 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2014) |
| Ministry of Education, Science and Sport | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Education, Science and Sport | Gintautas Jakštas |
| National education budget (2008) | |
| Budget | 371 million € |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | Lithuanian |
| System type | National |
| Literacy (2004) | |
| Total | 99.8% |
| Male | 99.9% |
| Female | 99.9% |
| Enrollment | |
| Total | 748378 |
| Primary | 90552 |
| Secondary | 514622 |
| Post secondary | 143204 |
| 2006 data[1] | |
The first documented school in Lithuania was established in 1387 at Vilnius Cathedral.[2] The school network was influenced by the Christianization of Lithuania. Several types of schools were present in medieval Lithuania – cathedral schools, where pupils were prepared for priesthood; parish schools, offering elementary education; and home schools dedicated to educating the children of the Lithuanian nobility. Before Vilnius University was established in 1579, Lithuanians seeking higher education attended universities in foreign cities, including Kraków, Prague, and Leipzig, among others.[2] During the Interbellum a national university – Vytautas Magnus University was founded in Kaunas.
Education is free of charge and compulsory from the age of 6 or 7 to 16 years (covering "primary" and "basic" education), as stated in the national Law on Education.[3] In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 98 percent.[3] Primary school attendance rates were unavailable for Lithuania as of 2001.[3] While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school.[3]
Pre-tertiary education is organized in four main cycles: Pre-school education (until age 5 or 6), Pre-primary education (1 year, between age 5-7), primary education (4 years, between age 6-11), basic education (6 years, between age 10-17, ends on a "basic education certificate"), upper secondary education (two years, between age 16-19).[4] Upper secondary education ends on the "matura" examination, opening gates to tertiary education.[4] Vocational and technical education starts at the fifth year of basic education (age 14-15).[5] Its structure is similar to comprehensive education: The program lasts two to three years before the "basic education certificate". Students can then pursue into vocational upper secondary education, that also leads, after two or three years, to a "matura" examination.[5] However, in order to reach tertiary education (university or college), vocational students have to follow an extra "post-secondary" education program of 2 years.
Tertiary education can be divided into university and college.[4] Universities offer an academic education leading to international Bachelor-Master-PhD degrees (Lithuania has implemented the Bologna process in 2006).[4] Colleges offer vocational Education. Since 2006, they can award professional bachelor's degrees.[5]
The school year in Lithuania usually starts on the first of September, including in tertiary education.[6]
- ^ Kryptis, Dizaino. "Švietimo ir mokslo ministerija" (PDF). Smm.lt.
- ^ a b Jūratė Kiaupienė; Petrauskas, Rimvydas (2009). Lietuvos istorija. Vol. IV. Vilnius: Baltos lankos. pp. 145–147. ISBN 978-9955-23-239-1.
- ^ a b c d "Lithuania" Archived 2008-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor (2001). Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor (2002). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d "World Data on Education: Lithuania" (PDF). UNESCO-IBE. 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Vocational Education in Lithuania". UNESCO-UNEVOC. January 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "Education in Lithuania" (PDF). Ministry of Education and Science of the republic of Lithuania. 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
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