Latgale struggles to recruit young STEM teachers

Latgale is using scholarships, support programmes and municipal measures to attract teachers in science, technology and mathematics, but the shortage of young educators persists, LSM reported, citing Latgale Regional Television.

Education Ministry data show that nearly 60% of STEM teachers in Preiļi Municipality are aged 55 to 64. Four municipalities in Latgale have no STEM teachers under the age of 25.

Only four of the 101 new teachers who started working in schools this autumn are employed in Latgale, according to data from the University of Latvia’s Mācītspēks teacher training programme.

Dārta Stivriņa has taught mathematics and chemistry at Rugāji Secondary School for three years. After several years living in Riga, she returned to her home region and joined the teacher support programme “Chemistry between us!”

Stivriņa said STEM subjects were developing rapidly, including through the growth of artificial intelligence and technology, and that it was important for children to learn about them and consider careers in the field. She said the programme had provided financial help and reassurance that her work was valued.

While support programmes have helped bring new teachers into municipal schools, authorities say they must also find ways to retain them. Since September, Ludza Municipality has reimbursed teachers’ transport costs. Education department head Gunta Stolere said all schools in the municipality currently had STEM teachers, with no vacancies in mathematics, science, programming, technology or other STEM subjects.

The age of the teaching workforce remains a concern, as it is unclear who will replace educators who retire. Ministry data from last year showed that more than half of teachers in Krāslava Municipality were at or near retirement age. Stolere said several schools in her municipality relied on STEM teachers who were already of retirement age, adding that recruiting and retaining qualified educators was important for the long term.