The Seimas has adopted a resolution concerning national minorities’ schools

In the resolution adopted on Thursday the Seimas stated that Lithuania is still obliged to “guarantee the representatives of national communities learning conditions in secondary schools, in which they can cultivate their language, culture, and traditions.”

Twenty six parliamentarians voted for the resolution proposed by the liberal, Gintaras Steponavičius, along with a group of deputies who belong to various fractions; nine members abstained from voting.

In the document we can read that the resolution is adopted by the Seimas “in response to public utterances concerning the schools of national minorities, which evoke antagonism in the society.”

Last week the former chef of Lithuania’s State Security Department proposed closure of the national minorities’ schools, as – according to him – they are institutions which do not develop a civic attitude.

The authors of the resolution claim that the educational policy executed by Lithuania and ensuring the enforcement of national community laws is consistent, based on the Constitution, Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and the international law.

In the document the deputies “highlight the importance of the integration of national communities in order to minimise the influence of the countries which are unfriendly towards Lithuania on the internal policy” and encourage all institutions to devote adequate attention to the integration issues.

Deputies of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania did not advocate the resolution.