The first school in Latvia was established in the early 13th century at the Dom Church in Riga, and was intended for training the clergy. In 1353, the St Peter’s Church School was established, for the children of the Riga burghers. The first school for the Latvians of Riga was established in the 16th century at the Church of St James. Schools were provided for peasant children only in the late 17th century in Swedish-ruled Livland, while in Courland and Latgale Latvian schools opened only in the 18th century. A widespread practice was home tuition supervised by the pastors, children obtaining their first reading skills in the home.
The schools for peasant children were usually in adapted premises (threshing-barns, parish halls and inns), where the teacher taught children of various ages in a single schoolroom. Often, the children ate and slept here too, because many lived at school for the whole week. Thus, the long school benches were also adapted for sleeping.
After the annexation of the territory of Latvia to the Russian Empire, schools were placed under the supervision of the Russian Ministry of Education, After 1880 a Russification policy was introduced: not only was teaching in the children’s native language prohibited, but they were not even allowed to talk among themselves in their own language.
After the attainment of independence, the new Latvian state gave great attention to education. It was ruled that all children of school age must attend school, and that teaching should be in the pupils’ native language. There were many children’s and youth organisations: the scouts, guides, mazpulki, etc.
After independence was lost, the educational system was changed. Teaching was now organised according to Marxist-Leninist principles, in order to educate the new members of communist society. Playing an important role in the communist indoctrination of the young generation were children’s and youth organisations: the Children of October, Pioneers and Young Communists.