Latvian schools seek creative ways to encourage summer reading without a mandatory list
For a decade, Latvian schools have had no unified mandatory reading list, so they now creatively choose which books to recommend for summer. The aim is to pick titles that genuinely engage children and teenagers rather than feel like an obligation.
As September approaches, pupils across Latvia are rushing to finish their summer homework, and one recurring task remains reading books recommended by teachers. Yet the approach to this task has changed considerably over the past decade.
No unified list
For 10 years now, Latvian schools have had no official mandatory literature list that once dictated which books students in each grade had to read. This shift has given schools and teachers greater freedom to decide for themselves what to recommend to their students.
A creative approach to fostering reading
Without a strict list, schools are looking for other ways to encourage pupils to pick up books during the summer break. The focus is on choosing literature that genuinely appeals to children and young people, rather than treating it as a mere formal obligation. The goal is to nurture a lasting love of reading and encourage students to keep choosing books independently even after finishing school.
