REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON EDUCATION 25 June 1991  No I-1489 Vilnius (As last amended on 17 March 2011 – No XI-1281) Education is an activity intended to provide an individual with a basis for a worthy independent life and to assist the individual in the continuous cultivation of abilities. Every person has an inherent right to learn. Education is a means of shaping the future of an individual, the society and the State, based on the acknowledgement of the indisputable value of the individual, his right of free choice and moral responsibility, as well as on democratic relationships and the country's cultural traditions. Education protects and creates national identity, guarantees continuity of the values that make a person's life meaningful, grant social life coherence and solidarity, and promote development and security of the State. Education serves its purpose best when its advancement leads the overall development of society. Education is a priority area of societal development that receives State support. CHAPTER ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. Purpose of this Law This Law shall establish the goals of the education of the Republic of Lithuania, the principles of the educational system, the foundations of the structure of the educational system, educational activities and educational relationships as well as obligations of the State in the area of education. Article 2. Definitions 1. Accreditation – the procedure in the course whereof an authorized institution recognises that an evaluated education programme, education provider meets the set requirements.  2. General education – primary education, basic education, secondary education. 3. Formal education – education implemented according to education programmes approved and registered in accordance with a procedure laid down by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania, the completion of which results in the attainment of primary, basic, secondary or higher education and/or a qualification, or in the recognition of a competence necessary to carry out work or fulfil a function regulated by the law. 4. Education level – personal development, competence, qualification of a particular level recognised in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania. 5. Competence – capability to perform a certain activity on the basis of the entirety of acquired knowledge, abilities, skills and values. 6. Qualification – the totality, recognised in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania, of person’s possessed competences or professional experience and possessed competences necessary for a certain activity. 7. Freelance teacher – a natural person engaged in activity of an education provider on an individual basis. 8. Lithuanian Qualifications Framework – a system of levels of qualifications set in the Republic of Lithuania and based on the competences necessary for person’s activities. 9. Lithuanian studies – teaching of the Lithuanian language, history, culture of the State of Lithuania and introduction into the present of Lithuania as well as creation of conditions for self-expression in the Lithuanian language in a foreign state. 10. School – a legal person, a branch of a legal person or any other organisation of a Member State, established in the Republic of Lithuania according to the procedure laid down by legal acts, whose main activity is formal and/or non-formal education. 11. School community – the teachers, learners, learners’ parents (guardians, curators) and other persons in a single school, connected by teaching relationships existing at that school and by common educational goals. 12. School maintenance funds – funds indirectly associated with the education process for the school's physical plant management and operation, learners’ transportation and funds allocated to cover other maintenance costs. 13. Teaching funds – funds directly necessary in respect of the education process, i.e. funds allocated for salaries in accordance with the Teaching Plan, in-service training of teachers and other persons involved in the training process, textbooks and other teaching aids as well as the organisation and administration of the training process, the school library, psychological, special-pedagogical, special and social-pedagogical assistance, vocational counselling, health improvement activities carried out by schools and other teaching needs. 14. Form of learning – mode of the organisation of learning offered by an education provider and chosen by a learner. 15. Learner – a person who engages in learning. 16. Teacher – a person who educates learners according to formal or non-formal education programmes. 17. Non-formal education – education according to a variety of programmes geared to satisfy education needs, provide in-service training and acquire an additional competence, with the exception of formal education programmes. 18. Non-state school – a school the owner or one of stakeholders of which is not the State or a municipality. 19. Pedagogue – a person who has acquired the higher education (the post-secondary education acquired before 2009 or the specialized-secondary education acquired before 1995) as well as the qualification of a pedagogue. 20. Qualification of a pedagogue – the totality, recognised in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania, of person’s possessed competences or professional experience and possessed competences necessary for training learners. 21. Compulsory education – compulsory State-guaranteed education until the age of 16 of citizens of the Republic of Lithuania residing in the Republic of Lithuania and aliens having the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania according to primary and basic education curricula. 22. Informal education – independent learning based on information a person obtains from various sources and his practical experience. 23. Municipal school – a school the owner or one of stakeholders of which is a municipality (where the State does not participate in the capacity of stakeholder). 24. Special educational needs – need for assistance and services in the course of the training process, arising from person’s exceptional capabilities, congenital or acquired disorders, adverse environmental factors. 25. Education – training and the provision of education; informal education; also the totality of activities of learners, their parents (guardians, curators), educational institutions, teachers and other education providers, educational assistance specialists. 26. Educational institution – a school or an educational assistance establishment. 27. Educational assistance – assistance provided by specialists to learners, their parents (guardians, curators), teachers and education providers, the aim of which is to increase effectiveness of education. 28. Educational assistance establishment - an establishment the main activity of which is the provision of educational assistance. 29. Education programme – description of pre-defined formal or non-formal education endeavours aimed at the achievement of a set result. 30. Education programme module– a pre-defined and independent part of an education programme. 31. Education monitoring – continuous analysis, assessment and forecasting of the state of and changes in education. 32. Education provider – a school, a freelance teacher or any other education provider (establishment, enterprise, organisation as well as a legal person or any other organisation of a Member State, or their branches established in the Republic of Lithuania whose main activity is other than education) that is entitled to provide educational services in accordance with the procedure laid down by laws of the Republic of Lithuania. 33. Training – the cultivation of moral, intellectual, physical capacity through communication and teaching. 34. Member State shall mean any Member State of the European Union or another country of the European Economic Area. 35. State school – a school the owner or one of stakeholders of which is the State. 36. Universally available education – education guaranteed by the State to all citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and aliens having the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania. Article 3. Goals of education The goals of education shall be as follows: 1) to develop a person's values enabling him to become an honest, knowledge-seeking, independent, responsible and patriotically-minded human being; to cultivate the communication skills important in modern life; to assist in internalising the information culture characteristic of the knowledge society, by providing for command of the state language, foreign languages and the native language, information literacy as well as modern social competence and the skills to shape one’s own life independently and to live a healthy lifestyle; 2) to identify a person's creative abilities and upon this basis to help him acquire competences and/or a qualification conforming to contemporary culture and technology and assisting him to get established and successfully compete in the shifting labour market; to convey the basics of technological, economic and business culture necessary to ensure the progress, competitiveness and sustainable development of the country's economy; to create conditions for continually satisfying cognitive needs as well as improving oneself through life-long education; 3) to reinforce the capability of society to ensure sustainable development of the country's economic, environmental and human resources, internal and external economic competitiveness, national security and the advancement of a democratic state; 4) to convey to a person the basics of national and ethnic culture, the traditions and values of the humanistic culture of Europe and of the world, to foster the maturation of a person's national identity, moral, aesthetic and scientific culture as well as personal outlook; to guarantee the continuity of ethnic and national culture, the preservation of its identity and continuous renewal of its values; to promote the country’s openness and inclination for dialogue; 5) to ensure conditions enabling a person to acquire the basics of civic and political culture that embody democratic traditions, and to develop the abilities and experience needed by a person as a competent a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, a member of the European and global community as well as of a multi-cultural society. Article 4. Education content 1. The education content shall be consist of what is taught and studied, how it is taught and studied, how the progress and achievements of learners, what teaching and learning aids are used. 2. The education content shall be developed for the achievement of the goals of education specified in Article 3 of this Law.  Specific education content shall be formed and systematically updated taking into account the training, education and study goals set for a group or school of a particular type, the needs of Lithuanian society as determined by changes in the social and cultural environment, the needs of the local and the school community, also the experience, education needs and interests of learners and students. 3. The requirements specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be adhered when developing education programmes or their modules designed for pre-school, pre-primary, general education, vocational education and training, higher education, teaching plans or study field regulations, learning achievements check programmes, textbooks, other teaching aids and additional teaching materials. Article 5. Education system principles The principles upon which the educational system is based shall be as follows: 1) equal opportunities – the educational system is socially fair, it ensures the implementation of person’s rights, it guarantees the access to education for any person ,the attainment of a general education level and a primary qualification, and creates conditions to improve the acquired qualification or gain a new qualification; 2) contextual interrelationship – the education system is closely related to the context of the country’s economic, social and cultural development, is constantly adjusted to those developments and meets the continuously changing needs of society; 3) effectiveness – the educational system pursues high-quality results by rationally and economically using available resources; by continuously evaluating, analysing and planning its activity; and by relying on effective management, i.e. proper and timely decisions; 4) continuity – the educational system is flexible, open, based on interaction of various forms and institutions; it creates conditions for each individual to engage in life-long learning. CHAPTER TWO STRUCTURE OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM Article 6. Education system The education system of Lithuania shall comprise the following: 1) formal education (primary, basic, secondary education, formal vocational education and training and higher education studies); 2) non-formal education (pre-school, pre-primary, other non-formal education of children (as well as the teaching supplementing the formal education) and of adults); 3) informal education; 4) educational assistance (vocational guidance, informational, psychological, socio-pedagogical, special pedagogical and special assistance of education, healthcare at school, consultation, in-service training of teachers and other assistance). Article 7. Pre-school education 1. The purpose of pre-school education shall be to help a child satisfy inherent, cultural (including ethnic), social and cognitive needs. 2. Pre-school education shall be carried out at home and at the request of the parents (guardians) – in accordance with a pre-primary education curriculum.  Pre-school education of children may be compulsory in accordance with the procedure and in the cases laid down by the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Social Security and Labour.  3. Pre-school education shall be provided to a child from his birth until the commencement of provision of pre-primary or primary education. 4. The pre-school curriculum, prepared in compliance with the criteria of pre-school curricula approved by the Minister of Education and Science, shall be implemented by pre-school education schools, general education schools, freelance teachers or other education providers. 5. A pre-school age child and his parents (guardians) shall be provided complex educational assistance, social support, healthcare services in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, the Minister of Social Security and Labour and the Minister of Health. Article 8. Pre-primary education 1. The purpose of pre-primary education shall be to help a child prepare for successful learning according to the primary education curriculum. 2. Pre-school education shall be carried out according to a one-year general pre-primary education curriculum approved by the Minister of Education and Science.  Pre-primary education shall be carried out by pre-primary education schools, general education schools, freelance teachers or other education providers in compliance with the procedure laid down  by the Minister of Education and Science. 3. The provision of pre-primary education to a child shall start on the calendar year when a child reaches six years of age. Pre-primary education may be provided at an earlier age at the request of the parents (guardians) in compliance with the Outline of the Procedure for Assessing the Child’s Maturity to Follow the Pre-School and Pre-Primary Preparatory Education Curricula approved by the Minister of Education and Science, but not earlier than until he reaches five years of age.  Pre-school education may be compulsory for a child in accordance with the procedure and in the cases laid down by the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Social Security and Labour.  4. A pre-primary age child and his parents (guardians) shall be provided complex educational assistance, social support, healthcare services in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, the Minister of Social Security and Labour and the Minister of Health. Article 9. Primary education 1. The purpose of primary education shall be to provide an individual with the basics of moral and social maturity, the basics of culture (including ethnic culture) and with elementary literacy, as well as to assist him in preparing for learning according to the basic education curriculum. 2. Primary education shall be carried out pursuant to four-year primary education curricula.  The said curricula shall be implemented in compliance with the Description of the Primary Education Curriculum, the General Curriculum Framework for Primary Education, general teaching plans which are approved by the Minister of Education and Science. Primary education may be carried out together with art, music, artistic, sports or other education.  3. Education of a child according to the primary education curriculum shall start that calendar year when he turns seven years of age. In a separate case a child who turns seven years of age in that calendar year and who needs permanent assistance of qualified specialists as well as health caring day’s routine, at the request of the parents (guardians) he may, in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, be educated for one year at a pre-school education establishment or at home according to the curriculum adapted to his special educational needs 4. At the request of the parents (guardians), in compliance with the Outline of the Procedure for Assessing the Child’s Maturity to Follow the Pre-School and Pre-Primary Preparatory Education Curricula approved by the Minister of Education and Science, the provision of primary education may start one year earlier than the age specified in paragraph 3 of this Article. 5. Primary education curricula shall be carried out by general education schools and other schools or any other education provider.  6. Upon completion of the primary education curriculum, the primary education shall be acquired. Article 10. Basic education 1. The purpose of basic education shall be to provide an individual with the basics of moral, sociocultural and civic maturity, general literacy, the basics of technological literacy, to cultivate national consciousness, to foster an intent and ability to make decisions and choices and to continue learning. 2. Basic education shall be provided to learners who have acquired the primary education. 3. Basic education shall be carried out pursuant to six-year basic education curricula.  The first part of the basic education curricula shall encompass four-year basic education phase and the second part - two-year basic education phase. Basic education curricula shall be implemented in compliance with the Description of the Basic Education Curriculum, the General Curriculum Framework for Basic Education, general teaching plans approved by the Minister of Education and Science.  The second part of basic education curricula may include modules of vocational training programmes which will be credited when continuing learning in compliance with vocational training programmes in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science.  Basic education may be carried out together with art, music, artistic, sports or other education.  4. Basic education shall be acquired upon completion of the basic education curriculum and check of his learning achievements, with the exception of cases where a person is exempted from the check of learning achievements in the cases set out by the Minister of Education and Science.  Article 11. Secondary education 1. The purpose of secondary education shall be to assist a person in the acquisition of general academic, sociocultural and technological literacy, moral, national and civic maturity, and the basics of vocational competence. 2. State-guaranteed universally available secondary education shall be provided to learners who have acquired the basic education. 3. Secondary education shall be carried out pursuant to two-year secondary education curricula.  The said curricula shall consist of compulsory and elective subjects of general education and available modules of vocational training programmes. Basic education curricula shall be implemented in compliance with the Description of the Secondary Education Curriculum, the General Curriculum Framework for Secondary Education, general teaching plans approved by the Minister of Education and Science.  Secondary education may be carried out together with art, music, artistic, sports or other education.  If the secondary education curriculum is carried out together with the vocational training programme, both curricula may be carried out longer than two years. 4. Modules of vocational training programmes may be credited into the secondary education curriculum if continuing learning in compliance with vocational training programmes in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. 5. Secondary education shall be acquired upon completion of the secondary education curriculum and passing of matura examinations, with the exception of cases where a person is excused from matura examinations in the cases set out by the Minister of Education and Science.  Article 12. Vocational education and training 1. The purpose of vocational education and training shall be to assist a person in the acquisition, change or upgrading of qualification and preparation for participation in the changing labour market. 2. Vocational education and training may be initial vocational education and training or continuing vocational education and training. 3. Primary vocational education and training shall be formal, universally available and intended for the acquisition of the first qualification. It shall be provided to learners who have acquired basic or secondary education. In the case of learners who have acquired basic education it may be provided in parallel with secondary education. Initial vocational education and training may also be provided to students who have not acquired basic education and are at least 14 years of age. A learner who has not acquired the basic education shall be provided with the conditions to continue education according to the basic education curriculum. In separate cases, set out in the list, approved by the order of the Minister of Education and Science, of general criteria for admission to a state and a municipal general education school, vocational training school, vocational education and training may be provided to learners with special educational needs even without a required education level. 4. Continuing vocational education is provided to persons who have the first qualification. It shall be intended to improve the acquired qualification or to acquire a new one, or to acquire competence necessary to perform work or function regulated by laws. Continuing vocational education shall comprise formal and non-formal vocational education. 5. A person who has completed a vocational training programme and/or has received in a prescribed manner the assessment of the competences he acquired shall be awarded the qualification of an appropriate level. 6. Vocational education and training shall be set by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Vocational Education (hereinafter referred to as the “Law on Vocational Education”). Article 13. Higher education studies 1. The purpose of higher education studies shall be to assist an individual in the acquisition of a higher education qualification corresponding to a modern level of knowledge and technologies and meeting demands of economy as well as in the preparation for an active professional, social and cultural life. 2. Higher education studies shall be universally available.  Such studies shall be provided to a person who has acquired at least secondary education, has enrolled in a higher education institution and is capable to study independently. 3. Higher education studies shall be carried out in compliance with accredited study programmes.  A student may study in parts in higher education institutions.  Part studies and acceptance of study outcomes shall be defined by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Higher Education and Research (hereinafter referred to as the "Law on Higher Education and Research"). 4. Upon completion of a higher education study programme, a higher education qualification shall be acquired, which corresponds to the level determined in the Lithuanian qualifications structure.  5. Foundations of activities of higher education institutions and studies therein shall be set out by the Law on Higher Education and Research. Article 14. Education of learners with special educational needs 1. 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, by recognising and developing his abilities and capacities. Education of learners with special educational needs shall be organised in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. 2. Groups of learners with special educational needs shall be determined and their special educational needs shall be divided into minor, moderate, major and severe according to the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Social Security and Labour. 3. Primary evaluation of learners' special educational needs shall be executed by a child welfare commission.  Special educational needs of a learner (except those occurring because of exceptional talents) shall be evaluated by a pedagogical psychological service from pedagogical, psychological, medicinal and socio-pedagogical aspects; special education shall be assigned by the head of a pedagogical psychological service and in certain cases – by the school principal with the consent of the parents (guardians, curators) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science.    4. The procedure for organising activities of pedagogical psychological services shall be laid down by the Minister of Education and Science, after consultation with the Minister of Health. 5. When necessary general education curricula, vocational training programmes shall be adapted to learners with special educational needs in accordance with the procedure specified in paragraph 1 of this Article, while study programmes shall be adapted in accordance with the procedure laid down by a higher education institution. 6. Learners with special educational needs may complete formal education programmes within a period of time shorter or longer than the period of time set for such programmes; they may study at intervals, complete the said programmes by way of separate modules.   Learners with major and severe special educational needs may study in general education schools (classes) designated for learners with special educational needs until 21 years of age. 7. Education of learners with special educational needs shall be implemented by all schools that provide compulsory and universally available education, other education providers and, in certain cases, by schools (classes) designated for education of learners with special educational needs. Article 15. Other non-formal education of children 1. The purpose of non-formal education of children shall be to satisfy learners' cognition, development and self-expression needs, and to help them become active members of society; the purpose of teaching supplementing the formal education – to systematically increase knowledge in a certain field according to long-term programmes, to strengthen abilities and skills and to provide a person with additional subject-related competences. 2. Children’s non-formal education programmes shall be implemented by schools of non-formal education of children and other educational institutions, freelance teachers and other education providers. Non-formal education of children shall also include the teaching supplementing the formal education, which is carried out by schools of music, art, other arts, and sports.  The Minister of Education and Science shall lay down general criteria for non-formal education programmes financed from state or municipal budgets.  3. Schools implementing children's non-formal education and formal education programmes shall be attributed to formal education schools of an appropriate group and/or type.  Individuals who seek to attain a higher education level in the area of music, art, arts, sports must, in addition to secondary education, complete a relevant non-formal education programme confirmed by the Minister of Education and Science, if such a requirement is established in the description of the admission to a higher education school. 4. During school vacations children’s non-formal education programmes shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down by the institution (the meeting of the participants) implementing the rights and duties of the owner of a state and a municipal school – a budgetary and public establishment, or by the owner (the meeting of the participants) of other schools or by the education provider. 5. A children’s non-formal education programme may be recognised as part of a formal education programme (except study programmes) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science or as part of a study programme - in accordance with the procedure laid down by a higher education institution. Article 16. Non-formal adult education 1. The purpose of non-formal adult education shall be to provide an individual with conditions for life-long learning, meeting the needs of cognition, upgrading an acquired qualification and acquiring additional qualifications. 2. Non-formal education of adults shall be provided to each individual who has chosen this kind of education and is at least 18 years of age. 3. Non-formal education of adults may be provided by all education providers in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts. The Minister of Education and Science shall lay down general criteria for non-formal education programmes financed from state or municipal budgets.  4. A competence acquired through non-formal education may be recognised as a completed part of the formal education programme (except study programmes) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science or as part of a study programme - in accordance with the procedure laid down by a higher education institution. 5. Non-formal adult education shall be defined by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Non-formal adult education (hereinafter referred to as the "Law on Non-formal Adult Education"). Article 17. Informal education 1. The purpose of informal education shall be to provide an individual with possibilities for continuous independent learning supported by the surrounding information space (libraries, mass media, internet, museums, etc.) and life experience gained from other persons. 2. A competence acquired through informal education may be recognised as a completed part of the formal education programme (except study programmes) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science or as part of a study programme - in accordance with the procedure laid down by a higher education institution.   Article 18. Vocational guidance and informational assistance of education 1. The purpose of vocational guidance - by measures of vocational information, vocational counselling and teaching for a career to help a person to choose education and employment, to acquire career planning and management competences and to actively shape his professional career.  2. Vocational guidance shall be provided in general education schools, vocational training and other educational institutions, vocational guidance centres and other institutions in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science together with the Minister of Social Security and Labour, and in higher education schools – in accordance with the procedure laid down by these schools. 3. The purpose of informational assistance of education shall be to help the school and other education provider, teachers, learners, all citizens and residents of the Republic of Lithuania to obtain information about education, its quality, demand for a particular attained education level on the labour market. 4. Informational assistance of education shall comprise the development and implementation of informational education programmes as well as the creation and maintenance of a system of information networks. Informational assistance shall guarantee continuous and accessible information about possibilities for attaining a needed education. 5. Informational assistance of education at national, municipal, school level shall be provided by institutions of education, culture, science and other institutions as well as by individuals. Article 19. Psychological assistance 1. The purpose of psychological assistance shall be to reinforce psychological strength and mental health of learners, to foster by preventive measures the creation of a safe environment favourable for education, to help learners regain emotional harmony, the ability to live and to learn, by actively cooperating with their parents (guardians, curators). 2. Psychological assistance to a learner who experiences personal and learning problems shall be universally provided by assistance providers co-operating with and providing consultations to the learner’s parents (guardians, curators) and teachers. 3. Psychological assistance shall be provided and prevention of psychological problems shall be carried out by psychologists of pedagogical psychological services, schools who have the bachelor’s and master’s qualification degrees in psychology or the master’s qualification degree in psychology after completion of the integrated studies or who have a higher education qualification equated in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science or a qualification acquired abroad which is recognised as equivalent in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts. The procedure for providing psychological assistance shall be laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. Article 20. Social pedagogical assistance 1. The purpose of social pedagogical assistance shall be to help the parents (guardians, curators) so that the child’s right to education be exercised, to ensure the child’s safety at school: to eliminate reasons because of which a child cannot attend the school or avoids attending the school; to return drop-outs to school; to help a child (in co-operation with the parents (guardians, curators)) choose a school according to his mental and physical abilities and to adapt at school. 2. When providing social pedagogical assistance to learners, the school shall co-operate with social assistance services, healthcare institutions and law enforcement institutions and shall provide consultations to students' parents (guardians, curators) and teachers. 3. The procedure for providing social pedagogical assistance to a child and a learner shall be laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. Article 21. Special-Pedagogical Assistance and Special Assistance 1. The purpose of special-pedagogical assistance and special assistance shall be to increase the effectiveness of learning for individuals with special educational needs. 2. Special-pedagogical assistance to persons under 21 years of age shall be provided by special pedagogues of pedagogical-psychological services, schools according to the procedure established by the Minister of Education and Science. 3. Special assistance shall be provided at school to individuals in need of such assistance. He shall be provided with services of translating the verbal language into the sign language, text reading and summarizing, which increase education accessibility.   The procedure for providing special assistance at schools (except higher education institutions) shall be laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. Special assistance shall be provided at a higher education institution in accordance with the procedure laid down by the higher education institution.  4. Special pedagogues of pedagogical-psychological services, schools shall provide consultations to the recipients of special assistance, their parents (guardians, curators) as well as to teachers. Article 22. Healthcare in schools 1. The purpose of healthcare in schools shall be to protect and improve health of learners, by actively cooperating with their parents (guardians, curators). 2. Healthcare in schools shall comprise public healthcare activities carried out by specialists of municipal public healthcare institutions or healthcare specialists working in schools. 3. The procedure for organising the public healthcare in schools (with the exception for higher education institutions) shall be defined by the Minister of Health together with the Minister of Education and Science.  Schools may implement only those learners’ health promotion programmes which are approved by the Ministry of Education and Science, other ministries or municipal institutions.   4. Personal healthcare shall be executed in schools designated for learners with special educational needs in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts.  5. The State shall encourage and support the initiatives of legal and natural persons as well as legal persons or other organisations, or their branches established in a member state, which help to protect and improve health of learners in Lithuania. 6. Schools shall develop and implement health improvement programmes.  Such programmes may be supported with funds of state and/or municipal target programmes on public health support, and other funds. 7. Statistical data about health of learners, health risk factors shall be used when a school evaluates its activity quality as well as for external evaluation and monitoring. Article 23. Assistance to the school and the teacher 1. The purpose of assistance to the school and the teacher shall be to provide informational, expert, consulting and upskilling assistance which increases the efficiency of education and promotes school development and teachers’ professional growth. 2. The school and the teacher shall be helped to improve their activities, seek a better quality of education through consulting, executing by the school its activity quality and external evaluation as well as through creating conditions for in-service training.    3. Assistance to schools and teachers shall be tendered by providers of psychological, special-pedagogical, special, social-pedagogical assistance, by in-service training, public healthcare specialists, professional associations and other persons. 4. In-service training of teaching staff members shall be a constituent part of non-formal adult education. In-service training of teaching staff members of state (except the staff of higher education institutions) and municipal educational institutions shall be executed in compliance with the regulations approved by the Minister of Education and Science.  5. In-service training programmes shall be implemented by accredited in-service training institutions in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. CHAPTER THREE ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY OF EDUCATION Article 24. The Right and Duty of Lithuanian Residents to Study 1. Each citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, each alien who has the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania, shall have the right to study, attain an education level and a qualification. 2. The State shall take measures so that each child in Lithuania studies according to primary, basic, secondary education curricula. 3. The State shall guarantee each citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, each alien who has the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania: 1) primary, basic and secondary education; 2) access to higher education study programmes or vocational training programmes that result in the acquisition of the first qualification. 4. A learner who has suspended his learning or studies may resume them at the same or at a different school in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts or agreements. 5. A person who has attained a basic or secondary education level and wishes to supplement his preparation for further studies shall be provided an opportunity to study general education subjects of his choice and to test his educational achievements in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science. 6. Residents of Lithuania shall have the right to study in other foreign countries. This right shall be exercised through one's own initiative and the guarantees thereof shall be set out by the laws or international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 25. Lithuanian studies and opportunity to learn the Lithuanian language 1. The purpose of Lithuanian studies of foreign Lithuanians shall be to help learn the Lithuanian language and retain it, preserve the national identity, familiarize with the history, culture, heritage of the State of Lithuania and create conditions for self-expression in the Lithuanian language. 2. The State shall finance or otherwise foster activities of foreign Lithuanians in the field of Lithuanian studies, foreigners of Lithuanian descent and foreigners who learn the Lithuanian language or study the Lithuanian language and culture. 3. Pursuant to the programme of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the "Government") or an institution (institutions) authorised by the Government the funds shall be appropriated for schools abroad in which the Lithuanian language is taught or learners receive instruction in the Lithuanian language; the funds shall also be appropriated for the persons who go to work as teachers and lecturers in Lithuanian studies institutions, Lithuanian studies centres abroad. State property may be transferred under a loan for use agreement to schools abroad in which the Lithuanian language is taught or learners receive instruction in the Lithuanian language. 4. Opportunities shall be created in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science for foreigners of Lithuanian descent and Lithuanians living abroad to learn the Lithuanian language in schools of the Republic of Lithuania.   Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have lived abroad at least three years or citizens of foreign states who have lost the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be regarded as Lithuanians living abroad. A foreigner shall be considered to be a foreigner of Lithuanian descent if his parents or grandparents are or were or one of his parents or grandparents is or was Lithuanian and who considers himself Lithuanian. Article 26. Provision of information about education 1. The purpose of provision of information about education shall be to furnish a person with information that would help him choose education, an education provider as well as the aspired to attained education level and profession in line with his interests, dispositions and abilities. 2. A school shall make public the information about programmes of formal and non-formal education implemented at schools, choices offered, admissions terms, paid services, teachers' qualifications, major school audit findings, traditions and achievements of the school community. 3. Vocational information and vocational guidance services shall include provision of information about opportunities afforded by vocational training programmes, higher education study programmes, possible studying abroad, employment prospects on the labour market of Lithuania, as well as consulting. These services shall be provided in schools, information centres, consulting services and labour exchanges in compliance with requirements laid down by the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Social Security and Labour. Article 27. Choice of education programmes 1. When a person chooses an education programme, he shall observe the sequence of programmes in Articles 7 through 13 of this Law. 2. A learner shall enjoy the possibility of choosing education programmes, different versions thereof, modules of education programmes and subject courses according to his abilities and dispositions. A learner shall also choose a school implementing an education programme, any other education provider, a form of learning.  The Minister of Education and Science shall approve descriptions of forms of learning pursuant to formal education programmes (with the exception of higher education study programmes) and the procedure for organising teaching according to forms of learning.   3. Apart from compulsory subjects and different programmes (courses) thereof, a learner may study elective subjects offered by the school. 4. An individual shall be free to pursue non-formal education programmes and informal education. Article 28. The network of education providers 1. The purpose of the network of education providers shall be to ensure accessibility of compulsory and universally available education, its variety, and the possibility of life-long learning to all citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and aliens having the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania. 2. The network of education providers shall encompass state, municipal and non-state general education, vocational, higher education schools, non-formal education schools, freelance teachers and other education providers. 3. The network of education providers shall be created through: 1) developing education programmes and furthering education variety; 2) co-ordinating the education programmes that are being provided; 3) founding, reorganising, liquidating and transforming schools and carrying out the transformation of school structure. 4. The Minister of Education and Science, together with municipalities and the Government, shall ensure the sufficient network of state and municipal vocational training schools and general education schools designated for country’s (region’s) learners with special educational needs: The Government shall ensure the network of state colleges, and the Seimas - the network of state universities.  5. When creating the network of state and municipal schools in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, residents or their groups must be consulted with in order to defend public interest. 6. The municipality must have an optimal network of providers of primary, basic, secondary and non-formal education programmes designated for children and adults, ensuring individuals’ learning and securing their right to receive instruction in the state language, as well as a network of institutions that provide assistance to learners, teachers and schools. In areas where the municipality does not ensure the individuals' right to receive instruction in the state language according preschool, pre-primary and general education curricula, state schools may be established in which curricula are carried out in the state language.  7. If the community requests so, in areas where a national minority traditionally constitutes a substantial part of the population, the municipality shall guarantee the teaching in the national minority language or the learning of the national minority language. 8. The network of schools (expect higher education institutions) implementing formal education programmes shall be established in compliance with the Rules for the Development of the Network of Schools Implementing Formal Education Programmes approved by the Government and the resolutions of school communities, provided that such resolutions do not conflict with these Rules. The Ministry of Education and Science, municipalities shall, in adherence to the said Rules, approve and implement general plans of transformation of the network of schools. 9. The State and municipalities shall create conditions for establishment and operation of non-state schools. 10. The network of providers of non-formal education shall be established by the State, municipalities, natural and legal persons, legal persons or other organisations established in a member state or any other foreign state, or their branches.  Article 29. Admission to a school, changing schools and transfer to another school 1. A person shall have the right to choose a state, municipal or non-state school and to change schools. 2. The procedure of admission to a state and a municipal general education school shall be laid down by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (the meeting of the participants) on the basis of the general admissions criteria approved by the Minister of Education and Science. 3. Priority admission to a state and a municipal general education school shall be granted to a person living in the service territory assigned to that school by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the school (the meeting of the participants). At the request of the parents (guardians, curators) and the child, the child may be admitted to another general education school subject to the availability of free places. 4. Persons with major and severe special educational needs shall be admitted to a state and a municipal pre-school education school and general education school designated to educate learners with special educational needs, to a group of a pre-school education school and a class of a general education school designated to educate learners with special educational needs. 5. The procedure of admission to a non-state school implementing formal and/or non-formal education programmes shall be laid down by the owner (the meeting of the participants), based on requirements for the admission to the respective programmes as laid down by this Law. 6. The procedure of admission to a state and a municipal pre-school education school, school providing the teaching supplementing the formal education and a children's non-formal education school shall be laid down by the institution exercising the rights and duties of the owner (the meeting of the participants). 7. Admission to higher education institutions shall be defined by the Law on Higher Education and Research. 8. Admission of persons to vocational training schools and schools carrying out non-formal adult education programmes shall be defined by the Law on Vocational Education and the Law on Non-formal Adult Education. 9. A child under 16 years of age may not terminate study in compulsory education programmes. 10. A school unable, for objective reasons, to guarantee a learner in compulsory education programmes the psychological, special-pedagogical, special or social-pedagogical assistance, shall, in co-operation with his parents (guardians, curators) as well as the pedagogical-psychological and Children's Rights Protection Services, propose to him to study in another school . 11. A learner, on the basis and in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Minimum and Moderate Supervision of a Child (hereinafter referred to as the “Law on Minimum and Moderate Supervision of a Child"), may be transferred to another school or he may be provided with another minimum or moderate supervision measure. Article 30. The right to receive instruction in the state language and in the native language 1. Every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and foreigners having the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania shall be guaranteed to receive instruction in the state language and to learn the state language. Version of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 30 valid until 31 August 2011: 2. At those general education and non-formal education schools the regulations (statutes) of which (respecting the requests of the parents (guardians, curators) and learners) provide for teaching in a national minority language and fostering of the national minority's culture, the teaching process shall be conducted or certain subjects shall be taught in the national minority language. At such schools the subject of the Lithuanian language shall be a constituent part of the curriculum and the time allotted for teaching it shall not be less than the time allotted for teaching the native language. At such schools: 1) the primary and basic curricula shall be carried out in the national minority language, while selected curriculum subjects may be taught in the state language upon the request of the parents (guardians, curators); 2) the secondary curriculum shall be carried out in the national minority language. The curriculum subjects selected by the learners may be taught in the state language. 3. A state, municipal pre-school education and general education school shall provide opportunities for learners belonging to national minorities to have supplementary study of the native language, provided that there is a real need, a specialist of that language is available and the education process is organised in another teaching language. Version of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 30 valid from 1 September 2011: 2. General education and non-formal education schools shall create opportunities for learners belonging to national minorities to foster the national, ethnic and linguistic identity, to earn the native language, history and culture. At a general education and a non-formal education school the regulations (statutes) of which (respecting the requests of parents (guardians, curators) and learners) provide for teaching a national minority language or teaching in a national minority language, the teaching process may be conducted or certain subjects may be taught in the national minority language. At such schools the subject of the Lithuanian language shall be a constituent part of the curriculum and the time allotted for teaching it shall not be less than the time allotted for teaching the native language. At such schools: 1) the pre-primary education curriculum shall provide for not less than four hours per week for educating in the Lithuanian language. A part of the pre-school education curriculum may be carried out in the Lithuanian language at the request of the parents (guardians, curators) 2) the primary, basic, secondary education curricula shall be carried in the mode of bilingual education: in the national minority language and in the Lithuanian language. The Lithuanian language shall be taught in the primary education curriculum in the integrated manner, and in the basic and secondary education curricula – during the lessons where the curriculum themes of the Lithuanian history and geography, understanding of the world, basics of citizenship are taught; 3) other subjects of the primary, basic, secondary education curricula shall be taught in the Lithuanian language at the request of the parents (guardians, curators). 3. The Minister of Education and Science shall lay down the procedure for providing education in the Lithuanian language at a general education and a non-formal education school. 4. A person who belongs to a national minority may study his native language at a school that implements non-formal education programmes or with another education provider. 5. The children of a person having the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania shall be provided with the opportunity of learning the state language, of receiving instruction in the state language and, where possible, of learning their native language. 6. A deaf person in a pre-school education and general education schools designated for learners with special educational needs shall be provided with the opportunity of learning the native (sign) language. 7. All schools that provide general education must ensure command of the state language in compliance with the general programmes approved by the Minister of Education and Science. 8. In centres of districts and areas traditionally densely inhabited by national minorities where one or several schools teaching in the state and national minority languages, which have a set of eleventh grades of each different language of instruction, the institution exercising the rights and duties of such schools, the meeting of the participants (owner) must ensure that the general education curriculum at least in one school (at least in one grade) would be carried out in the state language (except the native language). Article 31. Right to study religion 1. Religion shall be an optional part of moral education. Moral education shall be a part of primary, basic and secondary education. Upon parents' (guardians’, curators’) request, the subject of religion may be included in the pre-school education of their children. Non-formal religious education and informal education in religion may be carried out. 2. A learner in a school that implements primary, basic and secondary curricula shall have the right at the age of 14 to choose one of the following subjects of compulsory moral education: religion of a traditional religious community or association or ethics. 3. Parents (guardians, curators) shall choose between the subject of religion of a traditional religious community or association and the subject of ethics on behalf of learners who are under 14 years of age; in case of a learner who is under the guardianship of the State the institution which executes the guardianship of the learner shall decide between the subject of religion of a  traditional religious community or association, professed by the learner’s family or relatives and the subject of ethics. 4. At a formal education school (except higher education institutions) the curriculum of religious instruction shall be prepared by the respective traditional religious community or association; the hierarchy of the religious community or association and the Minister of Education and Science shall assess and approve the said curriculum, each in line with their competency. 5. A person who has attained a post-secondary or higher education level and a pedagogue's qualification or has the necessary special preparation may teach religion in compliance with formal education programmes (except higher education study programmes). Such a person must have permission (referral) to teach religion, issued as prescribed by the hierarchy of the corresponding traditional religious community or association. 6. A school that is unable to provide instruction of the religion of a traditional religious community or association, requested by the learners or their parents (guardians, curators), shall  grants credit for the learner’s religious instruction provided at a Sunday school or another religious instruction group, pursuant to the requirements set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article. 7. Conditions for religious instruction and for teaching modules supplementing the programme of religious instruction and satisfying the learners’ need for self-ex …