2017

The Excellence Award Presented to a Biology Teacher from Vecumnieki

Foto: Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Latvia

The invaluable work of teachers in educating the young generations, encouraging them to explore things and strive for new discoveries in exact sciences and economics, deserves not only appreciation and recognition, but also the Excellency Award. Encouraging school students to acquire different subjects and forest management sciences in nature, JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) has the honour to congratulate Vecumnieki Secondary School biology teacher Anda Kuzmina, the most attractive biology teacher in Latvia and the winner of the Excellence Award.

25 best teachers in Latvia demonstrated their professional skills in conducting lessons in the Excellence Award finals that took place in Mārupe Secondary School on 22 February.

"I really liked these classes. They were slightly different, very original, with a different approach to the learning process. They were very exciting and interesting," says 8th-grade student Kristians Daniels Krievkalns.

Raimonds Vējonis, the President of the Republic of Latvia, Kārlis Šadurskis, the Minister for Education and Science, Indriķis Muižnieks, the Rector of the University of Latvia, and the patrons of the award congratulated the most outstanding teachers in the awards ceremony.

"The teachers nominated for the Excellence Award are a vivid proof that by applying a creative and state-of-the-art approach it is possible to improve students' performance in natural sciences. Diverse teaching methods and use of modern technologies are key elements of the teaching process," says President Vējonis.

Already for the sixth year, the Excellence Award is awarded for the teacher's work in the classroom, not depending on the results achieved by students in examinations and competitions. Candidates for this award are proposed by their current and former students, colleagues, school management, as well as other interested persons.

Foto: Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Latvia

LVM highly values the work done by teachers; therefore each year the company organises professional development courses for teachers. In these courses company's experts share their experience and tell the participants about the processes taking place in the forest. They discuss sustainable forest management, which is ensured in the areas managed by the LVM, as well as offer ideas for learning outside the usual school premises - in nature. Technologies, cooperation, understanding of regularities in life - perhaps these are the values that encourage the majority of young people to be active and reach new heights. LVM also invites school children to make a short video story for the Forest Olympics educational game contest, which is held within the framework of the international environmental education programme Learning about Forest. In turn, secondary school students have an opportunity to create educational posters for the "LVM Bio-economy" scholarship contest.

All interested are invited to participate in this year's LVM Forest Days events. There will be a unique opportunity to take part in the Forest Expedition. The expedition will be guided by LVM experts, and participants will explore the role of forest management, and see with their own eyes how different tasks are performed in forest work stations.