General education is carried out in accordance with the programmes of primary, general lower secondary and general upper secondary education. In pursuance of the Law on Education of the Republic of Lithuania, education in the first grade starts at the age of 7 or earlier if a child reaches this age in the calendar year. Four-year primary education is provided by general education schools and other types of schools or education providers. Primary education is attained upon the completion of a primary education programme. Primary education is followed by the basic one. A six-year basic educational programme can be carried out by gymnasiums, basic and other schools. Upon the completion of a basic education programme, basic education is attained. Basic education of a school student is followed by secondary education. A two-year secondary education programme can be carried out by gymnasiums, secondary schools and other schools. Upon the completion of a secondary education programme, the general certificate of secondary education is awarded, enabling to pursue higher education. The purpose of education of learners with special educational needs shall be to help a learner learn and to be trained according to his abilities, attain an education level and acquire a qualification. Students with considerable and major special educational needs may study in general education schools (classes) designated for students with special educational needs until 21 years of age.

At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, there were 910 general schools operating in the country. In autumn 2022, the number of first-graders stood at 31 thousand, which is by 2.1 thousand (7per cent) less than in 2021. The number of students studying under the general education programmes totalled 344.6 thousand. Almost half of all students (51.6 per cent) studied under the general lower secondary education programmes, 121.5 thousand (35.3 per cent) – primary education programmes, 68.5 thousand (19.9 per cent) – general upper secondary education programmes. In 2022, lower secondary education certificates were received by 25.2 thousand students (in 2021, 24.8 thousand), general certificates of secondary education were awarded to 20.1 thousand students (in 2021, 19.9 thousand). More than two thirds of school-leavers (72.3 per cent) in the same year continued education in other educational institutions: 38.5 per cent – at universities, 21.4 per cent – in colleges, 12.3 per cent – in vocational schools.

At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, there were 45,500 students with special educational needs studying in general education schools. They accounted for 13 per cent of all students in general education schools. 40 thousand students with special educational needs (89 per cent of all students with special educational needs) studied together with all students in general classes, 1.5 thousand (3.2 per cent) – in special and educational classes. Special schools and special education centers educate students with high and very high special educational needs. At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, there were 42 such schools having 3.5 thousand students (7.8 per cent of all students with special educational needs). In 2022, 93.5 per cent of the youth aged 20–24 had at least upper secondary education (in 2021, 91.8 per cent). In 2022, upper secondary education in general schools was received by 20.1 thousand school-leavers, in vocational education institutions – by 2.3 thousand (in 2021, 19.9 and 3.5 thousand respectively).

At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, there were 27.3 thousand teachers and heads of schools working in general schools, which is by 10 persons less than in the academic year 2021–2022; 27.3 thousand (97.3 per cent) of them had higher education. Among teachers, women accounted for 88.3 per cent. More than a third (36.5 per cent) of teachers and heads of schools were aged 50–59, almost a quarter (23.9 per cent) – aged 60 and older. The average age of a teacher – 50.9 years (in 2017, 49.7).

Special and pedagogical assistance to students was provided by 885 social workers, 487 speech therapists, 481 special pedagogues, 546 psychologists, 16 deaf pedagogues and 5 deaf pedagogues.

There was no significant change in the number of subject teachers.

Total

21,164

20,705

20,030

19,343

18,971

Mother tongue (Lithuanian)

2,770

2,717

2,681

2,684

2,607

Mother tongue (not Lithuanian)

243

245

237

243

232

National (Lithuanian) language

x

x

x

x

x

History and political science

1,202

1,191

1,138

1,109

1,072

English language

2,898

2,869

2,823

2,798

2,796

French language

107

108

104

97

103

German language

299

276

269

250

239

Russian language

947

926

860

826

749

Other languages

9

12

21

23

34

Mathematics

2,197

2,176

2,094

2,052

2,009

Information technologies

778

751

742

709

713

Natural sciences

105

110

159

153

162

Geography

722

693

675

660

657

Biology

793

764

700

675

669

Economy

66

69

72

67

77

Physics and astronomy

639

637

585

555

548

Chemistry

508

490

437

422

409

Arts

609

591

532

542

528

Music

1,124

1,066

1,015

810

809

Theatre

34

37

38

38

36

Dance

252

257

253

258

256

Technologies

1,152

1,130

1,109

1,066

1,040

Physical education

1,392

1,378

1,361

1,343

1,334

Religion

615

593

569

542

526

Ethics

378

387

354

355

341

Basics of civil society

25

25

30

26

26

Civil security

112

97

104

86

81

Special subjects

439

407

414

322

174

Other subjects

749

703

654

632

744