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