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Andrejs Geske

University of Latvia, Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art, Faculty Member

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Papers by Andrejs Geske

Creating a Positive Working Environment for Teachers

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 25, 2018

The purpose of the research paper is to study a positive working environment importance for teach... more The purpose of the research paper is to study a positive working environment importance for teachers work satisfaction and the role of principal in improving working conditions. Whereas teacher profession is subject to different changes and reforms it makes the whole profession and teacher well-being an important subject to discuss. The research paper includes analysis of the theoretical material about physical environment as well as psychological (also called microclimate). Empirical part is based on teacher's survey-97 teachers from different schools in Riga were involved. The statements of survey have partially adopted from Teaching and Learning International Study TALIS 2013. The main research task is to study how work environment and the impact of principal correlate with teacher work satisfaction. During research scales of teacher work satisfaction, work environment and impact of principal were created. The results of linear regression show that both the work environment and direct impact of principal is important factor which influences as well educational work as work satisfaction. The situation is various in different schools in Riga, so it verifies, that the problematics of positive working environment exists.

The Influence of Civic and Citizenship Education Achievements on the Development of Students’ Citizenship Attitudes

Problems of education in the 21st century, Mar 20, 2013

Civic skills, knowledge and attitudes are the elements forming the citizenship concept. How do th... more Civic skills, knowledge and attitudes are the elements forming the citizenship concept. How do they suit multicultural societies? What are the mutual links among civic attitudes, knowledge and skills of different ethnic groups? The aim of the research is to establish the model of students' civic competence and to find out factors which explain the influence of civic achievements on civic attitudes. IEA (the International Association for the Evolution of Educational Achievement) ICCS 2009 (the International Civic and Citizenship Studies 2009) are used for the analysis. SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) is used for data processing. The authors used multi-modelling to compare Latvian and Estonian majority and minority sample groups. The results indicate that the level of civic knowledge and skills influences civic attitudes of Estonian and Latvian students. Students with a higher level of civic knowledge and skills have a more pronounced sense of global belonging and ability to adjust and live a multicultural society. The civic knowledge of Estonian students with the Estonian language of instruction influences most essentially the civic attitudes and a sense of belonging to Europe. Latvian students with the Russian language of instruction have the least influence on the mentioned factors.

Evaluation of Latvia’s Science Education in the Iea Timss and Oecd Pisa Framework

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2002

The article deals with the two largest international comparative studies in science, the first cy... more The article deals with the two largest international comparative studies in science, the first cycles of which took place in the last years of the previous century and which go on today as well-IEA TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) and OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). The average achievements of Latvia's students in science in each of the studies are different but the general situation of science education in Latvia is satisfactory and corresponding to our economic situation. We support the opinion that improving of Latvia's economics and correct developing of the country's educational system will advance students' achievements. At the same time there are several spheres, which need immediate improvement. Especially, it concerns our students' skills to apply the knowledge gained in science lessons to real life situations.

The Professional Learning Community as an Organizational System for School Staff Development, School Change and Improvement

In the context of the general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides c... more In the context of the general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides change of learning approach, involvement in mutual professional learning activities at school has raised the issue of teachers` professional growth. In the scientific literature the concept of the professional learning communities (PLC) is considered to be an effective organizational system for school staff development, school change and improvement on the basis of two considerations. First of all it is presumed that teachers` professional knowledge is a part of their everyday experience and that this knowledge is best understood in a critical exchange of ideas with other teachers, who have the same experience. Secondly it is assumed that teachers who are actively involved in the PLCs will be able to increase their professional knowledge and competence, thus contributing to students` learning and their learning outcomes. The main goal of the research is to find out whether and to what extent teachers in the Latvian general education institutions take part in the PLCs. The article discusses theories of the concept of PLC and analyses the results of 489 teacher surveys. The results of empirical research do not show significant differences in the mean values of the PLC scales in primary and secondary schools. The data shows a very significant difference in the average values of the PLC scales in schools of the same level of education.

Competency-Based Approach to Educational Content for Sustainable Development in Latvia

Rural Environment. Education. Personality, Apr 30, 2020

Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within th... more Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within the framework of which environmental impact does not go beyond the natural possibilities. The transition to sustainable development is a complex and requires a change in the very foundations of social life. Education is essential in achieving sustainable development. An important role in the implementation of education for sustainable development belongs to teachers. For this, teachers must have appropriate professional competencies. The purpose of the study is to determine how well teachers are prepared for the changes themselves and whether they have enough knowledge to successfully implement this educational strategy in the process of teaching students in high school. As a result of the survey, it was shown that the ideas of sustainable development in the education system as a whole are perceived positively, but the urgent need is professional training and advanced training of teachers for their implementation. The article concludes with practical suggestions to strengthen teachers' educational capacities for sustainable development.

Management of Psychosocial Risks in the Educational Sector of Latvia

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 21, 2019

Risk management is gaining acknowledgement in organisational management due to the benefits it br... more Risk management is gaining acknowledgement in organisational management due to the benefits it brings with it, such as ability of managers to forecast possible threats and plan the most appropriate prevention measures. Psychosocial risk group is one of the largest risk group types and is related to the aspects of staff overburning, lack of employee motivation, health problems due to stress, etc. Study carried in Latvia about risk management showed that psychosocial risks are significant for educational institutions. Empirical research carried out in Latvia has shown that the top risks perceived by the education sector professionals in Latvia are overloading of employees and lack of employee motivation. Hypothesis of this study is that psychosocial risks, such as overloading and lack of motivation, are not dealt well with due to low awareness of effective psychosocial risk management techniques. There was no profound research performed on this topic in Latvia in the last ten years. The aim of this study is to explore different methods researched by other authors how the risk can be managed, analyse causes of these risks and provide the recommendation on how to deal with the psychosocial risks in the educational sector.

Analysis of Factors That Are Associated with a High Level of Reading Literacy: The Iea Pirls Perspective

Humanities and social sciences, 2007

Using the Iea Timss Tests to Compare Pupils’ Science Education Achievements at Regional and School Levels

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2004

The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests... more The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests could be used to compare the average achievements of schools at regional level. All eight-formers of the Valmiera (Latvia) region participated in the investigation. The study showed than on average, the achievements of the schoolchildren of the Valmiera region are more considerable than those at national level in general. Moreover, the representatives of the city site rather than the participants of the rural area were more successful in the Valmiera region as well as throughout the country. However, analysis indicates that some schools of the rural area have achieved impressive results while knowledge of a number of the learners of the city remains rather poor. The data is important to education leaders of the region because school situation and the results of this research can help to carry out the assessment of every school. The obtained information regarding pupils' performance in each of the subject content groups is essential for schools. In general, we may consider that a parallel TIMSS study undertaken in one of the regions of Latvia has been very successful and education leaders, school principals and teachers of the area received valuable information.

The Impact of Headmaster’s Leadership Practice on the Formation of a Professional Learning Community at School

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 21, 2019

In the context of general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides chang... more In the context of general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides change of teaching approach, the issue of the role of headmaster has raised. The introduction and implementation of competence approach requires strengthening and development of cooperation between teachers in professional learning communities (PLCs) at school, in order to address didactic issues, regularly analyze pupils` learning outcomes and find best ways to increase the learning outcomes of each pupil, and give an opportunity for teachers to improve their teaching by sharing good pedagogical practice. The change of teaching approach prompts a revision of school management practices as well. In order for the school to grow, there is a need for a headmaster-leader, not just a headmaster-manager and he should focus on the leadership of the teaching process by improving teaching and learning and ensuring conditions for effective learning at school. The main goal of the research is to find out to what extent the headmaster`s pedagogical leadership practice has an impact on the PLCs formation at school. The article discusses theories of the concept of headmaster as pedagogical leader and PLCs, and analyzes the results of 489 teacher survey.

The Health Competency Determinant Factors Of Latvian Population

European Medical, Health and Pharmaceutical Journal, May 1, 2013

Teachers’ Professional Self-Efficacy for Collaboration: A Comparison Between European Countries

To Be or Not to Be a Great Educator

Since the understanding of non-cognitive skills and their importance have grown, it becomes more ... more Since the understanding of non-cognitive skills and their importance have grown, it becomes more and more significant to measure their impact on different areas of professional life. It has been researched that not only individual teacher’s professional self-efficacy, but also collective self-efficacy has a significant impact on both the teachers’ self-efficacy and students’ achievement. The purpose of this study is to select a set of factors that correlate with teachers’ professional self-efficacy and to analyse if teachers’ professional self-efficacy has an impact on teachers’ cooperation with colleagues and students. Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish data from the OECD TALIS 2018 teacher questionnaires were used. o analyse which factors correlate with teachers’ professional self-efficacy, the authors of this article selected such variables as the type of school, the type of urbanization, the number of special education students in the class, f...

Quality of Education in Latvian Municipalities and State Cities – Results of International Studies and State Examinations

Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2022

In 2021 a new Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas came into force in the Republ... more In 2021 a new Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas came into force in the Republic of Latvia. To reduce fragmentation, the number of municipalities and State cities was reduced from 119 to 43. There were no changes in 11 local governments, however, other new structures were formed by merging two to eight local governments. On the one hand, these changes are creating new challenges in the education process and institution management, but on the other hand – larger local governments with larger numbers of schools and students opens up new opportunities. One of the opportunity is to make a more accurate assessment of student achievement, which characterizes the performance of a local government’s educational institutions. The aim of this article is to show that despite the great differences between local governments (e. g. population differences from 3 to 614 thousand) it is possible to assess the quality of education in local governments by using data from state exami...

The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on Students’ Self-Beliefs in Large Scale Studies

Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2022

The prolonged pandemic situation that left its damaging footprints not only in global economy but... more The prolonged pandemic situation that left its damaging footprints not only in global economy but in many families, struggling with options to maintain their pre-pandemic income levels and social status, has raised the issue about the impact of family socioeconomic status (SES) on child’s personality, especially self-beliefs. It has been previously studied that SES has a significant impact on child’s academic achievement. Inherited social status has been the subject of studies for many years, and some researchers argue that it is rooted in the child’s self-beliefs. The aim of this article is to examine the impact of family SES factors. The research question for this study is as follows: does family SES impact significantly primary school students’ academic self-beliefs? To evaluate the significance of factor impact, the authors used linear regression models where the dependent variable was students’ self-beliefs, but family SES and students’ achievement were the independent variable...

Matematikas un dabaszinatnu izglitibas attistibas tendencu starptautiskais novertejums

Available from Latvian Academic Library / LAL - Latvian Academic LibrarySIGLEMinistry of Educatio... more

High Performance Athletes' Dual Career Possibilities in Latvian Higher Educational Institutions

This article aims to provide an overview of high performance athletesstudents' dual career manage... more This article aims to provide an overview of high performance athletesstudents' dual career management opportunities in Latvian higher education institutions. This paper analyzes the scientific literature and high performance athletes' survey results. The authors in the paper explore and analyze the possibilities for high performance athletes to get an education and to improve their training process. This paper provides a theoretical overview and analysis of high performance athletes' survey results in respect of the subject. Analyzing high performance athletes' study process in a higher educational institution the authors conclude that the number of high performance athletesstudents in the first two years of study, that is respectively 19-21 years of age, which is the transition period from early youth to youth age group, have problems with carrying out the study plan. Students-athletes make multiple mistakes in the management functions in the study process: time planning, organizing, controlling, lack of motivation. High performance athletes have four important indicators for dual career: the learning environment, the sport environment, the support that they have, athletes' self-contribution in the dual career process. As a result, dual career management guidelines suited to successful management of high performance athletes' dual careers in Latvian higher educational institutions have been worked out.

Problems of Education

The objective of this paper is to find out the reasons behind the low level of reading literacy a... more The objective of this paper is to find out the reasons behind the low level of reading literacy among primary school students. The data from IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2001 are analyzed. And the main conclusions are drawn that the socioeconomic situation of the family has a great impact on students reading literacy as well as parents' education and reading aloud to a child at the preschool age. Students high achieving in reading literacy usually like reading for their own enjoyment and come from families where parents spend a lot of time on reading.

SKOLOTĀJU APMIERINĀTĪBA AR DARBU - TALIS 2013 PĒTĪJUMA REZULTĀTI Teachers' Job Satis faction: Findings From TALIS 2013 Study

This paper examines teachers' satisfaction with their profession and work environment in rela... more This paper examines teachers' satisfaction with their profession and work environment in relation to other environmental factors in schools. Latvian data from the OECD TALIS 2013 study are used in the data analysis. The aim of the study was to find out whether there is any relationship between teacher satisfaction with their work environment and profession and a variety of variables characterizing schools and students. The research question is: what are the most important factors associated with teachers' satisfaction with their job at school? Applied research methods are frequency analysis and measures of central tendency. The results of the research reveal that overall Latvian teachers are satisfied with their work environment, and teachers' job satisfaction is most influenced by positive and democratic school culture.

Competency-Based Approach to Educational Content for Sustainable Development in Latvia

Rural Environment. Education. Personality (REEP), 2020

Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within th... more Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within the framework of which environmental impact does not go beyond the natural possibilities. The transition to sustainable development is a complex and requires a change in the very foundations of social life. Education is essential in achieving sustainable development. An important role in the implementation of education for sustainable development belongs to teachers. For this, teachers must have appropriate professional competencies. The purpose of the study is to determine how well teachers are prepared for the changes themselves and whether they have enough knowledge to successfully implement this educational strategy in the process of teaching students in high school. As a result of the survey, it was shown that the ideas of sustainable development in the education system as a whole are perceived positively, but the urgent need is professional training and advanced training of teachers for their implementation. The article concludes with practical suggestions to strengthen teachers' educational capacities for sustainable development.

What Do Teachers Do to Promote Students’ Reading Literacy at 4th Grade? – Evidence From Iea Pirls 2016 Study

Innovations, Technologies and Research in Education, 2019, 2019

Reading skills which a child learns from an early age are crucial for student's success or failur... more Reading skills which a child learns from an early age are crucial for student's success or failure in subsequent school years as literacy is closely related to all other school subjects. Learning to read and promotion of reading plays an important role in the development of the personality and attitudes of the child. Teacher is the one responsible for applied techniques of teaching and learning to read, and methods that are used purposefully lead students to the understanding of a text. It is of great importance for teacher to have a wide arsenal of diverse educational methods and experiences. Primary teachers should have a broad theoretical knowledge base and also be able to teach different reading strategies to help students to reach their full potential as readers. An important factor in developing attitudes towards reading is the ability of reading literacy teachers to get their students to become interested in both-literary works as a source of information and joy, and reading as an activity in general. The aim of the study is to find out what activities the primary school teachers in Latvia apply to promote their students' reading literacy and how those methods relate to students' achievements in reading. In the study a statistical group comparison is performed using IEA PIRLS 2016 data from teacher questionnaires along with information about student achievement.

Using the Iea Timss Tests to Compare Pupils’ Science Education Achievements at Regional and School Levels

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2004

The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests... more The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests could be used to compare the average achievements of schools at regional level. All eight-formers of the Valmiera (Latvia) region participated in the investigation. The study showed than on average, the achievements of the schoolchildren of the Valmiera region are more considerable than those at national level in general. Moreover, the representatives of the city site rather than the participants of the rural area were more successful in the Valmiera region as well as throughout the country. However, analysis indicates that some schools of the rural area have achieved impressive results while knowledge of a number of the learners of the city remains rather poor. The data is important to education leaders of the region because school situation and the results of this research can help to carry out the assessment of every school. The obtained information regarding pupils’ performance in e...

Creating a Positive Working Environment for Teachers

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 25, 2018

The purpose of the research paper is to study a positive working environment importance for teach... more The purpose of the research paper is to study a positive working environment importance for teachers work satisfaction and the role of principal in improving working conditions. Whereas teacher profession is subject to different changes and reforms it makes the whole profession and teacher well-being an important subject to discuss. The research paper includes analysis of the theoretical material about physical environment as well as psychological (also called microclimate). Empirical part is based on teacher's survey-97 teachers from different schools in Riga were involved. The statements of survey have partially adopted from Teaching and Learning International Study TALIS 2013. The main research task is to study how work environment and the impact of principal correlate with teacher work satisfaction. During research scales of teacher work satisfaction, work environment and impact of principal were created. The results of linear regression show that both the work environment and direct impact of principal is important factor which influences as well educational work as work satisfaction. The situation is various in different schools in Riga, so it verifies, that the problematics of positive working environment exists.

The Influence of Civic and Citizenship Education Achievements on the Development of Students’ Citizenship Attitudes

Problems of education in the 21st century, Mar 20, 2013

Civic skills, knowledge and attitudes are the elements forming the citizenship concept. How do th... more Civic skills, knowledge and attitudes are the elements forming the citizenship concept. How do they suit multicultural societies? What are the mutual links among civic attitudes, knowledge and skills of different ethnic groups? The aim of the research is to establish the model of students' civic competence and to find out factors which explain the influence of civic achievements on civic attitudes. IEA (the International Association for the Evolution of Educational Achievement) ICCS 2009 (the International Civic and Citizenship Studies 2009) are used for the analysis. SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) is used for data processing. The authors used multi-modelling to compare Latvian and Estonian majority and minority sample groups. The results indicate that the level of civic knowledge and skills influences civic attitudes of Estonian and Latvian students. Students with a higher level of civic knowledge and skills have a more pronounced sense of global belonging and ability to adjust and live a multicultural society. The civic knowledge of Estonian students with the Estonian language of instruction influences most essentially the civic attitudes and a sense of belonging to Europe. Latvian students with the Russian language of instruction have the least influence on the mentioned factors.

Evaluation of Latvia’s Science Education in the Iea Timss and Oecd Pisa Framework

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2002

The article deals with the two largest international comparative studies in science, the first cy... more The article deals with the two largest international comparative studies in science, the first cycles of which took place in the last years of the previous century and which go on today as well-IEA TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) and OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). The average achievements of Latvia's students in science in each of the studies are different but the general situation of science education in Latvia is satisfactory and corresponding to our economic situation. We support the opinion that improving of Latvia's economics and correct developing of the country's educational system will advance students' achievements. At the same time there are several spheres, which need immediate improvement. Especially, it concerns our students' skills to apply the knowledge gained in science lessons to real life situations.

The Professional Learning Community as an Organizational System for School Staff Development, School Change and Improvement

In the context of the general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides c... more In the context of the general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides change of learning approach, involvement in mutual professional learning activities at school has raised the issue of teachers` professional growth. In the scientific literature the concept of the professional learning communities (PLC) is considered to be an effective organizational system for school staff development, school change and improvement on the basis of two considerations. First of all it is presumed that teachers` professional knowledge is a part of their everyday experience and that this knowledge is best understood in a critical exchange of ideas with other teachers, who have the same experience. Secondly it is assumed that teachers who are actively involved in the PLCs will be able to increase their professional knowledge and competence, thus contributing to students` learning and their learning outcomes. The main goal of the research is to find out whether and to what extent teachers in the Latvian general education institutions take part in the PLCs. The article discusses theories of the concept of PLC and analyses the results of 489 teacher surveys. The results of empirical research do not show significant differences in the mean values of the PLC scales in primary and secondary schools. The data shows a very significant difference in the average values of the PLC scales in schools of the same level of education.

Competency-Based Approach to Educational Content for Sustainable Development in Latvia

Rural Environment. Education. Personality, Apr 30, 2020

Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within th... more Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within the framework of which environmental impact does not go beyond the natural possibilities. The transition to sustainable development is a complex and requires a change in the very foundations of social life. Education is essential in achieving sustainable development. An important role in the implementation of education for sustainable development belongs to teachers. For this, teachers must have appropriate professional competencies. The purpose of the study is to determine how well teachers are prepared for the changes themselves and whether they have enough knowledge to successfully implement this educational strategy in the process of teaching students in high school. As a result of the survey, it was shown that the ideas of sustainable development in the education system as a whole are perceived positively, but the urgent need is professional training and advanced training of teachers for their implementation. The article concludes with practical suggestions to strengthen teachers' educational capacities for sustainable development.

Management of Psychosocial Risks in the Educational Sector of Latvia

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 21, 2019

Risk management is gaining acknowledgement in organisational management due to the benefits it br... more Risk management is gaining acknowledgement in organisational management due to the benefits it brings with it, such as ability of managers to forecast possible threats and plan the most appropriate prevention measures. Psychosocial risk group is one of the largest risk group types and is related to the aspects of staff overburning, lack of employee motivation, health problems due to stress, etc. Study carried in Latvia about risk management showed that psychosocial risks are significant for educational institutions. Empirical research carried out in Latvia has shown that the top risks perceived by the education sector professionals in Latvia are overloading of employees and lack of employee motivation. Hypothesis of this study is that psychosocial risks, such as overloading and lack of motivation, are not dealt well with due to low awareness of effective psychosocial risk management techniques. There was no profound research performed on this topic in Latvia in the last ten years. The aim of this study is to explore different methods researched by other authors how the risk can be managed, analyse causes of these risks and provide the recommendation on how to deal with the psychosocial risks in the educational sector.

Analysis of Factors That Are Associated with a High Level of Reading Literacy: The Iea Pirls Perspective

Humanities and social sciences, 2007

Using the Iea Timss Tests to Compare Pupils’ Science Education Achievements at Regional and School Levels

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2004

The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests... more The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests could be used to compare the average achievements of schools at regional level. All eight-formers of the Valmiera (Latvia) region participated in the investigation. The study showed than on average, the achievements of the schoolchildren of the Valmiera region are more considerable than those at national level in general. Moreover, the representatives of the city site rather than the participants of the rural area were more successful in the Valmiera region as well as throughout the country. However, analysis indicates that some schools of the rural area have achieved impressive results while knowledge of a number of the learners of the city remains rather poor. The data is important to education leaders of the region because school situation and the results of this research can help to carry out the assessment of every school. The obtained information regarding pupils' performance in each of the subject content groups is essential for schools. In general, we may consider that a parallel TIMSS study undertaken in one of the regions of Latvia has been very successful and education leaders, school principals and teachers of the area received valuable information.

The Impact of Headmaster’s Leadership Practice on the Formation of a Professional Learning Community at School

Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, May 21, 2019

In the context of general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides chang... more In the context of general education content reform initiated in Latvia, which also provides change of teaching approach, the issue of the role of headmaster has raised. The introduction and implementation of competence approach requires strengthening and development of cooperation between teachers in professional learning communities (PLCs) at school, in order to address didactic issues, regularly analyze pupils` learning outcomes and find best ways to increase the learning outcomes of each pupil, and give an opportunity for teachers to improve their teaching by sharing good pedagogical practice. The change of teaching approach prompts a revision of school management practices as well. In order for the school to grow, there is a need for a headmaster-leader, not just a headmaster-manager and he should focus on the leadership of the teaching process by improving teaching and learning and ensuring conditions for effective learning at school. The main goal of the research is to find out to what extent the headmaster`s pedagogical leadership practice has an impact on the PLCs formation at school. The article discusses theories of the concept of headmaster as pedagogical leader and PLCs, and analyzes the results of 489 teacher survey.

The Health Competency Determinant Factors Of Latvian Population

European Medical, Health and Pharmaceutical Journal, May 1, 2013

Teachers’ Professional Self-Efficacy for Collaboration: A Comparison Between European Countries

To Be or Not to Be a Great Educator

Since the understanding of non-cognitive skills and their importance have grown, it becomes more ... more Since the understanding of non-cognitive skills and their importance have grown, it becomes more and more significant to measure their impact on different areas of professional life. It has been researched that not only individual teacher’s professional self-efficacy, but also collective self-efficacy has a significant impact on both the teachers’ self-efficacy and students’ achievement. The purpose of this study is to select a set of factors that correlate with teachers’ professional self-efficacy and to analyse if teachers’ professional self-efficacy has an impact on teachers’ cooperation with colleagues and students. Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish data from the OECD TALIS 2018 teacher questionnaires were used. o analyse which factors correlate with teachers’ professional self-efficacy, the authors of this article selected such variables as the type of school, the type of urbanization, the number of special education students in the class, f...

Quality of Education in Latvian Municipalities and State Cities – Results of International Studies and State Examinations

Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2022

In 2021 a new Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas came into force in the Republ... more In 2021 a new Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas came into force in the Republic of Latvia. To reduce fragmentation, the number of municipalities and State cities was reduced from 119 to 43. There were no changes in 11 local governments, however, other new structures were formed by merging two to eight local governments. On the one hand, these changes are creating new challenges in the education process and institution management, but on the other hand – larger local governments with larger numbers of schools and students opens up new opportunities. One of the opportunity is to make a more accurate assessment of student achievement, which characterizes the performance of a local government’s educational institutions. The aim of this article is to show that despite the great differences between local governments (e. g. population differences from 3 to 614 thousand) it is possible to assess the quality of education in local governments by using data from state exami...

The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on Students’ Self-Beliefs in Large Scale Studies

Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2022

The prolonged pandemic situation that left its damaging footprints not only in global economy but... more The prolonged pandemic situation that left its damaging footprints not only in global economy but in many families, struggling with options to maintain their pre-pandemic income levels and social status, has raised the issue about the impact of family socioeconomic status (SES) on child’s personality, especially self-beliefs. It has been previously studied that SES has a significant impact on child’s academic achievement. Inherited social status has been the subject of studies for many years, and some researchers argue that it is rooted in the child’s self-beliefs. The aim of this article is to examine the impact of family SES factors. The research question for this study is as follows: does family SES impact significantly primary school students’ academic self-beliefs? To evaluate the significance of factor impact, the authors used linear regression models where the dependent variable was students’ self-beliefs, but family SES and students’ achievement were the independent variable...

Matematikas un dabaszinatnu izglitibas attistibas tendencu starptautiskais novertejums

Available from Latvian Academic Library / LAL - Latvian Academic LibrarySIGLEMinistry of Educatio... more

High Performance Athletes' Dual Career Possibilities in Latvian Higher Educational Institutions

This article aims to provide an overview of high performance athletesstudents' dual career manage... more This article aims to provide an overview of high performance athletesstudents' dual career management opportunities in Latvian higher education institutions. This paper analyzes the scientific literature and high performance athletes' survey results. The authors in the paper explore and analyze the possibilities for high performance athletes to get an education and to improve their training process. This paper provides a theoretical overview and analysis of high performance athletes' survey results in respect of the subject. Analyzing high performance athletes' study process in a higher educational institution the authors conclude that the number of high performance athletesstudents in the first two years of study, that is respectively 19-21 years of age, which is the transition period from early youth to youth age group, have problems with carrying out the study plan. Students-athletes make multiple mistakes in the management functions in the study process: time planning, organizing, controlling, lack of motivation. High performance athletes have four important indicators for dual career: the learning environment, the sport environment, the support that they have, athletes' self-contribution in the dual career process. As a result, dual career management guidelines suited to successful management of high performance athletes' dual careers in Latvian higher educational institutions have been worked out.

Problems of Education

The objective of this paper is to find out the reasons behind the low level of reading literacy a... more The objective of this paper is to find out the reasons behind the low level of reading literacy among primary school students. The data from IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2001 are analyzed. And the main conclusions are drawn that the socioeconomic situation of the family has a great impact on students reading literacy as well as parents' education and reading aloud to a child at the preschool age. Students high achieving in reading literacy usually like reading for their own enjoyment and come from families where parents spend a lot of time on reading.

SKOLOTĀJU APMIERINĀTĪBA AR DARBU - TALIS 2013 PĒTĪJUMA REZULTĀTI Teachers' Job Satis faction: Findings From TALIS 2013 Study

This paper examines teachers' satisfaction with their profession and work environment in rela... more This paper examines teachers' satisfaction with their profession and work environment in relation to other environmental factors in schools. Latvian data from the OECD TALIS 2013 study are used in the data analysis. The aim of the study was to find out whether there is any relationship between teacher satisfaction with their work environment and profession and a variety of variables characterizing schools and students. The research question is: what are the most important factors associated with teachers' satisfaction with their job at school? Applied research methods are frequency analysis and measures of central tendency. The results of the research reveal that overall Latvian teachers are satisfied with their work environment, and teachers' job satisfaction is most influenced by positive and democratic school culture.

Competency-Based Approach to Educational Content for Sustainable Development in Latvia

Rural Environment. Education. Personality (REEP), 2020

Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within th... more Sustainable development is a civilizational strategy recognized by the world community, within the framework of which environmental impact does not go beyond the natural possibilities. The transition to sustainable development is a complex and requires a change in the very foundations of social life. Education is essential in achieving sustainable development. An important role in the implementation of education for sustainable development belongs to teachers. For this, teachers must have appropriate professional competencies. The purpose of the study is to determine how well teachers are prepared for the changes themselves and whether they have enough knowledge to successfully implement this educational strategy in the process of teaching students in high school. As a result of the survey, it was shown that the ideas of sustainable development in the education system as a whole are perceived positively, but the urgent need is professional training and advanced training of teachers for their implementation. The article concludes with practical suggestions to strengthen teachers' educational capacities for sustainable development.

What Do Teachers Do to Promote Students’ Reading Literacy at 4th Grade? – Evidence From Iea Pirls 2016 Study

Innovations, Technologies and Research in Education, 2019, 2019

Reading skills which a child learns from an early age are crucial for student's success or failur... more Reading skills which a child learns from an early age are crucial for student's success or failure in subsequent school years as literacy is closely related to all other school subjects. Learning to read and promotion of reading plays an important role in the development of the personality and attitudes of the child. Teacher is the one responsible for applied techniques of teaching and learning to read, and methods that are used purposefully lead students to the understanding of a text. It is of great importance for teacher to have a wide arsenal of diverse educational methods and experiences. Primary teachers should have a broad theoretical knowledge base and also be able to teach different reading strategies to help students to reach their full potential as readers. An important factor in developing attitudes towards reading is the ability of reading literacy teachers to get their students to become interested in both-literary works as a source of information and joy, and reading as an activity in general. The aim of the study is to find out what activities the primary school teachers in Latvia apply to promote their students' reading literacy and how those methods relate to students' achievements in reading. In the study a statistical group comparison is performed using IEA PIRLS 2016 data from teacher questionnaires along with information about student achievement.

Using the Iea Timss Tests to Compare Pupils’ Science Education Achievements at Regional and School Levels

Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2004

The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests... more The task of research was to find out if the TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) tests could be used to compare the average achievements of schools at regional level. All eight-formers of the Valmiera (Latvia) region participated in the investigation. The study showed than on average, the achievements of the schoolchildren of the Valmiera region are more considerable than those at national level in general. Moreover, the representatives of the city site rather than the participants of the rural area were more successful in the Valmiera region as well as throughout the country. However, analysis indicates that some schools of the rural area have achieved impressive results while knowledge of a number of the learners of the city remains rather poor. The data is important to education leaders of the region because school situation and the results of this research can help to carry out the assessment of every school. The obtained information regarding pupils’ performance in e...