OECD study: teacher shortage remains a problem in Latvia
A new OECD education report finds that the share of vacant teaching positions in Latvia has grown in recent years, as teachers age and young educators often leave the profession. A future decline in student numbers may ease demand but will not fully solve the problem.
The latest international education report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found that teacher shortages remain an ongoing problem in Latvia, with the share of vacant teaching positions having increased in recent years.
Aging workforce and early departures
According to the report, one of the main causes is the aging of Latvia's teaching workforce, with the average age of teachers on the rise. The situation is further compounded by the fact that younger teachers relatively often choose to leave the profession, making it difficult for the education system to sufficiently renew its teaching staff.
Demographic trends going forward
OECD researchers note that a decline in the number of students in Latvia in the coming years could reduce overall demand for teachers. However, experts stress that demographic shifts alone will not fully resolve the teacher shortage, since the issue is also linked to the attractiveness of the profession and the ability to retain educators in their jobs.
The report forms part of OECD's regular international education publications, which compare education system indicators across countries, including the state of the teaching workforce.
