Vilnius has become a school. Polish schools recognized in a capital city project

“Vilnius yra mokykla” (eng. Vilnius is a school) is an online platform where one can find lesson ideas conducted in various public spaces of the capital. On January 18, the platform vilniusyramokykla.lt celebrated its second anniversary.

On this occasion, the Vilnius City Municipality recognized schools that have been the most active users of the platform, as well as project partners—companies and institutions that were most frequently visited by students.

The most active schools in the capital were recognized

“We help Vilnius students gain the most comprehensive and engaging education that truly reaches their hearts and minds. The ‘Vilnius is a School’ project is shaping a new, stronger generation, and by working together, we are creating a genuinely better education system in Vilnius. We are all responsible for quality education,” said Vice Mayor Vytautas Mitalas as he handed out certificates signed by the mayor.

Ten schools under the Vilnius City Municipality were awarded “for their active engagement and consistent participation in the ‘Vilnius is a School’ project, as well as for their ambition in adopting innovative teaching methods and shaping citizens who know their city.” Along with the mayor’s appreciation, the most active schools received symbolic plaques and sets of bean bags as prizes.

Among the awarded schools were institutions offering Polish-language education, including Vilniaus Pavilno Primary School and Józef Ignacy Kraszewski Gymnasium. Other recognized schools included Vilniaus Pelėdos Primary School, Saulėtekio Multi-Functional Center School, Pranas Mašiotas Primary School, Pavilnys Progymnasium, Taikos Progymnasium, Antanas Vienuolis Progymnasium, Vaduva Kindergarten-School, and Trakų Vokė Gymnasium.

The project offers many educational opportunities in various fields

“The city government and EduVilnius launched this project two years ago, transforming Vilnius into an educational space, so to say. By taking part in historical and literary tours, students can learn about history and literature—and much more. Thanks to partnerships with institutions like the Energy and Technology Museum, they can also deepen their knowledge of science, physics, and mathematics. Other project partners help younger children learn traffic safety and proper street behavior. The project provides extensive learning opportunities across various disciplines,” explains Helena Juchniewicz, director of the awarded Józef Ignacy Kraszewski Gymnasium in Vilnius.

She adds that students from “Kraszewski” regularly participate in lessons held outside the school building. All grade levels, from youngest to oldest, take part.

“More than 10% of our lessons take place outside the school walls. We select educational activities in advance, prepare for them, coordinate with partners, or conduct them independently. These educational outings have a positive impact on student performance,” emphasizes Helena Juchniewicz.

Awards were given to project partners

The “Vilnius yra mokykla” platform now includes over 4,000 teachers and nearly 120 organizations in Vilnius, with more than 600 unique lesson plans created. For educators, this is a valuable tool for making lessons more engaging, while project partners appreciate their role in modernizing education in the city.

During the ceremony, for the first time, awards were presented to project partners, including the public institution Active Vilnius, the Vilnius County Police Headquarters, the M. K. Čiurlionis House in Vilnius, the Creative Industries Faculty of Vilnius TECH, and the public institution Vilnius Builders’ Training Center.

For the second time, awards were given to the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania, the State Labor Inspectorate, VASA, the State Data Agency, and the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania.

Education in a different way

“The city is full of learning opportunities! More space means more freedom for student and teacher creativity,” say the project organizers, Vilnius City Municipality and EduVilnius. “Vilnius is a School” is a platform offering lesson ideas, integrated lesson plans, educational routes, and lessons provided by local institutions and companies. These are not just field trips but fully structured educational experiences that serve as an inspiring alternative to classroom lessons.

After registering on the platform, teachers can select from a wide range of lesson ideas, conduct them independently in Vilnius, or book sessions at participating institutions, businesses, or other facilities. The lesson catalog is continuously expanding, and educators can contribute their own lesson plans and materials for others to use.

Through this project, Vilnius aims to modernize its education system by moving at least 10% of school lessons into urban spaces and implementing a blended learning model—encouraging schools to creatively utilize the city’s diverse locations and combine traditional classroom learning with city-based lessons.

As a result, subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry can be taught in Vilnius’ state-of-the-art laboratories, while museums and galleries provide immersive learning experiences in history and art. This approach integrates subjects, making learning more engaging and boosting students’ curiosity and motivation.

The platform is open to all institutions, companies, and organizations in Vilnius, as well as teachers of grades 1-12 in the city. Access to the platform is completely free.