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DAVOS, SWITZERLAND — Speaking on the world’s leading diplomatic stage during Global Business Week Davos 2026, Arvils Pekuless, Founder of VisLatvijas Secondary school, issued a bold call to action for global leaders to fundamentally restructure the global approach to education and future leadership.
In his keynote address, "Future-Proofing Society: Cultivating the Leaders of 2026 and Beyond," Pekuless addressed the critical friction between outdated institutional systems and the rapid technological and economic shifts of the modern world.
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Bridging the Educational Paradox
Pekuless highlighted a fundamental flaw in traditional schooling, describing an industry trapped in systemic inertia:
"We are attempting to prepare 21st-century youth using 20th-century mindsets in an environment structured around 18th-century Industrial Revolution demands," stated Arvils Pekuless during his address at the Davos Congress Centre. "This is the ultimate paradox: while the world outside moves at supersonic speed, our traditional educational systems continue at a horse-and-carriage pace."
To overcome this, Pekuless outlined a proven, alternative framework implemented in Latvia at VisLatvijas Secondary school. The school’s hybrid model merges high-quality digital learning, live interactive sessions, and physical community days, serving Grades 1–12 without geographical restrictions. By replacing rigid compliance with student agency, the model empowers learners with total ownership over their time and self-development.
A Call for Public-Private Synergy
Beyond classroom methodology, Pekuless challenged policymakers to rethink the relationship between public infrastructure and private educational innovation. Rather than viewing non-governmental schools as competitors, Pekuless advocated for strategic Public-Private Synergy.
"The public sector provides essential scale and stability, but its structural limits make it inherently slow to adapt," Pekuless explained. "Private educational teams function as the R&D hubs of education. By recognizing private innovators as government 'Innovation Labs,' nation-states can pilot, refine, and scale dynamic breakthroughs to fill the global innovation gap."
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Proving the Model at Scale
The validity of this approach is backed by real-world growth. VisLatvijas Secondary school has developed a thriving ecosystem of over 1,000 families who have transitioned away from conventional schooling constraints. The model prioritizes future skills—including emotional intelligence, digital tools, and time management—proving that modern, network-driven education fosters resilience, belonging, and real-world competency.
Pekuless concluded his address with a message centered on systemic trust: "We cannot future-proof society if we keep playing it safe by historical rules. In Latvia, we say 'Uzticēšanās ir drosme'—Trust is courage. When school leaders dare to lead and nations dare to trust them, we create the exact environment where the next global leaders are born."
About VisLatvijas Secondary school: VisLatvijas Secondary school is a pioneering hybrid educational institution based in Latvia. Designed for Grades 1–12, it removes geographical barriers to elite education by integrating agile learning technologies, live digital instruction, and strong community networking to foster agency, responsibility, and leadership in the next generation.
Pekuless highlighted a fundamental flaw in traditional schooling, describing an industry trapped in systemic inertia:
"We are attempting to prepare 21st-century youth using 20th-century mindsets in an environment structured around 18th-century Industrial Revolution demands," stated Arvils Pekuless during his address at the Davos Congress Centre. "This is the ultimate paradox: while the world outside moves at supersonic speed, our traditional educational systems continue at a horse-and-carriage pace."
To overcome this, Pekuless outlined a proven, alternative framework implemented in Latvia at VisLatvijas Secondary school. The school’s hybrid model merges high-quality digital learning, live interactive sessions, and physical community days, serving Grades 1–12 without geographical restrictions. By replacing rigid compliance with student agency, the model empowers learners with total ownership over their time and self-development.
A Call for Public-Private Synergy
Beyond classroom methodology, Pekuless challenged policymakers to rethink the relationship between public infrastructure and private educational innovation. Rather than viewing non-governmental schools as competitors, Pekuless advocated for strategic Public-Private Synergy.
"The public sector provides essential scale and stability, but its structural limits make it inherently slow to adapt," Pekuless explained. "Private educational teams function as the R&D hubs of education. By recognizing private innovators as government 'Innovation Labs,' nation-states can pilot, refine, and scale dynamic breakthroughs to fill the global innovation gap."
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Proving the Model at ScaleThe validity of this approach is backed by real-world growth. VisLatvijas Secondary school has developed a thriving ecosystem of over 1,000 families who have transitioned away from conventional schooling constraints. The model prioritizes future skills—including emotional intelligence, digital tools, and time management—proving that modern, network-driven education fosters resilience, belonging, and real-world competency.
Pekuless concluded his address with a message centered on systemic trust: "We cannot future-proof society if we keep playing it safe by historical rules. In Latvia, we say 'Uzticēšanās ir drosme'—Trust is courage. When school leaders dare to lead and nations dare to trust them, we create the exact environment where the next global leaders are born."
About VisLatvijas Secondary school: VisLatvijas Secondary school is a pioneering hybrid educational institution based in Latvia. Designed for Grades 1–12, it removes geographical barriers to elite education by integrating agile learning technologies, live digital instruction, and strong community networking to foster agency, responsibility, and leadership in the next generation.