Parents take matters into their own hands. Protest in front of the Presidential Palace.

The parents of children from Vilnius schools do not want to watch idly the situation created by the Government of Vilnius. This time they protest in front of the Presidential Palace. “Parents ask the president, Dalia Grybauskaitė, for help in protecting their laws” – Edyta Tamošiūnaitė said in talk with Wilnoteka.

Today’s picket in front of the Presidential Palace is another protest of the parents of children from Polish schools in Vilnius over protecting the endangered institutions. This time the appeal for justice and respect for national minorities’ laws is targeted at the president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė.

“We know that, during the City Council next meeting, the project, according to which four of the Polish schools in Vilnius are to be downgraded to the status of primary schools, will be considered – the deputy, Edyta Tamošiūnaitė, said to Wilnoteka – Protesting parents demands respecting their laws and working under the Law on Education made by the Lithuanian Parliament.

On June 30rd, during the last spring session, the Parliament considered the amendment to the Law on Education, under which the final deadline of enforcement the new educational system was postponed for two years – till 1st September 2017. However, the metropolitan authorities are heading to reorganisation of all schools no later than 1st September 2015.

10 schools in Vilnius seek for the status of, so called, a long middle school. Among them, there are schools with Polish and Russian language of teaching. Unfortunately, according to the vice-mer, Valdas Benkunskas, only three long middle schools can be created: Mikalojaus Daukšos, Tuskulėnų i Abraomo Kulviečio. There is no certainty about the future status of four Polish schools: the Lelewel High School, the Wł. Syrokomla High school, the Sz. Konarski High School and the Lazdynai High School.