In Latvia, the State Defense Course, which aims to equip students with essential skills for crisis situations and promote civic awareness, is set to become a mandatory subject in high schools and vocational schools beginning on September 1, 2024. Currently, the course is only available to students attending in-person classes, meaning around 15% of high school students are unable to partake, including those in remote areas or international schools. This discrepancy has raised concerns regarding equitable access to crucial preparedness education among youths.

To address this issue and ensure that all young people have equal opportunities to learn the State Defense Course, the Saeima (Latvian parliament) has decided to amend the law to include mandatory instruction for those in distance learning and non-traditional educational settings. This change will allow an additional approximately 2,600 students to benefit from the program, thereby enhancing their skills and understanding of national defense.

However, it will be up to the Cabinet of Ministers to determine how to integrate necessary practical skills into the distance and non-formal education programs. Changes to the regulations regarding the standards of general secondary education will be required to effectively implement this initiative. The upcoming classes are expected to help bolster students' preparedness for potential crises while ingraining a sense of civic responsibility among Latvia’s youth.