ANNOUNCEMENT regarding the withdrawal of standardised language exam

In our capacity as parents of children attending Polish schools, we want to express our utmost objection to standardisation of Lithuanian language exams for for pupils of Polish-Lithuanian schools, who are about to take their final exams.

We are in favour of revocation of those articles included in the Lithuanian education law from March 17th 2011 which concern the standardised Lithuanian exam and delivering history, geography and society lectures in Lithuanian language.

We believe that the new law is against common sense and impossible from the educational point of view. Lithuanian is the first language for those of Lithuanian nationality. For others, however, it is a second, official language. Both the language surroundings and school curricula differ for these two groups. According to specialists in Lithuanian language, preparation for the exam under current circumstances is impossible, which is why a new education programme ought to be implemented in nurseries rather than secondary schools.

We wish to express our utter displeasure at the fact that our demands, as well as the well-being of our children, were not taken into account when passing the new education law.  In a situation when young people receive education on the basis of differentiated school programmes, it is inhumane to force them to take a standardised exams. It is unforgivable to test students on the basis of material which was not included in their curricula. Many secondary school students will surely resign from the final exam in Lithuanian language, which will prevent them from entering Lithuanian universities. They will have to leave the country.

We are determined to fight for dignified treatment of our children and we will not allow to harm them. We have already organised strikes and rallies which we will resume on a large scale if our postulates are still ignored.

This experimentation on final year students results in emotional strain of their parents, their teachers and themselves. If a new Lithuanian language exam is not prepared for minority schools in Lithuania, this abuse regarding Polish youth will be presented to European institutions. We do not wish to do it just before Lithuanian presidency in the European Union. However, the well-being of our children is of utmost importance to us and we will fight for that well-being until the end.

 Forum of Polish School Parents in Lithuania

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2013/02/01/oswiadczenie-w-sprawie-odwolania-ujednoliconego-egzaminu-z-jezyka-panstwowego/

Tłumaczenie Aleksandra Christ w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Aleksandra Christ the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.