Lithuanian education policy (2021–2030) – EFHR evaluates the signed agreement

On September 1, 2021, in the seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the chairmen of the political parties signed an agreement on Lithuanian education policy. The agreement retains until 2030 and will be implemented through the adoption of the necessary legal acts and other decisions by the relevant state institutions, regardless of election cycles, campaigns, results and changes in political government, including the social partners.

After reading the regulations of the agreement, the European Foundation of Human Rights (EFHR), was surprised that the agreement does not address the challenges faced by regional and ethnic minority schools. No measures have been designed as yet to reduce the gap regarding the achievements of regional and ethnic minority schools and those of Lithuanian schools. Political parties did not commit to improving the duty to supply the schools with educational materials (student books, etc.). There are no plans to expand the range of student transportation, too. This is relevant because, judging by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports’ discussions with Lithuania’s municipalities, it is evident that abandonment of joint classes and annulment of the partial funding that classes that are not full receive, are proposed. In addition, it should be noted that the agreement does not discuss the situation of public schools and their impact on the access that national and ethnic minorities have to learning and improving their own national language.

/Translated by Monika Ivanavičiūtė within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights/