Education in Lithuania

The first documented school in Lithuania was established in 1387 at Vilnius Cathedral. The school network was influenced by the Christianization of Lithuania. Several types of schools were present in medieval Lithuania – cathedral schools, where pupils were prepared for priesthood; parish schools, offering elementary education; and home schools dedicated to educating the children of the Lithuanian nobility. Before Vilnius University was established in 1579, Lithuanians seeking higher education attended universities in foreign cities, including Kraków, Prague, and Leipzig, among others. During the Interbellum a national university – Vytautas Magnus University was founded in Kaunas.

Education is free of charge and compulsory from the age of 6 or 7 to 16 years (covering "primary" and "basic" education), as stated in the national Law on Education. In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 98 percent. Primary school attendance rates were unavailable for Lithuania as of 2001. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school.

Pre-tertiary education is organised in four main cycles: Pre-school education (until age 5 or 6), pre-primary education (1 year, between ages 5 to 7), primary education (4 years, between ages 6 to 11), basic education (6 years, between ages 10 to 17, ends on a "basic education certificate"), upper secondary education (two years, between ages 16 to 19). Upper secondary education ends on the "matura" examination, opening gates to tertiary education. Vocational and technical education starts at the fifth year of basic education (age 14-15). Its structure is similar to comprehensive education: The program lasts two to three years before the "basic education certificate". Students can then pursue into vocational upper secondary education, that also leads, after two or three years, to a "matura" examination. However, in order to reach tertiary education (university or college), vocational students have to follow an extra "post-secondary" education program of 2 years.

Tertiary education can be divided into universities and colleges. Universities offer an academic education leading to international Bachelor-Master-PhD degrees (Lithuania has implemented the Bologna process in 2006). Colleges offer vocational Education. Since 2006, they can award professional bachelor's degrees.

The school year in Lithuania usually starts on the first of September, including in tertiary education.

According to the Law on Education, children who have reached seven years of age must go to the 1st form. If parents wish so and if the child is sufficiently mature to study under the primary education programme, they can start attending school from six years of age. The duration of the primary education programme is four years. Compulsory primary education can be obtained in kindergartens / schools, in primary schools and, which is less common, in basic or secondary schools.

Parents and children can also choose non-traditional education schools or individual classes/groups in municipal schools. Montessori, Waldorf, Suzuki pedagogical systems can be chosen in Lithuania.

Achievements and progress of 1–4 form pupils is not assessed with marks. Assessment is based on the idiographic principle, i.e. individual child's progress made with regard to their personality is assessed and a criteria-referenced assessment is applied. Pupils are provided with assessment information orally or in form of a short description of their particular achievements. In the end of the trimester, semester or academic year, a summarised assessment is carried out by indicating the educational level achieved (satisfactory, basic, higher).