How RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education experts are driving change in Latvia’s sport education

Experts from the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education (RSU LASE) have played a key role in promoting fitness, sport, and a healthy lifestyle among children and young people in Latvia. They have done so by actively contributing to the development of sport education policy and by enhancing education programmes through their extensive research base and internationally recognised expertise.

In recent years, the place of sport lessons in Latvian schools has been the subject of repeated debate. The most recent discussion arose in 2023, when the introduction of National Defence course into the curriculum sparked concerns that the number of sport and health lessons might be reduced to fewer than two per week. Guided by a commitment to public health, RSU LASE experts – one of the key social partners of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia in the implementation of sport policy – successfully argued, based on research and international best practice, that children and young people in primary and secondary schools should take part in at least three hours of sport each week. This is essential for pupils to maintain and improve their level of physical fitness. Numerous studies have shown that insufficient physical activity is a major contributing factor to the development of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Between 2016 and 2023, RSU LASE also contributed to the development of the ‘Sport and Health’ curriculum for primary and secondary schools, as part of the national education reform, Skola2030. The purpose of these lessons has shifted in the new programme – moving away from measurable physical standards and competition, towards encouraging sport as a lifelong healthy habit. The curriculum also places greater emphasis on safety, teaching children how to recognise risky situations and make informed decisions. During its development, RSU LASE experts produced digital teaching aids and organised seminars for teachers.

Today, RSU LASE is a key partner in shaping education policy within the field of sport and health education. Given the rising health challenges linked to insufficient physical activity and the impact of modern technology on young people’s lifestyles, their influence is more significant than ever.