Educational system in Lithuania
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PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
BASIC EDUCATION
VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
SECONDARY
EDUCATION
HIGHER EDUCATION
ADULT EDUCATION
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Pre-school education 0-6(7)
Purpose
The purpose of non-formal education is to help a child satisfy his inherent,
cultural, as well as ethnical, social and cognitive needs.
Eligible students
Pre-school education is provided to children from 0 to 6(7) years of age, i.e.
until they enrol in pre-primary education class or the first grade of general
education. Pre-school education in Lithuania is not compulsory and provided
upon parents request. However, the national legislation provide cases where
pre-school education is compulsory.
Providers
Pre-school education is provided within the family, and upon parents
(guardians) request – in pre-school education establishments. Pre-school education may
be also provided by general education schools, freelance teachers or other educational
service providers.
Lithuania has state, municipality and non-state, i.e. private pre-schools.
Pre-primary education 6(5)-7(6)
Purpose
Pre-primary education is a one-year long non-formal education programme aimed to
prepare a child for primary school. Pre-primary education is not compulsory and may be chosen
independently.
Eligible students
Children are admitted to pre-primary groups as of six years of age. In exceptional cases, upon
proving the maturity of a child, five year old children may also be accepted to the pre-primary
groups.
Providers
Pre-primary education is organized in a form of pre-primary groups. Schools may implement the
programme in different ways (depending on duration, time, number of participants, and etc.). The
Pre-primary education may be implemented by the pre-primary education establishments, general
education schools, freelance teachers or other educational institutions according to established
procedures.
Primary education 7(6)-10
Purpose
Primary education programmes are designed to educate an
active and creative child, provide him with rudimentary
literacy, social, cognitive, informational and operational skills
and the foundations of shared values, as well as to prepare a
child for studying under basic education programme.
Eligible students
A child starts attending the first grade in the calendar year
when he attains the age of seven. Upon parents’ request,
primary education may be provided at an earlier age provided
that the child has achieved sufficient maturity.
Providers
Child parents (guardians) have the right to choose the
acceptable primary education institution. Priority is given to
children residing within the territory covered by the school. If
the educational establishment has vacancies, a child may be
accepted independent of his/her residence.
Basic education 10(11)-16(17)
Purpose
The purpose of basic education is to provide an individual with basics of moral, socio-cultural and
civic maturity, general academic literacy and the basics of technological literacy, as well as to
develop national consciousness, the ability to achieve and make decisions, to choose and continue
learning.
Provision
Children are accepted to state and municipality basic education schools under the principle of
territoriality, i.e. priority is given to children residing within the territory covered by the school. If
the school has vacancies, a child may be accepted upon parents request independently of his/her
residence.
Organization
Basic education is divided into two stages: the period of the first four
years (grades 5-8) and the period of the last two years (grades 9-10).
The second stage may include vocational training modules. Basic education
may be also combined with musical, artistic, sport or other
education. Students are divided into classes of up to 30 children.
The class is supervised and the cooperation between teachers and
children’s parents is coordinated by the classroom teacher. Courses of the
curriculum are taught by individual teachers.
Secondary education 16-18
Eligible students
11-12 grades (2 years)
Secondary education is provided for students who
have acquired basic education, i.e. those having
basic education certificate. Students who have
previously studied abroad are accepted to secondary
education institutions according to special procedures.
Purpose
This level of education helps a student to acquire general academic, socio-cultural and
technological literacy, moral, national and civic maturity, as well as the basics of
professional competence.
Provision
Secondary education is provided by state, municipality or private general education, vocational and
other schools. Children are usually accepted to state and municipality secondary education
establishments under the principle of territoriality based on the place of residence.
Assessment
Students’ achievements during the school year are evaluated in ten-point grading system. Upon completion of
secondary education programme, 12th grade students take school leavingexaminations. The latter may be of
two types:
national-level – organized on the national level; evaluation based upon a 100-point grading system;
School-level – organized on school level; evaluation based upon a ten-point grading system.
Upon completion of secondary education programme and successful school-leavingexaminations,
students are awarded maturity certificate. In case of unsuccessful or incomplete compulsory
examinations students are awarded certificate attesting to learning achievements.
Vocational education and training
(from 14)
Purpose
The purpose of vocational education and training is to help and
individual to obtain, change or improve vocational qualification
and to help him settle and compete in the changing work
environment.
Eligible students
Initial vocational training is provided for individuals who are at least 14 years old. Respective
vocational training programmes are offered for individuals who have not yet acquired basic
education, those who have basic or secondary education, and those who have studied under
special education programmes.
Continuing vocational education is provided for individuals who have already acquired vocational
qualification.
Organization
School-based vocational training is organized in schools providing theoretical and practical
training. Practical training may be organised both in school and a workplace under vocational
training agreements with enterprises, institutions, organisations, farms or implemented by
freelance teachers.
Higher education 18 years and older
Purpose
The purpose of higher education studies is to help an individual to achieve modern
level of knowledge and technologies, obtain higher education qualification
corresponding to economy needs, and to prepare for active professional, social and
cultural activity. Higher education studies are universal.
Eligible students
Higher education is provided for individuals who have at least secondary education and
are able to study individually.
Programmes and degrees
Studies at higher education institutions are carried out
according to degree or non degree programmes.There
are two types of study programmes: university or college.
Degree studies consist of three cycles:
professional bachelor’s(college studies) orbachelor’s
(university studies)
master’s (university studies)
doctoral (university studies)
Adult education
18 years and older
Purpose
The purpose of adult education is enable an individual to acquire general
(primary, basic, secondary) education under formal education
programmes (formal adult education) or to improve the already acquired
qualification and gain additional competences through various non-formal
education programmes (non-formal adult education).
Eligible students
All adults from 18 years old.
Provision
Adults may study under formal education
programmes in general education schools
for adults, or in special classes of general
education schools. Non formal adult
education may be provided by non-formal
education
institutions, general and higher education schools.
Special needs
• PRE-SCHOOL
EDUCATION
• PRIMARY
EDUCATION
• BASIC
EDUCATION
• SECONDARY
EDUCATION
Special needs
children may receive
education in regular
schools or special
school education
establishments.
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