The Lithuanian education system is regulated by laws on education passed in 1991 and revised in 2003. It consists of formal education from pre-school through university, as well as non-formal options. Formal education includes primary school (ages 7-11), basic education (ages 11-16), secondary education (ages 16-18/19), vocational training, and university. The system is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Science and financed through state and municipal budgets. Recent initiatives aim to improve teaching conditions and increase access to technology in schools.

1. THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM IN
LITHUANIA
2nd meeting of Comenius project “ILS”
2012 POLAND

2. LEGAL BACKGROUND
 1991, Law on Education of the Republic of
Lithuania Education is a priority area of
activities supported by the state. On 25 June
1991, the Seimas (Parliament) passed the Law on
Education of the Republic of Lithuania, which
established the structure of the Lithuanian
educational system and the basis for the
governance and activities of educational
institutions (with the exception of higher
schools).

3. 2003, NEW WERSION OF THE LAW ON
EDUCATION
 The new version of the Law on Education
passed in 2003 establishes the goals of
education in Lithuania, the principles of
its educational system, the basic
foundations for the framework of
educational institutions, their activities
and relationships and also obligations of
the State in the area of education.

4. 2003, NATIONAL EDUCATION
STRATEGY
2003-2012.
In 2003, the Provisions of the National
Education Strategy 2003-2012 were
adopted. The Provisions complement the
Long-term Development Strategy of the
State and define the goals for further
development of the Lithuanian
educational system and the means for
attaining them.

5. AT PRESENT,
 Education is regulated by the Laws on
Education, Science and Studies, Vocational
Training, Special Education, Adult Non-
formal Education and subsequent legislation.
The activity of local educational
establishments is governed by the Laws on
Local Self-Government.

6. REGULATIVE BODIES
 Education is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Education and Science(responsible for the
development and implementation of education
policies, and defines the criteria for the allocation
of financial resources).
 Responsibilities with regard to the administration
and organisation of the education system are
assumed by central government, the local
education authorities and the administrative
bodies of the establishments involved.

7. FINANCING
 Education is financed in the form of
allocations from the State budget and
municipal budgets as well as other
financial means. Programmes of formal
education offered at State-funded,
municipal and non-State funded schools
are financed out of the State and
municipal budgets via the student’s basket,
which is a principle of allocating financial
means per learner.

8. FINANCING
 The student’s basket contains funds to
pay salaries to teachers, buy textbooks,
teaching means, in-service training
teachers, etc.
 The founders of the school (municipalities,
confessional organisations,
etc.) allocate funds for school
maintenance.

9. GENERAL INFORMATION
Educational principles:
2. Equal opportunities;
3. Contextual interdependence;
4. Effectivness;
5. Continuity.

10. GENERAL INFORMATION
 Educational institutions: state,
municipality, private.
 Education is free of charge (except for
private educational establishments and
universities).
 Education is compulsary
from 7 to 16.
 The official language of
institution –Lithuanian.

11. GENERAL INFORMATION
 Today 1415 general educational schools in
Lithuania.
 School year 2010-
418 500 students,
39 842 teachers,
97 vocational education
schools,
22 universities,
23 colleges.

12. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
 1st September- the beginning of a school
year;
 May- the end of a school year for 1st-5th
forms, June/July- the end of a school year
for 11th-12th forms;
 2 or 3 semesters a year;
 45 minutes – 1 lesson; 30/35 minutes-1
lesson (pre-primary -1st form);
 22-31 lessons per week( 5 schooldays per
week);
 24-30 students in a class.

13. STRUCTURE OF THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM IN LITHUANIA
 Formal education :
- pre-school (6-7);
- primary(7-11) ;
-basic(11-16);
- secondary(16-18/19);
- vocational education and
training(14-21);
-training and higher
education(18/19-26).

14. STRUCTURE OF THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM IN LITHUANIA
 Non-formal education:
-pre-primary
education(1-6);
-non-formal education
of children;
-non-formal education
of adults.

15. PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
 Pre-school education is provided to children
from 1 year to 6 years old.
 It is not compulsory.
 The purpose is to help a child satisfy inheret
cultural (including ethnic), social and cognitive
needs.
 The pre-school education curriculum is
implemented by nurseries, nursery –
kindergartens, kindergartens, kindergarten-
schools and other schools, licensed freelance
teachers or other education providers.

16. PRE-PRIMARY
EDUCATION
 Itis not compulsory, however it is
made available by the State to all
children as of 6 years old.
 The purpose is to help a child to
prepare for successful learning
according to the primary education
curriculum.

17. PRIMARY EDUCATION
A four-year cucciculum(from 1st -4th).
 Provided to children between 7 and 11
years of age.
 The purpose of primary education is to
provide an individual with the basics of
moral, cultural and social maturity and
elementary literacy.
 Primary school children are not given
grades.

18. PRIMARY EDUCATION
CURRICULUM
 Moral education
 Lithuanian language
 Foreign language compulsory from the 2nd
year (in 2006 a ministerial order approved An
Implementation Programme of Compulsory
Early Language Teaching)
 Perception and understanding of the world
 Mathematics
 Arts and technologies
 Music
 Physical training.

19. BASIC EDUCATION
 Provided to children between
11 and 16 years of age.
 The duration of curricilum-6 years(from
5th-10th).
 The purpose is to provide an individual with
the basics of moral, socio-cultural and civic
maturity, general literacy and the basics of
technological literacy, to foster the intent to
continue learning.

20. BASIC EDUCATION
CURRICULUM(ALL SUBJECTS ARE
COMPULSORY)
 Moral education( religion or ethics)
 The Lithuanian language, native language(for national
minorities)
 Mathematics
 Natural sciences(Nature and man(forms 5-6), biology
and physics(form 7), chemistry (form8)
 Computer science
 History, civic education, geography
 Arts, music, technologies
 Physical training.

21. YOUTH SCHOOLS
 Are meant for 12-16 year old
adolescents that have not managed to
adapt to studying at schools of
general education, lack motivation or
have no other choice because of the
social situation that they face.
 Youth schools provide basic education
and prie-vocational training.

22. SECONDARY EDUCATION
(NON-COMPULSORY)
 Provided to children between 16 and 19 years
of age.
 Secondary education is offered by
gymnasiums, secondary, vocational and other
schools.
 It is offered to learners that have attained the
basic education level.
 It is a two-year curriculum with focus on
profiling and differentation of the content of
education. Profiles offered are humanitarian,
real, technological and artistic.

23. SECONDARY EDUCATION
(NON-COMPULSORY)
 In the course of two years of secondary
education students learn from 9 to 13
subjects.
 They may choose to learn compulsory
subjects either level B(involves only basic
knowledge of the subject) or level A(is
oriented towards deeper and wider
knowledge of the subject).

24. SCHOOL-LEAVING
EXAMINATIONS
 Individuals that have completed the secondary
education curriculum take matura
examinations.
 Matura examinations may be of two types, i.e.
school level or national-level.
 To get school leaving certificate 3 obligatory
examinations should be taken(the Lithuanian
language (mother tongue or State language) is
compulsory, while the others are elective.

25. SCHOOL-LEAVING
EXAMINATIONS
 School-level examination material is based on the
general curriculum covering a particular subject.
 The results are assessed at schools by following
centrally-drafted assessment guidelines.

26. SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATIONS
National-level
School-level examination
examination
 Material is based on  Material is based on the
the general curriculum expanded curriculum
covering a particular covering a particular subject.
subject.  The examination papers are
 The results are coded and assessed at
assessed at schools by assessment centres.
following centrally-  The assessment process and
drafted assessment the drafting of examination
guidelines. material is organized by the
National Examination
Centre.

27. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
 Provided to students who have basic education
(starting from the age of 14 (8th form) or
16(10th form);
 Curriculum is implemented by vocational
schools;
 Upon completion of studies a student gets
primary qualification and/or completes
secondary education.
 Areas of study: art, business and adminis-
tration, computer science, manufacturing
professions, agriculture, forestry, health care,
social services and etc.

28. HIGHER EDUCATION STUDIES
 Available to people who are at least 18
years old and have completed secondary education;
 The higher education curricula are implemented by
the higher education schools, i.e. universities and
colleges;
 College – study programmes are focused on practice;
 University- study programmes prevail:
 Bachelor of Arts(BA)-3-5 years;
 Master of Arts(MA)-1,5-2 years;
 Philosophy Doctor(PhD)-up to 4 years.

29. PROGRAMMES FOR
MODERNIZATION OF
EDUCATION
 Education Improvement Project (2002-2005): improvement of
teaching and learning conditions at basic school; creating of
the system of quality management of education; energy
efficiency; optimization of school nerwork.
 “Yellow Bus” programme( the Ministry of Education and
Science is buying school buses to transport children with
special needs and those who live far away from the school).
 E-school programme “Education for Information Society”
( helps to provide schools with computers and IT, internet,
computer teaching aids.

30. Material used for slides
 Education in Lithuania (prepared by Education
supply centre of Ministry of education and
science of The Republic of Lithuania)
 The Education System in Lithuania (Liutauras
Ivoška)