When speaking about the Latvian experience in the field of education, the President of Latvia highlighted the dual vocational education curricula that promoted more rapid inclusion of the graduates into the labour environment. Having learned successfully from the German experience, Latvia has invested much into the infrastructure of vocational education institutions. “I am pleased that more than 50 enterprises have established successful cooperation with twenty educational institutions in Latvia,” said the President of Latvia. Other heads of state also noted the role of dual education in introducing young people into the labour environment by assisting to create high-level professionals.
The President of Latvia mentioned inclusive education based on network of minority schools as another aspect characteristic of the Latvian education system. “When assessing the examination results among young people, we have concluded that they cope with exams very well and that is a confirmation that we must work by means of education exactly in order to include young people in the society and could deal with the challenges of labour environment at the same time,” outlined Raimonds Vējonis.
With the Arraiolos group meeting continuing in Erfurt, Germany, the Presidents discussed the values in education that were unifying and intrinsic for the European Union Member States in the second panel discussion "Education and Participation”. The role of the education system when promoting social inclusion and transfer of the European values was highlighted during the meeting.
During the joint press conference, the Presidents expressed their hope that the ongoing meeting of the EU Council would result in a specific solution to the refugee problem. At the press conference, Raimonds Vējonis emphasized a symbolic meaning of the venue, where that Arraiolos Group meeting was held, because Reformation had started exactly there resulting in Europe with its intrinsic values as it was. “Facing today's challenges, we still must bear in mind the values that constitute Europe as a community,” he mentioned.
Raimonds Vējonis also noted that Europe should seek joint solutions to problems affecting eastern and southern external borders of Europe and he expressed his confidence that the more united Europe would be in these activities, the more successful it would be in coping with the current and long-term challenges.