Latvia
Latvian State Biology Olympiad
1971
Latvian National Olympiad logo.
http://priede.bf.lu.lv/olimpiade/
Latvian
Guidelines for Olympiad is distributed to all schools on September of each school year. This has been done by Ministry of Education and Science, State Curriculum Center (IZM VIC) who contacts schools. Information about each year's olympiad is published in the Ministry of Education web page as well as in the home pages of Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia and the Teacher’s Association of Biology.
Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia is the organizer of Latvian National Biology olympiad. The tasks for Regional and State rounds are prepared by Jury committee of National Biology Olympiad, which is formed by Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia and Association of Biology teachers of Latvia. Olympiad is organised for pupils of three classes - 9, 11 and 12. Students of class 10 traditionally do not take part. If there are some gifted students in class 10, they can take part in the same group as class 11 students. Pupils of all secondary schools/ gymnasiums can take part in the olympiad.
Latvian National Biology olympiad is organized into 3 rounds: School round, Regional Olympiad and State Olympiad. Additional two competition rounds are organised to select participiants for the International Biology Olympiad.
School Biology Olympiad. It takes place in November in each school. Teachers of biology are responsible for theoretical and practical tasks of this round.
Regional Biology Olympiad. It takes place in the first week of December.
State Olympiad. In the end of January final round of Latvian National Olympiad takes place. It is organised in the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia and all event takes 3 days.
School Biology Olympiads are organised and prepared by school teachers or their local organisations. In several regions teachers prepare this round together – give the same tasks for all schools. In many cases tasks from previous olympiads are used. This round happens in each particular school of Lavia. Winners of this stage take part in Regional Biology olympiad.
Jury of National Biology Olympiad prepares tasks for Regional and State Olympiad. Only written tasks for Regional Olympiad are prepared, no practical tasks are involved in this level. Pupils gather in certain schools (regional centers) and simulteniously do the tasks. Jury groups from the teachers of local schools corrects pupil's works. Local juries select best students (those who have recieved 50 and more percentage of max points) and send their works to the Ministry of Education and Science. By re-evaluating works from all the Republic, the Jury of National Biology Olympiad selects 120 best students and invites them to State Biology Olympiade (3rd round).
State Biology Olympiad is organised in the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, it contains both theorethical and practical tasks. On the first day students fill tests- both multiple choice and theoretical tasks, where extended answers or calculations or drawings as answers might be asked. Second day is devoted to 4 practical tasks – in botany, zoology, human anatomy and physiology. plant anatomy and physiology. Students are divided randomly into 4 laboratory work groups which visits and does all four practical tasks one by one. No meeting with students from other groups or teachers is possible.
Eventhough students work in mixed groups - class 9 students do diferent tasks from pupils of class 11 and 12.
Pupils works are corrected mainly by students of the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia and students from other universities – previous participants of IBO.
7 days in June. Mainly in LU laboratories under the supervision of stuff.
State approved school books for National Biology Olympiad and Cambpell’s Biology for IBO participants are the materials advised to pupils.
Books, medals and certificates are the awards of State Biology olympiad. The winners of class 11 and 12 get promotion for entrance to Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia.
All information about Olympiad is placed in Ministry of Education and Science webpage, as well as in webpage of Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia. Ussually, press release is prepared about the State Olympiad and Latvian team in IBO. These pres releases are disseminated through Ministry of Education and press center of University of Latvia. Regional media are keen to expose achievements of their pupils in Regional, State and International Biology Olympiads.
There are not "permanent" sponsors for Olympiad of Biology. Association of Biology students of Faculty of Latvia take active role in orgaisation of Sate Olympiad of Biology as volunteers. Materials and technique, used in practical tasks, comes from Faculty of Biology. All printing expenses in the State Olympiad are covered by Faculty of Biology.
Recently some support in the form of awards has been given by journal of popular science - "Ilustrated Science", Latvian Ornithological Society, Latvian Fund of Nature.
The Ministry of Education and Science is the official organiser of all olympiads of the Latvia. It disseminates information about current year's olympiad's rules and times. It also prepares medals and diplomas for the winners. Some money from Ministry is allocated for the the authors of tasks.
Not applicable.
Janis Liepins
Kronvalda blvd. 4, Riga, LV-1586 Latvia
jliepins@gmail.com
Ministry of Education and Science, Valnu str. 2 Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
Exact statistics data are pending.
September
May (June for class 9 and 12)
2 (most schools)
3 (in very few schools)
