20 new STEM teachers have been accepted onto the ‘Enefit: Mission Possible – Save STEM’ programme

The programme to attract teachers of exact sciences, ‘Enefit Iespējamā misija: Save STEM’, run by Enefit and Iespējamā misija, received 180 applications this year, of which 20 participants were selected to take part in the programme. This means that, on average, there are nine candidates vying for each place, confirming the ever-growing interest among STEM professionals and students in applying their experience to education. The new teachers will begin work in schools on 1 September, whilst continuing their studies in parallel.

The high number of applications confirms that an increasing number of STEM professionals and students are choosing to invest their knowledge and professional experience in education, helping young people to develop the skills they will need for the future and strengthening access to high-quality education throughout Latvia.

“We often talk in society about the shortage of STEM teachers, but these results also show something else – there are people in Latvia who want to enter the education sector and bring about change. Behind every application lies a desire to help young people believe in their own abilities, discover an interest in the exact sciences, and build a stronger future,” emphasises programme manager Terēze Stālmane.

This year, the “Enefit Mission Possible: Save STEM” programme – which enables professionals in STEM fields to become teachers even without prior teaching experience – has accepted 20 participants aged between 22 and 48 (the average age is 33). The participants come from a variety of professional backgrounds – business, science, customer service and other sectors. Among the participants are both bachelor’s and master’s degree holders who have chosen to invest their professional experience in Latvian education.

Currently, trainee teachers of mathematics, biology, natural sciences, chemistry, physics, computer science, design and technology are taking part in a four-week Summer Academy in Cēsis, where, through intensive training, they are learning the fundamentals of teaching, developing their leadership skills and preparing for their first academic year at school. Upon completion of the academy, they will begin work in 20 schools across 11 local authorities (including in Riga, Aizkraukle, Jelgava, Līvāni, Ogre, Smiltene and Ventspils), bringing pupils not only knowledge of STEM subjects but also experience from the business, science and technology sectors.

The programme is designed so that, from their very first day, participants work in schools whilst receiving intensive professional support and learning on the job. It is being implemented in collaboration with the energy company Enefit, with the aim of encouraging more and more professionals in STEM fields to invest their experience and knowledge in Latvian education, thereby fostering the next generation’s interest in the exact sciences and technology.

The arrival of experienced STEM professionals in schools brings added value not only to the classroom but also, in the long term, strengthens the development of schools, local authorities and the entire education system.

“Every new STEM teacher who joins a school and is able to spark young people’s interest in the natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics makes a significant contribution to a sustainable society and Latvia’s future competitiveness. It is in schools that the next generation of engineers, scientists and data specialists are shaped, who will strengthen the country’s economy in the future,” says Mārtiņš Vancāns, head of the energy company Enefit in Latvia.

The programme’s aim is not merely to train new teachers, but to develop strong leaders who bring about long-term change in education. This is also confirmed by the programme’s statistics – around 80 per cent of ‘Iespējamā misija’ graduates continue to work in the field of education after completing the programme. They go on to become school heads and founders, work in education administration, shape education policy and drive innovation in the private sector, which influences the learning process throughout Latvia.

The new programme participants will begin their work in schools on 1 September 2026, becoming part of the “Iespējamā misija” community, which for more than 18 years has been driving meaningful change in Latvian education and helping to ensure that more and more pupils are taught by motivated and highly qualified teachers.