10)carry out the performance review of principals, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions of schools in which the Ministry exercises in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts the rights and duties of the State as the owner or stakeholder ;
\n
11)to organise the performance review of teachers, educational assistance specialists in schools in which the Ministry exercises in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts the rights and duties of the State as the owner or stakeholder;
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12)to approve criteria for pre-school education curricula, a general pre-primary education curriculum, general education, teaching content of formal education (descriptions of primary, basic, secondary curricula, teaching plans) approved by the Minister of Education and Science; criteria for accreditation of secondary education curricula and the description of implementation of the procedure thereof; general criteria for non-formal education programmes of the teaching supplementing the formal education, funded from state or municipal budgets, approved by the Minister of Education and Science;‑{}‑
\n
13)to approve the description of the procedure of consecutive learning in accordance with general education curricula, the description of the procedure of pre-school education;
\n
14)to approve the regulations of in-service training and performance review and performance evaluation every five years of principals, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions of state (except higher education institutions) and municipal schools, the regulations of in-service training and performance review of teachers, specialists providing assistance to learners, the regulation for training of pedagogues;
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15)to take care of teaching of the Lithuanian language and teaching in the Lithuanian language in foreign countries; to analyse whether the use of state budget allocations to education is appropriate, to report to the public on the general state of education in the country and perform other functions prescribed by the laws and the Government.
\n
16)to appropriate by tender budget allocations for establishments, enterprises and organisations carrying out education, research, culture and sports programmes, projects.
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Article 57Powers of ministries, state institutions accountable to the Seimas and government agencies in the field of education management
\n
1.Ministries and government agencies shall:
\n
1)participate in working groups for the drafting of documents that regulate educational policy and schools' activities, submit proposals to the Ministry of Education and Science concerning draft legal acts;
\n
2)together with the Minister of Education and Science issue education-related legal acts;
\n
3)carry out according to the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science the performance review of principals, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions of schools in which they exercise the rights and duties of the owner or stakeholder in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts;
\n
4)to organise in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science the performance review of teachers, specialists in educational assistance at schools in which they exercise in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts the rights and duties of the State as the owner or stakeholder;
\n
2.The Government shall establish particular competences and responsibilities in education management issues of ministries and government agencies.
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3.State institutions accountable to the Seimas shall, in accordance with their competence, submit conclusions and proposals to the Seimas and the Government concerning draft laws and other legal acts in the area of education.
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Article 58Powers of municipal institutions in the area of education management
\n
1.A representative institution of the municipality shall:
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1)implement the state education policy, set out long-term objectives of education development as well as measures for the achievement thereof;
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2)found, reorganise and liquidate education subdivisions of the municipal administration;
\n
3)develop a network of schools carrying out pre-school, pre-primary, primary, basic and secondary education curricula, children's and adults' non-formal education programmes; create conditions for the implementation of compulsory education of children. It shall initiate that a network of vocational training and adult education providers, which meets residents’ needs, would be developed, and shall independently develop a network of non-formal education providers.
\n
2.An executive institution of the municipality shall:
\n
1)analyse the state of education, ensure the fulfilment of the state education policy;
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2)organise pre-school education, pre-primary education, general education, vocational training and vocational guidance, other children’s non-formal education, non-formal adult education;
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3)organise and coordinate the provision of educational assistance to learners, teachers, family, schools, the implementation of minimum supervision measures of a child;
\n
4)in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, appoint heads and specialists of education subdivisions of the municipal administration;
\n
5)in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, execute performance review of principals, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions;
\n
6)organise performance review of teachers, specialists in educational assistance in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science;
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7)in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government, organises and keep an accounting of children living within the municipality; ensure that all children study according to compulsory education programmes;
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8)organise testing of learning achievements of learners attending schools located within the municipality;
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9)in accordance with the procedure laid down by laws, be responsible that every learner residing within its territory would be transported to and from school, organise free-of-charge transportation of learners to schools in compliance with paragraph 1 and 2 of Article 36 of this Law;
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10)provide information to the Ministry of Education and Science and the public about the state of education in the municipality.
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Article 59Appointment and powers of the head of an educational institution
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1.The institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (the meeting of the participants) or a person authorised by him shall approve the job description of the head of a state educational institution (except higher education institutions), appoint the head to the office by competition, as well as dismiss him.
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2.The job description of the head of a municipal educational institution shall be approved, the head shall be appointed to the office by competition and shall be dismissed from the office in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts.
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3.Qualification requirements for heads of state and municipal educational institutions (except higher education institutions) and the procedure of a competition for the holding of the office of the head of such institution shall be laid down by the Minister of Education and Science.
\n
4.Heads of non-state educational institutions shall be appointed to the office and dismissed from it in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law.
\n
5.The head of an educational institution shall:
\n
1)direct the drafting of a strategic plan and annual action plans of the educational institution, as well as education programmes, confirm them and direct their implementation;
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2)appoint and dismiss teachers, other persons involved in the education process and service personnel, confirm their job descriptions in accordance with the prescribed procedure;
\n
3)be responsible for making public the information specified in Article 26 of this Law, for the democratic management of the educational institution; ensure relations based on co-operation, the observance of the norms of teacher's ethics, transparency in decision-making, the provision of information to community members, in-service training for the teaching and non-teaching staff, a sound and safe environment that prevents any manifestation of violence or intimidation, as well as the formation of hazardous habits;
\n
4)analyse the state of operational and management resources of the educational institution and be responsible for results of the educational institution;
\n
5)perform other functions set out in the statutes of the school and the job description of the head of the educational institution;
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6)together with the school council, decide whether or not to permit to install mobile communication stations on the school buildings or within the school territory in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law;
\n
7)impose on a learner the disciplinary reformative sanctions, set out in the Law on Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child, for violations of the learner’s conduct norms;
\n
8)in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Law on Minimum and Moderate Supervision of a Child, address the director of the municipal administration regarding the assignment of minimum and moderate supervision measures to a child.
\n
6.The appointment to the office of the head of a higher education institution, his powers and responsibility shall be set forth in the Law on Higher Education and Research.
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Article 60Self-governance of a school
\n
1.The self-governance of a school shall be founded upon education goals, the education programmes implemented in the school and the traditions existing in that school.
\n
2.Self-governance bodies of the school shall collegially discuss issues of school activity and funding and, within the scope of their competence as defined in the statutes of the school, adopt decisions, influence decisions of the principal, perform public supervision of the school's management. The variety and competence of self-governance bodies of the school as well as the principles of their establishment shall be legalized by the statutes of the school.
\n
3.The school council shall be the school's highest self-governance body, representing the learners, the teachers, the parents (guardians, curators) and the local community. The school council shall account for its activity to the members of the school community who have elected the school council.
\n
4.Other school self-governance bodies (teachers’, learners’, parents' (guardians', curators’)) may also function at school.
\n
5.Specific features of self-governance of higher education institutions shall be set out by the Law on Higher Education and Research.
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Article 61Municipal education self-governance bodies
\n
1.Municipal education councils and councils of particular education areas may be set up in order to promote participation of the municipal population in the formation of a municipal education policy and to impact the implementation of this policy.
\n
2.Learners, teachers, parents (guardians, curators), social partners, education providers and/or their associations shall be represented in the municipal education council.
\n
3.The municipal council shall approve regulations of the municipal education council.
\n
4.The municipal education council shall analyse implementation of the overall education policy, approve long-term goals of the education development and draw the public into their implementation.
\n
Article 62State education self-governance bodies
\n
The following state education self-governance bodies shall promote the participation of the public in the formation of an education policy and decision-making on matters of education:
\n
1)the Lithuanian Education Council shall act as an expert body and provides consultations on strategic issues of education development in Lithuania. Regulations of the Lithuanian Education Council shall be confirmed by the Seimas;
\n
2)the General Education Council shall initiate and approve projects concerning the change of pre-school, pre-primary, primary, basic, secondary education curricula, qualification and professional development of teachers, provision of schools. Its regulations shall be approved by the Minister of Education and Science;
\n
3)the Lithuanian Vocational Training Council shall advise on strategic issues of vocational training. Regulations of the Lithuanian Vocational Training Council shall be approved by the Government.
\n
4)the Lithuanian Non-formal Adult Education Council shall consider the main prospects for development of non-formal education in Lithuania, carry out the analysis of projects for the development of the system of non-formal adult education. Regulations of the Lithuanian Non-formal Adult Education Council shall be approved by the Government;
\n
5)the Council of Higher Education shall be an advisory body for the Ministry of Education and Science in strategic matters of higher education development. Regulations of the Council of Higher Education shall be approved by the Government.
\n
Article 63Participation of school community members in education management
\n
1.Members of the school community may participate in education management, and unite into associations, organisations and alliances of various interest groups (learners, students, teachers, parents (guardians, curators), schools, education management level heads) that fulfil tasks and functions for education, culture, scientific research development as set out by their members and provided for in their statutes.
\n
2.In compliance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Associations, teachers' associations, societies and alliances shall participate in the forming of subject content they teach, in resolving issues of teachers' in-service training.
\n
3.Entities of education management shall provide informational, consulting and methodological assistance to the organisations and associations specified in paragraph 1 of this Article for the fulfilment of their functions, and may invite them to provide consultations and act in the capacity of experts.
\n
4.Activities of trade unions at schools shall be defined by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Trade Unions.
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Article 64Education supervision
\n
1.The purpose of education supervision shall be to observe the accessibility and quality of education as well as to promote education improvement, to provide consultations and to evaluate activities.
\n
2.Education supervision shall comprise the monitoring of the accessibility and quality of education, provision of consultation to education providers, assistance institutions and education management entities, execution of preventive measures, external evaluation, imposition of sanctions, promotion of education improvement and other measures provided for by the law.
\n
3.The Ministry of Education and Science shall exercise the state supervision of activities of education providers.
\n
4.Supervision of school activities shall be exercised by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (a state school – a budgetary institution), the municipal executive institution (a municipal school – a budgetary institution), the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (the meeting of the participants) (a state and a municipal school – a public establishment), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools), by engaging external evaluators where necessary.
\n
5.Supervision of the quality of higher education studies shall be exercised in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on Higher Education and Research.
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CHAPTER SEVEN EDUCATION FUNDING
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Article 65Sources of education funding
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Education shall be funded from the following sources:
\n
1)appropriations from the state budget and municipal budgets;
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2)other funds.
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Article 66Investments in education development
\n
1.At national level, investment funds for the development of education (construction, renovation, human resource development, etc.) shall be allocated according to programmes set forth in Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Approval of Financial Indicators of the State Budget and Municipal Budgets for the respective year. The Ministry of Education and Science shall draft one-year and long-term education investment programmes based on the National Education Strategy and the Government Programme.
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2.At municipal level, investment funds for education development shall be allocated according to programmes set in budgets approved by municipal councils. Municipal investment programmes shall be drafted taking into account state investment programmes and on the basis of strategic education plans.
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3.State funds for capital investments shall be allocated to municipalities taking into account the efficiency of the reconstruction of the network of schools and other criteria guaranteeing the quality of education.
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Article 67Funding of education programmes and schools
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1.The principle of setting an amount for teaching funds for one student shall be applied when allocating funds from state and municipal budgets of the Republic of Lithuania for the respective year for the financing of formal education programmes at state, municipal and non-state schools (except higher education institutions) and for children’s non-formal education programmes. Teaching funds allocated from state budget funds shall be calculated and distributed pursuant to the methodologies approved by the Government.
\n
2.Teaching funds for municipal and non-state schools to finance pre-primary, primary, basic, secondary education curricula and the modules of these programmes, supplementing formal education programmes and answering to the learners’ self-expression needs, provided at schools of children’s non-formal education shall be allocated from state budget’s special targeted appropriations for municipal budgets, as approved by the Law on the Approval of Financial Indicators of the State Budget and Municipal Budgets for the respective year; teaching funds for state schools shall be allocated from appropriations provided for in the state budget.
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3.School maintenance funds shall be allocated to state and municipal schools (except schools specified in subparagraph 1 of paragraph 4 of this Article) by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (the meeting of the participants) in its own prescribed manner.
\n
4.Maintenance funds shall be allocated to schools (except to higher education institutions):
\n
Version of subparagraph 1 until 31 December 2013:
\n
1)to municipal schools (classes) designated for learners with special educational needs in the country (region), where such schools correspond to the purpose and criteria set out in the Rules for the Development of the Network of Schools Implementing the Formal Education Programmes, shall be allocated from special targeted appropriations of the respective year’s state budget of the Republic of Lithuania for municipal budgets pursuant to the Government-approved methodologies and from municipal budget appropriations;
\n
Version of subparagraph 1 as of 1 January 2014:
\n
1)to municipal schools (classes or groups) designated for learners with special educational needs in the country (region), where such schools correspond to the purpose and criteria set out in the Rules for the Development of the Network of Schools Implementing the Formal Education Programmes, as well as to municipal schools (classes or groups) designated for learners with special educational needs in the country (region), where such schools implement a pre-school curriculum and a pre-primary education curriculum, shall be allocated from special targeted appropriations of the respective year’s state budget of the Republic of Lithuania for municipal budgets pursuant to the Government-approved methodologies and from municipal budget appropriations;
\n
2)to non-state schools carrying out general education curricula (except schools referred to in paragraph 10 of this Article) – from the funds of the owner (the meeting of the participants) and other funds specified in the statutes of the school.
\n
5.In schools whose legal form - a budgetary institution, children's non-formal education programmes (except pre-primary education curricula) shall be funded in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts of the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner of the school, learners (their parents (guardians, curators) and sponsors; in other schools such programmes shall be funded in accordance with the procedure laid down by the statutes of the school. Funds from state and municipal budgets may be appropriated to state and municipal schools whose legal form – a budgetary institution, for the carrying-out of children's non-formal education programmes (except pre-primary education curricula).
\n
6.Non-formal adult education schools, assistance institutions whose legal form - a budgetary institution shall be financed in accordance with the procedure laid down by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner, another non-formal adult education school; assistance institutions shall be financed in accordance with the procedure laid down in their statutes. Funds from state and municipal budgets may be appropriated to state and municipal non-formal adult education schools, assistance institutions whose legal form – a public establishment.
\n
7.Vocational education and training shall be financed in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Law on Vocational Education.
\n
8.Higher education institutions shall be financed in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on Higher Education and Research.
\n
9.Pre-school education and children's non-formal education schools, non-formal education programmes shall be, in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, allocated funds from state and municipal budgets; funds may also be allocated in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government from special targeted appropriations of the respective year’s state budget of the Republic of Lithuania for municipal budgets.
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10.Non-state schools of traditional religious communities and associations implementing formal education programmes shall be financed in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government or an institution authorised by it, by allocating from the budget the teaching funds and school maintenance funds of the same amount as those allocated to state or municipal schools of the corresponding type, where an international agreement of the Republic of Lithuania provides for such arrangements.
\n
Version of paragraph 11 until 31 December 2013:
\n
11.Provision of healthcare in schools shall be funded from the budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and the state and municipal budgets and other funds according to the procedure laid down by the Government.
\n
Version of paragraph 11 as of 1 January 2014:
\n
11.Provision of healthcare in schools shall be funded from the state and municipal budgets and other funds according to the procedure laid down by the Government.
\n
12.Establishments, enterprises and organisations may receive budgetary funds to carry out education, research, culture and sports programmes, projects.
\n
Article 68
\n
Remuneration of school principals, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions, teachers, and specialists providing assistance to learners 1. The salary of principals of state (except higher education institutions) and municipal schools, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions shall depend on the individual’s attained education level, length of service, management qualification category and complexity of activity.
\n
2.The salary of a teacher of a state (except higher education institutions) and a municipal school, a specialist providing assistance to a learner shall depend upon the individual’s attained education level, length of service, qualification category, complexity of activity.
\n
3.The Government shall lay down the procedure for paying salaries to principals of state (except higher education institutions) and municipal schools, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions, teachers, specialists providing assistance to learners and other employees participating in the process of education.
\n
4.Management qualification categories of principals of state (except higher education institutions) and municipal schools, deputy principals responsible for education, chiefs of teaching organising divisions shall be determined and evaluation of conformity of activities of the said persons to the qualification category shall be carried out every five years; qualification categories of teachers, specialists providing assistance to learners shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science.
\n
5.Salaries of principals, teachers and other employees of non-state schools shall be fixed in accordance with the procedure established by the law.
\n
6.Employees of state higher education institutions shall be paid for work in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on Higher Education and Research.
\n
7.The list of positions the work performed during the holding of which is considered to be pedagogical and is included in the length of service shall be approved by the Minister of Education and Science after consultation with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Social Security and Labour.
\n
Article 69Material Assistance
\n
1.Students who study according to vocational training programmes seeking to acquire the first qualification, as well as students of vocational training establishments of the internal affairs may be paid a stipend and receive material support in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government.
\n
2.Support for a student of a higher education institution shall be set out by the Law on Research and Higher Education.
\n
3.A learner who studies according to non-formal education programmes may receive support in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law.
\n
4.The institution (the meeting of the participants) exercising the rights and duties of the owner of a school (except higher education institutions) (state and municipal schools), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools) shall, in their own prescribed manner, ensure that teachers and other persons participating in the education process would receive compensation for the expenses related to in-service training for at least five days per year.
\n
5.The institution (the meeting of the participants) exercising the rights and duties of the owner of a state school (except higher education institutions) from general appropriations allocated to it from the state budget or with other funds in its own prescribed manner, the institution (the meeting of the participants) exercising the rights and duties of the owner of a municipal school from the municipal budget or with other funds in its own prescribed, the owner (the meeting of the participants) of other schools (except higher education schools) in his own prescribed manner may also provide other material support or reimburse for certain expenses (travelling to and from the workplace by a vehicle which is private, rented, or transferred under a loan for use agreement, residential space lease, others) to teachers and other persons participating in the education process.
\n
Article 70Payment for education
\n
1.Education in state and municipal schools according to pre-primary, primary, basic, secondary, vocational education curricula and vocational training programmes designed for the acquisition of the first qualification shall be free of charge.
\n
2.The pay for education, teaching at non-state schools shall be set by the owner of the school (the meeting of the participants). The pay shall be paid on the basis of an agreement.
\n
3.Learners studying according to primary, basic, secondary education curricula shall use textbooks free of charge.
\n
4.Learners studying according to formal vocational training programmes shall be provided with textbooks partially for free. A learner may be provided with textbooks free of charge upon the evaluation of the social status of his parents (guardians, curators).
\n
5.Personal school supplies (exercise books, pens, calculators, etc.) shall be provided for learners by parents (guardians, curators).
\n
6.A learner with special educational needs shall be provided free of charge with teaching aids at school.
\n
7.The institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner of the school (the meeting of the participants) (state and municipal schools), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools) shall determine the amount of the pay for additional services provided at the parents' (guardians’, curators’) request and set out in statutes of pre-school education and general education schools (extended day groups, afterschool learners‘ care, clubs, extracurricular groups, camps, excursions, etc.).
\n
8.The Minister of Education and Science shall determine the pay for attained education level certificate forms, for repeat learning of requested subjects of the secondary education curriculum requested by persons who have attained a secondary education level and wish to better prepare for further studies, also for matura examinations taken by the said persons.
\n
9.The institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner of the school (the meeting of the participants) (state and municipal schools), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools) shall determine the amount of the pay for children's non-formal education (except pre-school education) and non-formal adult education provided by the schools (except higher education schools). The pay for children's non-formal education (except pre-school education) shall be reduced taking into account learners’ talents and the social status of the parents (guardians, curators).
\n
10.Additional, not provided for in education programmes, teaching, learning services (consultation, courses, etc.) rendered by vocational training schools, practical training aids shall be provided for a pay. The amount of the pay for the services provided shall be determined by the school principal after consultation with the school council.
\n
11.The institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner of the school (the meeting of the participants) (state and municipal schools), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools) shall determine the amount of the pay for maintenance of children undergoing education according to pre-school education curricula. The pay may be reduced in accordance with the procedure and in the cases laid down by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner of the school (the meeting of the participants) (state and municipal schools), the owner (the meeting of the participants) (other schools).
\n
12.Payment for studies at higher education institutions shall be set in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on Higher Education and Research. The amount of the pay for non-formal education provided by a higher education institution shall be fixed by the higher education institution.
\n
13.Learners shall be provided with school supplies in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts.
\n
CHAPTER EIGHT INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
\n
Article 71Participation in the international dimension of education
\n
1.Entities of the education system of Lithuania shall have the right to participate in the international dimension of education, international programmes or otherwise cooperate with entities of education systems of foreign countries.
\n
2.The terms and procedure of the participation or cooperation shall be established in international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania, agreements between institutions of the Republic of Lithuania and institutions of foreign states, other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania, direct cooperation agreements between educational institutions of the Republic of Lithuania and foreign states.
\n
3.If any ratified international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania that are in effect provide for provisions different than those of this Law, the provisions of the international treaties shall apply.
\n
4.At the decision of the Government or an institution authorised by it, education programmes and initiatives of the European Union and other international education programmes and initiatives shall be administered by the Education Exchanges Support Foundation.
\n
Article 72Implementation of education programmes of foreign states and international organisations
\n
1.Schools of foreign states and international organisations (except higher education institutions) shall be founded and function in the Republic of Lithuania according to the terms and in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Law, international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania and other legal acts. Education programmes of foreign states and international organisations (except higher education study programmes) may be carried out (stopped) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government upon the written consent of the Minister of Education and Science.
\n
2.Higher education study programmes of foreign states shall be carried out in Lithuania in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on Higher Education and Research.
\n
3.Education programmes of foreign states and international organisations may be carried out at schools of the Republic of Lithuania not in the Lithuanian language. Persons who have completed in Lithuania the education programmes of foreign states and international organisations shall be issued certificates of the respective foreign states or international organisations.