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Official translation
REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW
ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW ON EDUCATION
2 July 1998 No. VIII-854
Vilnius
(As amended by 11 May 2000 No.VIII-1678)
Article 1. Revised Version of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on
Education
The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Education shall be amended to read as
follows:
”REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW
ON EDUCATION
Education is a state supported priority sphere in the development of the Republic of
Lithuania. It is based on the humanistic cultural values of the nation and the world, on the
principles of democracy and the universally recognised human rights and freedoms.
Education determines the cultural, social and economic progress of the country,
consolidates solidarity, tolerance and co-operation among people and nations.
This Law shall establish the foundations of the structure of the educational system
of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as the foundations of the activities and management
of educational institutions (with the exception of the institutions of higher education).
FIRST CHAPTER
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Goals of the Educational System
The major goals of the educational system shall be:
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1) to develop the mental and physical abilities of an individual, to lay solid
foundations of morality and a healthy way of life, to cultivate his/her intellect, to provide
conditions for the development of the individuality;
2) to offer younger generation both general and professional education in
conformity with the current level of science and culture;
3) to provide possibilities of a continuing education for the residents of Lithuania;
4) to foster civic awareness, the understanding of individual rights and duties to the
family, the nation, society and the State of Lithuania, as well as the need to participate in
the cultural, social, economic and political life of the Republic of Lithuania;
5) to guarantee members of traditional religious communities rights and
opportunities equalling those of all residents, to educate their children at educational
institutions according to their beliefs.
Article 2. The Educational System of Lithuania
1. The educational system of Lithuania shall comprise pre-school education,
general education of children and young people, vocational and college education, higher
education and education of the adults provided at the educational institutions of the
following type:
1) institutions of pre-school education;
2) schools of general education;
3) institutions, enterprises of vocational training;
4) institutions of college education;
5) institutions of higher education; and
6) institutions of additional and informal education.
2. The continuity of studying shall be implemented between the appropriate type
(level) of educational institutions in the educational system of Lithuania.
3. An educational institution shall be an institution which operates on a permanent
basis or with interruptions, and carries out and organises the process of training, teaching
or self-education in accordance with appropriate programmes.
Article 3. Pre-school Development
1. Children of pre-school age shall, upon the request of the parents (or guardians of
the child), be brought up in nurseries, kindergartens and school-type kindergartens.
Orphans and neglected children shall be brought up in child care institutions.
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2. The State shall encourage the upbringing of children of pre-school age at home,
and shall provide compensatory allowances. Families bringing up children at home shall
be provided methodical, diagnostic advice and counselling by educational and health care
institutions.
Article 4. General Secondary Education
1. General secondary education shall be acquired in the three-stage general school
over a period of twelve years. The stages of schooling may form separate independent
institutions: primary (4 years), basic (6 years) and secondary (2 years) schools. The
duration of a school-year at such schools shall be regulated by the Ministry of Education
and Science.
2. General education shall be acquired together with the basic work skills at youth
schools.
3. A gymnasium and a school of international baccalaureate shall be separate types
of secondary schools.
4. General secondary education may be acquired at vocational schools of an
appropriate level.
5. Adults may obtain general education at schools of general education of adults
(learning centres), adult divisions (classes) of schools of general education.
6. Children undergoing treatment in sanatoriums may get general education at the
sanatorium general education schools. Children undergoing treatment in hospitals or at
home shall be educated, subject to their doctor’s permission, in accordance with the
procedure established by the Ministry of Education and Science.
7. Schoolchildren exhibiting antisocial behaviour shall be educated at schools of
general education and vocational schools of a disciplinary type shall be established for.
Article 5. Vocational Training
1. Vocational education shall be provided and developed at institutions of
vocational training (vocational schools, vocational training centres, courses and
specialised institutions of vocational training). Vocational training shall be co-ordinated
with general education.
2. Vocational schools shall admit students with basic or general secondary
education. Education at those schools shall be provided according to a single-level or
multilevel programmes. Students without basic education but not younger than 14 years of
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age may also be enrolled in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Ministry of
Education and Science. Vocational training shall be regulated by the Law on Vocational
Education and Training.
Article 6. College Education
1. Specialists with college education shall be trained at the institutions of college
education (colleges, conservatoires, etc.). Persons eligible for enrolment in institutions of
college education must have completed general or basic education.
2. The course of studies at those institutions shall last from two to four years.
3. Institutions of college education may have departments of general education and
vocational education.
4. Study programmes of institutions of college education may include programmes
(modules) which are co-ordinated with an institution of higher education and accredited by
it, and which satisfy the requirements for a bachelor’s qualification degree. When
continuing studies at an institution of higher education, the said study programmes
(modules) may be accepted.
Article 7. Higher Education
1. Higher education shall be provided by higher educational institutions.
2. The manner of establishing, reorganising, closing down, and organising of
studies at higher educational institutions, as well as the principles of activities,
management and financing of the said institutions shall be regulated by the Law of the
Republic of Lithuania on Science and Studies, other laws and the statutes of the higher
educational institutions.
3. Higher educational institutions not maintained by the State may function subject
to a permit from the Government.
Article 8. Supplementary Training
Those who wish shall be provided additional training at various types of organised
educational establishments: art, sports, language, engineering and other schools, courses
and societies.
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Article 9. Educational Qualifications
The following educational qualifications shall be established in the Republic of
Lithuania: primary education, basic education, secondary education, college education,
and higher education.
Article 10. Establishment, Reorganisation and Closing down of Educational
Institutions
1. Public educational institutions maintained shall be established, reorganised and
closed down by the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as by county governors
subject to a written consent of the Ministry of Education and Science.
2. Public educational institutions may be established, reorganised and closed down
by other ministries and agencies of the Government subject to a written consent of the
Ministry of Education and Science.
3. Local authority councils shall, subject to a written consent of the Ministry of
Education and Science, establish, reorganise and close down educational institutions of
local authorities which provide primary, basic and secondary education; and subject to a
written consent of country governors - institutions of pre-school, supplementary training
and informal education of adults.
4. Educational institutions may be established on the basis of an agreement
between several founders. If the parents so desire, public and local authority educational
institutions (classes, groups) may, on the basis of an agreement, be established together
with a religious community recognised by the State as traditional, on initiative of the said
community, local authority council or public authority. The manner of establishing,
reorganising and closing down such educational institutions, co-ordinated with religious
communities recognised by the State as traditional, shall be established by the Government
or an institution authorised by it.
5. Public educational institutions may be established together with legal persons of
foreign countries subject to a written consent of the Minister of Education and Science.
6. Educational institutions not maintained by the State shall be established,
reorganised, and closed down, subject to a written consent of the Ministry of Education
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and Science, by legal persons registered in the Republic of Lithuania or by individual
citizens of the Republic of Lithuania. Legal and natural persons of other countries may
establish educational institutions or be founders of joint educational institutions subject to
a written consent of the Minister of Education and Science.
7. If the activities of an educational institution which is not maintained by the State
are in violation of the laws, the Ministry of Education and Science shall demand to
eliminate the established violations within at a stated time. If the educational institution
does not eliminate the established violations at a stated time, the dispute shall be settled in
court.
8. Educational institutions shall have the status of a legal person and shall be under
the control of the founders. Educational institutions shall be registered in the manner
prescribed by the Government or an institution authorised by it.
9. The procedure of establishment, reorganisation and closing down of educational
institutions shall be in accordance with the general regulations approved by the
Government.
Article 11. License to Teach
1. If upon completion of education, educational institutions (enterprises) which are
not maintained by the State grant education certificates recognised by the State, it shall be
permitted to teach in them subject to a license issued by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
2. The procedure for granting licenses to teach shall be set in compliance with the
regulations approved by the Government or an institution authorised by it.
Article 12. The Language of Instruction
1. The language of instruction at schools of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
Lithuanian (with the exception of schools of ethnic minorities and international
baccalaureate).
2. In the localities where an ethnic minority resides or where there are many of its
members, they shall be provided facilities for having public, municipal or non-public pre-
school institutions, schools of general education and lessons in the mother tongue, if the
said individuals so request and if such request corresponds with an actual need.. Parents
(guardians of the child) shall choose for the children a pre-school institution or a school of
general education with instruction in an appropriate language.
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3. For small ethnic communities, classes or optional courses as well as Sunday
schools may be set up at public and municipal schools of general education for the purpose
of learning or acquiring a better knowledge of the mother tongue.
4. In non-Lithuanian educational institutions, Lithuanian language and literature
shall be taught in Lithuanian. If the parents or children so desire, facilities shall be
provided for studying other subjects in the Lithuanian language as well.
5. All schools of general education must ensure a command of the Lithuanian
language in accordance with the standard established by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
6. Facilities shall be provided throughout the territory of the Republic of Lithuania
to have instruction in the Lithuanian language.
Article 13. Health Care
In all educational institutions facilities intended to help pupils and teachers to
protect their health and stay healthy shall be provided. Ministries and other agencies of
the Government, county governors, the local authority institutions, organisations, and
citizens in charge of educational institutions shall ensure that adequate conditions, which
are established in legislative acts, for studying, nutrition, physical education and sports,
relaxation, medical and psychological aid for pupils be provided at these schools, and
pupils be protected from effects damaging to physical and mental health (tobacco, alcohol,
narcotic and psychotropic substances).
Article 14. Development of Mentally or Physically Disabled Children and
Schoolchildren
1. All mentally or physically disabled children of pre-school age or school age
shall be educated either at home, in general or special groups in pre-school institutions,
special pre-school development institutions, in general or special classes of schools of
general education, and special schools situated as close as possible to their parents’ home.
2. Upon the consent of parents (or guardians of the child), and taking into
consideration requests of a child or pupil, the latter shall be referred for special education
by the special education commission of an educational institution or (and) a pedagogical
psychological agency in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry of
Education and Science.
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Article 15. Tuition Fee
1. Instruction at public and municipal schools of general education, vocational
schools, and colleges of the Republic of Lithuania shall be free. Instruction at public and
municipal pre-school institutions (with the exception of child care institutions) as well as
at institutions of additional education shall be paid in part.
2. Tuition at non-public educational institutions, except tuition at educational
institutions of traditional religious communities providing general education up to the
State standard, shall be payable subject to an agreement.
Article 16. Financial Assistance for Pupils and Students
The state shall grant allowances for pupils and students in need of financial
assistance and shall allocate funds for grants and credits.
Article 17. Remuneration for Teachers
1. Teachers of public and municipal educational institutions shall be paid
remuneration according to the length of service, education, qualifications and workload.
2. At public and municipal educational institutions, teachers shall be paid for
additional out-of class work.
3. Teachers working at educational institutions located in rural areas, as well as in
areas and spheres of education the development whereof requires a special assistance of
the state, shall be given material incentives. Those teachers shall be granted privileges in
the a manner prescribed by the Government.
Article 18. Teacher Training
1. Teachers for the educational system of Lithuania shall be trained by higher and
college educational institutions in accordance with the qualification requirements
established by the Ministry of Education and Science.
2. The number of teachers to be trained at higher educational institutions shall be
specified, taking into account the needs of the state, by the Government on the
recommendation of the Ministry of Education and Science.
3. The number of teachers trained at public institutions of college education and
their specialisation shall be established by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Article 19. Children and Youth Organisations
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Educational institutions of Lithuania may have children and youth organisations
designed to foster moral, civic, cultural, physical and social maturity of pupils, and help to
meet their needs in self-education and self-expression. The activities of such organisations
shall be based on the statutes registered in accordance with the prescribed manner, and
they shall not contradict either the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania or any other
laws. Children and youth organisations functioning at educational establishments shall be
provided favourable conditions for the pursuit of their activities.
Article 20. Moral (Religious) Instruction at Public and Municipal Educational
Institutions
1. At the request of the parents (or guardians of the child), individuals authorised
by church dignitaries shall give religious instruction (of the religious denominations
recognised by the State as traditional) at public and municipal educational institutions.
2. Children under state or municipal care shall be given religious instruction
conforming to the religion that has been professed by their family or relatives.
3. For those who do not attend classes of religious instruction, that time shall be
given over to the teaching of ethic.
4. In educational institutions established by two founders (the State or local
authority and a religious community recognised by the State as traditional), pupils may, at
the request of parents (or guardians of the child), not attend classes of religious instruction,
but chose classes of ethic or other traditional religion.
SECOND CHAPTER
RIGHTS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUPILS,
PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Article 21. Pupils’ Rights
Pupils shall have the right:
1) to enrol in any educational institution of their choice provided their education
and other requirements (health, command of the language of instruction, etc.) are in
conformity with the terms of admission;
2) from the age of 15 to take an independent decision on whether they are going to
take religious instruction;
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3) to join organisations for children and young people, to contribute to their
development and to develop their personal and social skills through extra curricula
activities;
4) to participate in the self-governance of the educational institution in the manner
established by the regulations of the institution;
5) to take externally any yearly (course) examinations of a general education or
vocational school or the final school examinations;
6) to wear a uniform.
Article 22. Pupils’ Duties
Pupils must:
1) attend a school of general education or any other school in the formal education
system attend until they reach the age of 16;
2) observe the rules of the educational institution, regularly attend a school of
general education or any other school in the formal education system.
Article 23. Rights of Parents (or Guardians of the Child)
Parents (or guardians of the child) shall have the right to:
1) freely choose between a public, municipal or non-public educational institution
for their children;
2) send their children to a pre-school institution or a school of general education
assigned according to the parents’ place of residence or another pre-school institution or
school of general education of their choice;
3) participate in the self-governance of educational institutions;
4) obtain from the educational institution the information concerning their
children’s progress, conduct, also the conditions of study.
Article 24. Duties of Parents (or Guardians of the Child)
Parents (or guardians, foster parents) must:
1) provide conditions for life and study for their children guaranteeing a sound and
secure development of their mental and physical abilities as well as their moral
improvement, be responsible for the education and development of their children;
2) send their children from the age of 6 or 7 to schools of general education if they
have achieved an adequate level of physical and mental development. Upon submitting
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documents confirming the adequate level of the child’s mental-physical development,
parents may send to school a child who has not reached the age of 6 on the day of start of
the school year or may not send to school a child who has already reached the age of 7;
3) co-operate with educational institutions in solving the questions concerning
education of children and pupils, ensure that children attend a school of general education
or any other school of the formal education system until the age of 16.
Article 25. The Right to Work in the Teaching Profession
1. Persons who have higher or college pedagogical education, also persons with
non-pedagogical higher or college education and having teaching qualifications
established by the state shall have the right to work in the teaching profession at an
educational institution of an appropriate type (level).
2. Persons who have only vocational education shall also have the right to teach a
vocational course at vocational educational institutions. Those persons must get teaching
qualifications in the manner prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science.
3. Heads of public or municipal educational institutions shall be selected by open
competition for a period of five years. The Ministry of Education and Science shall
establish qualification requirements for candidates and the manner of organising of open
competition. The open competition commission shall be formed upon co-ordinating its
composition with the county governor.
Article 26. Teacher Certification
1. Teachers, heads and inspectors of educational institutions, shall be provided
conditions for in-service training and to undergo certification.
2. Teachers, heads of educational institutions must undergo certification:
1) if they have not acquired the qualifications category;
2) if the qualifications category of the teacher who has undergone certification does
not correspond to his speciality;
3) if the founder or the institution which supervises an educational institution
establishes that the practice of the head or teacher does not satisfy the requirements for the
possessed qualifications category.
3. Teachers, heads of educational institutions who desire to acquire a higher
qualifications category than that possessed, shall undergo certification upon their own
request.
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4. The requirements for qualifications categories and the manner of certification of
teachers, heads and inspectors of educational institutions shall be set forth in the
certification regulations approved by the Government upon the recommendation of the
Ministry of Education and Science.
Article 27. Teachers’ Rights
Teachers shall have the right to:
1) freely chose the manner and forms of organising the teaching activities;
2) improve their qualifications and receive an appropriate remuneration;
3) adequate work conditions;
4) annual extended holidays;
5) take part in the self-governance of educational institutions;
6) join trade unions and other public organisations;
7) get a paid leave of up to one year for writing textbooks.
Article 28. Teachers’ Duties
Teachers must:
1) foster firm moral and civic standards and of their students, and guarantee a safe
and sound development of their personality;
2) ensure that the pupils fully master the curricula;
3) adhere to the principles of pedagogical ethics;
4) participate in extracurricular activities which help to meet the pupils’ needs for
self-expression and self-education and further develop the cultural interests of the pupils;
5) improve their qualifications, in a prescribed manner undergo certification,
acquire the qualifications category;
6) co-operate with parents of the students (or guardians of the child) in taking
decisions related to children’s teaching and education.
Article 29. The Responsibility of Pupils, Parents (or Guardians of the Child)
and Teachers
1. Pupils who do not perform their duties shall be disciplined in accordance with
the manner set forth in the regulations of the educational institution.
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2. Parents (or guardians of the child) and teachers who do not perform their duties,
who cause physical, psychological, or moral harm to the pupils, shall be liable in
accordance with the procedures established by law.
THIRD CHAPTER
THE ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL
PROCESS
Article 30. The Organisation of the Educational Process
1. Educational institutions of the Republic of Lithuania shall function according to
teaching plans and the general curriculum framework approved or co-ordinated in the
prescribed manner by the Ministry of Education and Science. The contents and methods of
teaching must be in accordance with the tasks of the educational institution and the needs
of society. The contents of teaching of separate types and levels of schools shall be co-
ordinated among the schools.
2. It shall be prohibited to propagate racial, national, religious, social hatred and
superiority, to spread militaristic and other ideas which are against the universally
accepted principles of international law and humanism.
3. The curricula of educational institutions of ethnic minorities may be
supplemented by the elements of ethnic culture.
4. At secondary schools of general education, in addition to Lithuanian, other
languages shall be taught depending on the preference of the parents and the facilities
available at the school.
Article 31. The Beginning of the School Year
The school year in schools of general education shall begin on the 1st of
September.
Article 32. Regulations of the Activities of Educational Institutions
1. The activities of public and municipal educational institutions shall be governed
by the regulations pertaining to the activities of an institution approved by their self-
government institutions and endorsed by the founder. The said regulations must not be in
contravention of this Law and other laws or the uniform regulations of the activities of
educational institutions of the appropriate type.
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2. The regulations of the activities of public or municipal educational institutions
which are established together with the religious communities recognised by the State as
traditional, shall be approved by both founders. The said regulations must not be in
contravention of this Law and other laws. The regulations of these educational institutions
shall provide that:
1) heads of educational institutions are appointed and dismissed by appropriate
public or municipal institutions on the recommendation of the religious community;
2) the religious community sets the requirements for fostering a view of life and
the requirements for the educational institution staff related with this;
3) both founders (within their competence) organise the certification of heads and
teachers.
3. The regulations of activities of non-public educational institutions shall be co-
ordinated in the manner prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Article 33. Certification of Graduation from Educational Institutions
1. Individuals who have graduated from public or municipal educational
institutions or separate levels of such institutions shall be issued a document, as
established by the Ministry of Education and Science, which will certify education they
received.
2. Individuals who have graduated from non-public educational institutions shall be
issued an analogous certificate if the education provided by these institutions is in
accordance with the state standard. School graduation documents (maturity certificates,
diplomas, etc.) shall be issued in the manner established by the Ministry of Education and
Science.
Article 34. Supervision of Activities of Educational Institutions
1. The activities of educational institutions shall be supervised by the State.
2. The activities of educational institutions shall be organised and supervised by
their founders in a manner prescribed by the uniform regulations of supervision of
educational institutions.
3. Implementation of the general policy of education shall be supervised by the
Ministry of Education and Science and county governors in accordance with the
regulations approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.
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4. When the education inspectorate of the county governor’s administration
establishes that a local authority does not carry out the educational functions ascribed by
law, that it does not ensure necessary conditions for the activities of a subordinate
educational institution, the county governor shall write a proposal to the Government
representative in the county regarding the transfer of the functions of the founder of an
educational institution to the county governor’s administration. The Government shall
adopt a resolution concerning the transfer of the functions of the founder of an educational
institution to the county.
5. Institutions supervising the activities of educational institutions shall, in the
manner established by the Ministry of Education and Science, report to the public and
public authorities about the state of education in Lithuania and its separate regions, the
quality of education provided by the educational institutions.
6. Persons specified in the regulations of the State Inspectorate of Education, the
uniform regulations of the supervision of educational institutions, the regulations of the
certification of teachers and heads, and the regulations of the activities of an educational
institution shall have the right to observe the work of a teacher. Other persons may
observe a teacher’s work only subject to the teacher’s consent.
Article 35. The Powers of the Ministry of Education and Science in the Sphere
of Education
The Ministry of Education and Science:
1) shall establish, reorganise and close down educational institutions which are
subordinate to it, shall appoint and dismiss heads of such institutions, together with the
Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and other
Government institutions shall ensure that all children under 16 attend a school of general
education or some other school in the formal education system;
2) shall approve in writing the establishment, reorganisation and closing down of
both public and non-public educational institutions (except institutions of informal
education) which are not under its control, as well as the establishment, reorganisation and
closing down of municipal educational institutions which provide primary, basic and
secondary education;
3) shall set qualification requirements for the heads of educational institutions of
all types, shall approve the procedure of organising of open competition for the position of
the head;
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4) shall approve, in writing, the establishment, reorganisation and closure of an
educational department at the county governor’s administration;
5) shall co-ordinate the activities of educational departments of the administrations
of county governors and local authorities, set qualifications requirements for the heads,
inspectors and specialists of the said departments, prepare and submit to the Government
for approval regulations of open competition for such position;
6) shall be concerned with the training of teachers, the improvement of their
qualifications, as well as re-qualification, shall organise certification of teachers, heads of
educational institutions and education inspectors of the administrations of county
governors;
7) shall approve the uniform regulations of supervision of educational institutions
and the regulations of the State Education Inspectorate;
8) shall establish the requirements of the uniform regulations of the activities of
educational institutions of various types, shall approve the regulations of the activities of
subordinate educational institutions;
9) shall submit conclusions concerning the registration of regulations of children
and youth organisations to the state institutions which register public organisations;
10) shall approve the uniform contents of teaching (curricula, uniform syllabi,
textbooks) for public and municipal educational institutions;
11) shall organise the preparation, production and publication of curricula, syllabi,
textbooks, various educational aids and literature;
12) shall establish the state standards of the various levels of education together
with the representatives of employers and employees;
13) shall approve, from the point of view of pedagogical functionalism, the designs
of public educational institutions which are planned to be constructed;
14) shall recognise graduation documents (certificates, diplomas) of basic,
secondary, vocational and college education obtained abroad;
15) shall establish the general principles of financing of educational institutions;
16) shall finance state syllabi;
17) shall establish teachers’ educational standards;
18) shall set forth and submit to the Government proposals regarding how many
and in what fields the institutions of higher education should train teachers;
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19) shall organise the final examinations in principal subjects of general secondary
education, shall form the commissions for developing examination tasks, for supervising
the examinations and for marking the examination papers;
20) shall organise registration of educational institutions, syllabi, certificates of
education, and permissions in the manner prescribed by the Government or an institution
authorised by it.
Article 36. The Competence of Other Ministries and Government Institutions
in the Field of Education
Other ministries and government institutions:
1) shall, upon a written consent of the Ministry of Education and Science,
establish, reorganise, and close down subordinate educational institutions, and shall
appoint and dismiss their heads;
2) shall approve the regulations of the activities of subordinate educational
institutions, which are prepared in accordance with the requirements, approved by the
Ministry of Education and Science, of the uniform regulations of the activities of
educational institutions of an appropriate type;
3) shall, upon having co-ordinated with the Ministry of Education and Science,
approve curricula, syllabi and textbooks of subordinate educational institutions, and shall
organise their development and publishing;
4) shall take part in establishing the standards of education provided by subordinate
vocational schools and institutions of college education;
5) shall be concerned with the training of teachers of special subjects, the
improvement of their qualifications, and shall organise their certification.
Article 37. The Competence of County Governor in the Field of Education
The county governor:
1) shall, upon a written consent of the Ministry of Education and Science,
establish, reorganise, and close down subordinate educational institutions, appoint and
dismiss their heads;
2) shall approve in writing the establishment, reorganisation and closing down of
county non-public and municipal institutions of pre-school education, additional training
and informal education of adults;
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3) shall, upon a written consent of the Ministry of Education and Science,
establish, reorganise and close down educational departments of the county governor’s
administration. He shall, in accordance with the open competition procedure which is
approved by the Government at the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Science,
appoint heads of educational departments of the county administration;
4) shall ensure the functioning and maintenance of subordinate educational
institutions;
5) shall organise and supervise the activities of subordinate educational institutions,
approve the regulations of their activities;
6) shall supervise the implementation of general educational policy in the public,
municipal and non-public educational institutions which are located in the territory of the
county;
7) shall supervise the handling of registration of the school-age children by local
authorities and secure that all the children under 16 years of age living in the territory of
the county attend schools of general education or other schools in the formal education
system, shall take care of the protection of children’s rights;
8) shall provide facilities for heads and teachers of county public educational
institutions to improve their qualifications, shall organise their certification in the manner
prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science;
9) shall register educational institutions in the manner prescribed by the
Government or an institution authorised by it;
10) shall initiate the establishment of the county council of education and other
institutions of the local government in the county;
11) shall furnish information about the state and problems of education in the
county to the Ministry of Education and Science in the manner prescribed by it;
12) shall, in the cases specified in paragraph 4 of Article 34 of this Law, write a
proposal to a Government representative in the county concerning the transfer of the
functions of the founder of an educational institution to the county governor’s
administration.
Article 38. The Competence of the Local Authority in the Field of Education
The local authority:
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1) shall, in accordance with the open competition procedure approved by the
Government at the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Science, appoint heads of
educational departments of local authority administrations;
2) shall, upon a written consent of the county governor, establish, reorganise and
close down pre-school educational institutions, institutions of additional education and
adult informal educational institutions. It shall appoint and dismiss their heads;
3) shall, upon a written consent of the Ministry of Education and Science,
establish, reorganise and close down the primary, basic and secondary schools of general
education of all types. It shall appoint and dismiss their heads;
4) shall, in the manner established by the Government or an institution authorised
by it, approve in writing the establishment, reorganisation and closure of the non-public
educational institutions located in the territory of the municipality, the types whereof are
listed in subparagraph 2 of this Article;
5) shall organise and supervise the activities of subordinate educational institutions,
and shall approve their regulations;
6) shall ensure the implementation of the laws, decrees of the Government,
legislative acts of the Ministry of Education and Science and of other competent
institutions at the subordinate educational institutions;
7) shall ensure the functioning and maintenance of the subordinate educational
institutions;
8) shall manage an accurate registration of children of school age, compile their
lists and ensure that all the children under 16 living residing in the territory of the
municipality, attend the school of general education or some other school in the formal
education system, and shall take care of the protection of children’s rights;
9) shall organise free transport to and from school for pupils of rural schools of
general education living at a greater distance from the school;
10) shall provide facilities for heads and teachers of subordinate educational
institutions to improve their qualifications, and shall organise their certification in the
manner prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science;
11) shall provide, in the manner prescribed by the Ministry of Education and
Science, information to the county governor, the public and the Ministry of Education and
Science about the condition and problems of education.
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Article 39. The Lithuanian Council for Education
1. The Lithuanian Council for Education is an institution performing the functions
of an expert and consultant on the strategic issues of the development of education of the
Republic of Lithuania.
2. The Lithuanian Council for Education shall be formed and shall function in
accordance with the regulations approved by the Government with the approval of the
Seimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture.
Article 40. Self-Governance of Educational Institutions
1. Every educational institution must have institutions of self-governance - the
educational institution council and the teachers’ council; other self-governance institutions
may also function.
2. Self-governance institutions:
1) shall approve the regulations of activities of the educational institution;
2) shall establish main prospects of the activities of the educational institution;
3) shall supervise the financial-economic activities of the educational institution.
3. Within their competence, the bodies of self-governance shall have the right to
get information from the administration about the activities of the educational institution.
4. The competence of the bodies of self-governance of educational institutions
shall be defined in the uniform regulations of the activities of educational institutions of an
appropriate type (level).
Article 41. The Financing of Educational Institutions
1. Public and municipal educational institutions, non-public educational institutions
of traditional religious communities providing general education up to the State standard
as well as public and municipal educational institutions established in conjunction with a
traditional religious community recognised by the State shall be financed and maintained
from the State and municipal budgets. Such institutions may receive financing from the
Lithuanian Fund for Education, funds for education of counties, towns and regions, and in
other ways provided for by laws.
2. The amount of foreign capital in joint educational institutions with foreign
countries shall be specified in the permission issued by the Ministry of Education and
Science to establish such an institution.
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3. Non-public educational institutions, except educational institutions of traditional
religious communities providing general education up to the State standard, shall be
maintained by their founders. For financing the programmes of non-public educational
institutions providing education in accordance with the state standards, allocations from
the budget shall be made, in the manner established by the Government or an institution
authorised by it, in the same amount as to public or municipal educational institutions of
the corresponding type (level). The amount of funds shall be established with account of
the expenditure set for one child, pupil of public or municipal educational institutions of
the corresponding type (level).
Article 42. Education Funds
1. The sources of formation of the Lithuanian Fund for Education, county,
municipal funds for education, as well as funds of educational institutions shall be:
1) voluntary donations of individuals, organisations or enterprises;
2) income from the activities of the fund;
3) funds and material values donated by organisations and citizens of foreign
states, as well as by international organisations.
2. The framework regulations of the Lithuanian Fund for Education, as well as of
county, town (region) funds for education, and funds of educational institutions shall be
approved by the Government.
FOURTH CHAPTER
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Article 43. The Right of Lithuanian Residents to Study Abroad
1. Residents of Lithuania shall have the right to study in foreign countries. This
right shall be exercised on the initiative of an individual or through interstate agreements.
2. Lithuanian educational institutions in foreign countries shall be organised and
financial and material assistance shall be provided to them in the manner prescribed by
interstate agreements.
Article 44. Teaching Activities and Studying of Foreign Citizens and Persons
without Citizenship in the Republic of Lithuania
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Foreign citizens or persons without citizenship shall have the right to teach and
study in the Republic of Lithuania. Conditions for their work and study at the educational
institutions of Lithuania shall be provided by appropriate legislative acts and international
agreements of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 45. International Agreements
If international agreements prescribe rules other than those provided by this Law,
the provisions of the international agreements shall be applicable.”
I promulgate this Law enacted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC VALDAS ADAMKUS