The Education Systemin Lithuania

Pre-school Education

Pre-school education under the pre-school education programme is provided to children from 1 to 7 years old. Institutional pre-school education is not compulsory and is provided upon parents' request. This kind of education can be compulsory in individual cases (to children from social risk families, etc.). Pre-school education is provided by public and private nurseries-kindergartens, kindergartens, and kindergartens-schools.

Primary Education

According to the Law on Education, children who have reached 7 years of age must go to the 1st form. If parents wish so and if the child is sufficiently mature to study under the primary education programme, he/she can start attending school from 6 years of age. The duration of the primary education programme is 4 years. Compulsory primary education can be obtained in kindergartens-schools, in primary schools and, which is less common, in basic or secondary schools.

Basic Education

Upon completion of primary education, pupils start studying under the 6-year basic education programme. The basic education programme is implemented by basic, secondary, youth, and vocational schools and gymnasiums.

Basic Education

The compulsory basic education programme consists of two parts: part I – a 4-year programme implemented in the 5-8th forms.

II – a 2-year programme implemented in the 9-10th forms (forms 1-2 in gymnasiums).

Compulsory Education

In Lithuania, education is for children until they reach 16 years of age. Compulsory education is usually provided up to the 10th form. Upon completion of the 10th form, pupils can choose to undergo an Assessment of Basic Education. Achievements in Lithuanian, foreign language and Mathematics. Having completed the 10th form and obtained basic education, pupils can continue their studies under the secondary education or vocational training programme, or under the secondary education programme together with the vocational education programme for acquisition of the first qualification.

Youth schools

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 .

Secondary Education

Secondary education is not compulsory and is usually provided for two years (forms 11 and 12 in secondary schools and forms 3 and 4 in gymnasiums). Pupils study according to individual education plans. The programme can include modules of the vocational training programme. Secondary education is provided in secondary schools, gymnasiums, and vocational schools.

Secondary Education

Having completed the secondary education programme and passed maturity examinations, school-levers obtain secondary education.

Vocational training

The vocational education system covers primary and continuing vocational education and orientation. Vocational training schools provide both qualification training and basic or secondary education. The duration of the programmes can be either two or three years depending on whether it is intended to provide basic or secondary education or whether it is adapted to persons with special needs. The duration of studies for students who have already obtained secondary education is 1 to 1.5 years.

Higher Education 

Higher education study programmes are of two types: university and college. There are three cycles of studies: first, professional Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s Degree, second, Master’s, the third, doctorate. These studies can be followed on full-time and part-time basis.

Grading System in Lithuania

Usual grading system at Secondary School Level is ten-point scale.

10 Puikiai excellent9 Labai gerai very good8 Gerai good7 Pakankamai gerai good enough6 Patenkinamai satisfactory

Grading System in Lithuania

5 Pakankamai patenkinamai

satisfactory enough 4 Silpnai weak 3 Blogai bad 2 Labai blogai very bad 1 Nieko neatsakė, neatliko užduotie snothing

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