," preventing external bodies, like municipalities, from fulfilling their regulatory roles in problem-solving.

the educational institutions are unfortunately not a violence-free environment.

— Karina PalkovaOmbudswoman Palkova stating that schools in Latvia are not free from violence.

She recounted discussions with municipal leaders who seemed unaware of the extent of the issue, despite regulations mandating municipal involvement. "I would say that 70% of municipal leaders were not even informed about such cases!" Palkova revealed, underscoring the systemic failure in reporting and addressing school violence.

I would say that 70% of municipal leaders were not even informed about such cases!

— Karina PalkovaOmbudswoman Palkova expressing dismay over municipal leaders' lack of awareness about school violence incidents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi Latvia in Latvian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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