Will there be more Lithuanian language lessons in Vilnius schools at the expense of Polish language lessons?

The Vilnius City Municipality has presented a concept for more intensive teaching of the Lithuanian language in minority schools. However, hygiene regulations do not allow for additional class hours. Therefore, the principals of Polish schools are considering which subjects will have to be reduced to make room for the extra Lithuanian lessons.

At the meeting held on June 18, tools for teachers and students were presented, which, according to municipal officials, will improve the level of Lithuanian language proficiency in the lower grades of minority schools.

The level of Lithuanian language proficiency is unsatisfactory

“In the new school year, students in grades 1–4 should have no fewer than six class hours per week dedicated to learning the Lithuanian language. Until now, in most minority schools in Vilnius, the number of hours allocated for Lithuanian language instruction has been four to five hours per week,” the municipality announced.

According to the Deputy Mayor of the capital, Vytautas Mitalas, the level of Lithuanian language proficiency among students in these schools is unsatisfactory.

“Members of national minorities are citizens of Lithuania. However, due to a lack of knowledge of the Lithuanian language, they face additional difficulties when applying to higher education institutions in the country or when seeking highly qualified employment. This kind of social disparity should be reduced. The first step is to devote more attention to teaching the Lithuanian language in the capital’s minority schools. In this way, while continuing to learn their native language, they will be able to successfully integrate into society,” stated Mitalas.

Results of state graduation exams differ

According to municipal data, the results of state graduation exams in the 2020–2024 education period differed significantly between Lithuanian schools and schools for national minorities. In 2020, in the capital’s schools with Lithuanian as the language of instruction, the average result for the Lithuanian language and literature exam was 49.5%, while in schools with Polish as the language of instruction it was 34.2%, and in Russian-language schools – 32.8%. A similar gap was recorded in 2024: 57.3%, 42%, and 40.3%, respectively. This trend is also observed when comparing the results of other state exams between Lithuanian-language schools and minority schools.

“The differences in students’ knowledge levels are already visible in the eighth grade, when students take standardized tests in Lithuanian language and literature. These differences remain in both tenth and twelfth grades. Scientific studies show that language learning is easiest and most effective in early childhood. Therefore, if we want to reduce this gap, we should invest in the youngest students,” stated Unė Kaunaitė, head of the municipal educational company Edu Vilnius.

Is the municipality’s decision legally valid?

It is unclear on what basis the Vilnius City Municipality decided to increase the number of class hours dedicated to learning the Lithuanian language. According to current hygiene regulations, the number of lessons per day is limited to a maximum of five in the first grade, and six in grades 2-4.

Meanwhile, the municipality has announced that starting in September, students in grades 1-4 should have no fewer than six class hours per week devoted to Lithuanian language instruction.

Unfair political games

Wanda Krawczonok, a member of the Vilnius city council, says it is not right for children to be drawn into political games.

“Minority schools are once again being dragged into unfair political games. After the Ministry of Education announced that it must review the current hygiene regulations to find available time for additional state language lessons, municipal education authorities decided to make a move against their political opponents – including the Minister of Education, who belongs to the Social Democrat camp. After the recent parliamentary elections, the party that failed to enter the Seimas but still holds power in the capital’s municipality is once again playing the minority card – in this case, education. Instead of taking a scientific approach to Lithuanian language teaching in schools, for example by reviewing curricula, teaching aids, and textbooks, they simply decide to increase the number of class hours. This will certainly not improve proficiency in the state language. The Polish faction in the municipal council will not agree with such a decision. We must also clarify whether the decision made despite the Ministry of Education’s concerns regarding hygiene regulations is legally valid,” explained the councillor in an interview with Kurier Wileński. She represents the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance.

Russian schools want more Lithuanian lessons

Danutė Mišrienė, principal of the Naujamiesčio school with Russian as the language of instruction, is pleased with the decision of the municipal authorities.

“Taking into account the requests of our students’ parents, in 2024 we introduced intensified Lithuanian language teaching at the school. Primary school students already have seven lessons of the state language per week,” the principal noted at the municipal meeting.

Meanwhile, Adam Błaszkiewicz, principal of the John Paul II Gymnasium in Vilnius, points out that Russian schools have always been supportive of increasing Lithuanian lessons at the expense of other subjects.

– It is unclear which lessons are reduced to make room for Lithuanian; perhaps Russian language classes are cut. The Ministry of Education clearly stated that additional Lithuanian lessons cannot come at the expense of music, dance, art, or physical education classes. Moreover, hygiene regulations do not allow additional class hours in primary grades. That leaves only native language lessons that can be replaced by Lithuanian instruction. Polish schools do not consider this option, – Adam Błaszkiewicz explained in an interview with Kurier Wileński.