Vocational education enrolment upturn in science, mathematics and computing

Data¹ compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) show that in the school year 2022/2023 vocational basic and secondary education enrolment constituted 27.8 thousand students, which is 0.8 % or 218 students fewer than a year ago. Science programmes (life sciences, mathematics and statistics, computing) are becoming more popular, as upturn in the enrolment thereof may be observed for the fifth year in a row.

Number of new entrants accounts for 10.6 thousand 

From 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, 10.6 thousand students enrolled in vocational education programmes, which is almost the same number registered during the period a year ago (up by 21 students). Just like the year before, men constituted more than half of the new entrants (5.9 thousand) and women 44.4 % (4.7 thousand). Engineering, manufacturing and construction (entered by 4.1 thousand students or 38.2 % of all students) as well as services² (2.1 thousand students or 19.6 %) were the most popular fields of education.

The field of education covering motor vehicles, ships and aircraft was the most popular in the broad group engineering, manufacturing and construction (25.3 % of the broad group entrants), followed by building and civil engineering (23.5 %) and mechanics and metal trades (15.6 %). In the broad group services, the greatest number of entrants was recorded in the field hotel, restaurants and catering (56.3 % of the broad group entrants) as well as hair and beauty services (18.6 %).

Compared to the year before, the most notable enrolment upturn was recorded in engineering, manufacturing and construction (443 students or 12.2 %) as well as health and welfare (55 students or 8.8 %). While the most evident enrolment downturn was registered in social sciences, business and law (266 students or 24.5 %) and agriculture (103 students or 14.2 %).

The greatest proportion of women entered health and welfare (93.8 %) as well as social sciences, business and law (77.6 %) programmes. The highest of share of men, in turn, entered science³ (87.6 %) as well as engineering, manufacturing and construction (82.6 %) programmes.

The bulk of students (81.1 %) are aged under 20, smaller share – 9.3 %, from 21 to 30, and 2.3 % are aged over 50.

Enrolment in social sciences, business and law down by one third

The highest vocational education enrolment year after year is recorded in engineering, manufacturing and construction (9.8 thousand) as well as services (6.1 thousand) programmes, comprising 35.3 % and 22.1 % of the total enrolment, respectively. The lowest enrolment, in turn, is observed in health and welfare (796 students or 2.9 %) as well as agriculture (1.4 thousand students or 5.1 %).

Compared to the year before, significant enrolment downturn is observed in social sciences, business and law – of 30 % or 911 students. Slight decline is recorded in humanities and arts – of 63 students or 1.4 %.

Science programmes have become more popular over the past five years (student number up by 920). Agriculture as well as humanities and arts are gaining popularity as well (enrolment up by 547 and 497 students, respectively). Quite an opposite trend may be observed in services (down by 569 students) as well as health and welfare (88 students) programmes.

Out of all students, 90.5 % or 25.1 thousand enrolled in vocational secondary education programmes, 9.1 % or 2.5 thousand in post-secondary (non-tertiary) programmes, and 0.4 % in basic education programmes.

Engineering, manufacturing and construction chosen by every second male and services by every third female student

Men constitute majority of the vocational education students (15.8 thousand or 56.9 %) while women account for 11.9 thousand or 43.1 %. However, compared to previous years, the share of women in vocational education has dropped slightly (by 0.8 percentage points compared to the year before).

More than a half of men (53 % or 8.4 thousand) have enrolled in engineering, manufacturing and construction programmes, followed by science (17.8 % or 2.8 thousand). Health and welfare was chosen by only 55 men or 0.3 % of all men in the vocational education. Women more commonly (34.3 %) enrol in services programmes (mainly hotel, restaurants and beauty services). More than one fourth of women (26.8 % or 3.2 thousand) have chosen humanities and arts while 14.2 % social sciences, business and law.

In 2022 qualification was acquired by 6 thousand graduates

In 2022, 6 thousand students graduated from vocational education institutions, which is 4.8 % or 304 graduates fewer than in 2021. One third (32.2 %) or 1.9 thousand graduated from engineering, manufacturing and construction and1.3 thousand or 22.5 % from services programmes.

In the school year 2022/2023, 54 educational institutions (42 vocational education institutions, 10 colleges and 2 secondary schools) implement vocational education programmes. One third of all students enrolled in the six largest vocational education institutions: Riga State Technical School, Riga Technical School of Tourism and Creative Industry, Ogre Technical School, Latgale Industrial Technical School, Riga Technical College and Liepaja State Technical School. Enrolment exceeds one thousand only in seven vocational education institutions, in 15 institutions it exceeds 500 and in 21 institutions it does not exceed 200.

Methodological explanations

¹ Vocational education statistics is produced based on the data of the Ministry of Education and Science and CSB.

² Services includes personal services (hotel and catering, travel and tourism, sports and leisure, hairdressing, beauty treatment, and other personal services: cleaning, laundry, dry-cleaning, cosmetic services, domestic science), transport services, environmental protection services, security services (protection of property and persons: police work and related law enforcement, criminology, fire-protection and fire-fighting, civil security; military).

³ Science includes life sciences (biology, biochemistry, excluding clinical and veterinary sciences), physical sciences, mathematics and statistics, computing.

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More information on data:
Inita Circene
Social Statistics Data Compilation and Analysis Section
E-mail: Inita.Circene@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366686