Educational Support for Special Needs Children Varies by Municipality

An audit by the State Audit Office of Lithuania has exposed considerable inequalities in the provision of educational support for children with special needs, revealing that the quality and accessibility of this crucial assistance vary significantly depending on the municipality.

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The current funding does not ensure equal opportunities for all children to receive the necessary help.

The audit found that the current funding model and resource distribution fail to ensure that all children receive the necessary support. Municipalities allocate vastly different amounts of money to special needs education, and a higher budget does not always translate into better outcomes. Problems persist due to a lack of qualified specialists, particularly speech therapists, and insufficient facilities within schools.

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Municipalities allocate unequal funds for this support. However, more money does not always solve the problem.

For children with significant or very high special needs, the required level of support is approximately double that of others, yet their access to such aid remains uneven. Some schools were unable to accommodate all children with special needs due to a lack of appropriate premises, resources, or specialized staff. This disparity means that a child's opportunity to receive adequate educational assistance is heavily dependent on their geographical location within Lithuania.

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Support may be lacking because there is a shortage of specialists and adequate conditions.

The report highlights that in 2025, there was a notable shortage of educational support specialists. The findings underscore the urgent need for a more equitable and effective system to ensure that all children, regardless of their municipality, have access to the specialized educational help they require to thrive.

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In 2025, there was a shortage of educational support specialists. Speech therapists, i.e., language specialists, were particularly lacking.