Education and Culture in Lithuania
(edition 2023)
General education
Photo by Stanley Morales
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). |
Number of general schools and students in them
Beginning of the academic year
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
Beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
General school graduates
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
In 2022, by sex
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
Percentage of youth aged 18–24 without medium level of education and not studying
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
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. |
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators about teachers and pedagogical workers
General school teachers
Beginning of the academic year
By place of permanent residence
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
By age
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
By age and living area, beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
By sex, beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
There was no significant change in the number of subject teachers. |
Number of subject teachers in general schools
|
2018–2019 |
2019–2020 |
2020–2021 |
2021–2022 |
2022–2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
× – indicator is not calculated in such expression
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
Teachers’ earnings (in the public sector)
Data of the last quarter of the year
____________________
¹ Individual enterprises excluded.
The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators
More indicators on general education:
Students with special educational needs in general schools and in special schools
General school students by class
Proportion of general school pupils studying foreign languages
Pedagogic staff of general schools (excluding teachers and directors)
For further terms, see the Dictionary of Statistical Terms.