Strikers pray in the Gate of Dawn

On Wednesday (2nd September) the general strike of Polish schools in Lithuania has begun; its organizers are as follows: Strike Committees of Polish Schools in Lithuania, Parents Forum of Polish Schools in Lithuania and the Schools’ Defense Committees.

Students and teachers from capital and regional schools gathered in the Gate of Dawn.  Strikers demand a change in the Law on Education from 2011, which provides i.e. the uniform Lithuanian language exam.

‘Passing a Lithuanian language exam at the same level as Lithuanian schools is really hard for us. Older colleagues said that the exam wasn’t easy, many students failed. We would like the Poles to take easier Lithuanian language exam’ – says a student from Stefan Batory Junior High School in Lavoriškės, who participates in the protest.

We arrived here to sympathize. It’s about the Lithuanian language exam and about the fact that Lithuanian students followed the education program from the 1st grade, whereas we have to make up a lot’ – said a high school graduate from K. Parczewski Junior High School in Nemenčinė.

‘Despite numerous protests and contrary to the will of 60 000 inhabitants, who put their signatures against the amendments of the Law on Education, they were introduced on 17th March 2011. The amendments were accepted only due to political reasons and without any preparation to their realization on the part of the state. All attempts and offers of parents, teachers and students weren’t taken into consideration. Latest events in Vilnius worsened the situation in education to a high extent. Liberal-conservative coalition uses blackmail and double standards in education’ – the special statement of the Parents Forum of Polish Schools in Lithuania holds.

1 thousand persons participate in the demonstration.