On Wednesday, 16 June, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions. The amendments provide for the possibility for students from families with at least three children to receive support in the form of social scholarships allocated from the state budget funds.

"The social scholarship is intended to assist young people from large families. It is a new type of support for students that takes into account social criteria, because so far scholarships have been granted only on the basis of grades," said Arvils Ašeradens, Chair of the Education, Culture and Science Committee responsible for the progress of the Draft Law in the Saeima.

The social scholarship will be available to students under the age of 25 enrolled in full-time studies in a first-level higher vocational education programme, bachelor's programme, or professional study programme in Latvia. To receive the grant, the student will have to meet the requirements set by the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the amendments, the Cabinet of Ministers will determine the categories of students eligible for the social scholarship, the conditions for obtaining the scholarship, which will include the student's academic achievements and income, as well as the amount of the social scholarship and the procedure for its disbursement.

The amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions will enter into force on the day following their promulgation, and the social scholarship will be disbursed to students starting from 1 September 2021.

Saeima Press Service