Lithuanian schools focus on trust and safety ahead of new academic year

With the new academic year approaching, Lithuania's Minister of Education, Science, and Sport, Raminta Popovienė, has announced key priorities aimed at strengthening the education system.

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I constantly hear and fully understand the education community's desire to improve the current system, but not to make hasty and sudden reforms.

Popovienė stressed the importance of returning to fundamental educational principles, emphasizing that while the world changes, a child's need to be understood and a teacher's significance remain constant. She acknowledged the education community's desire for improvements but cautioned against hasty reforms. The government's goal is to create a system where every child can progress and every teacher can grow, focusing not only on academic achievement and modern competencies but also on the social and emotional safety of both students and educators.

A central theme of the ministry's approach is rebuilding trust in schools. Popovienė announced plans to move away from excessive control and shift towards a model that supports schools in ensuring quality through their own internal assessments. "We want to abandon the current meticulous control of schools and orient the assurance of activity quality towards helping the school. Trust the internal self-assessment of the schools themselves more," she stated.

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We want to abandon the current meticulous control of schools and orient the assurance of activity quality towards helping the school. Trust the internal self-assessment of the schools themselves more.

Recognizing the critical role of the early school weeks in shaping relationships and classroom culture, the minister urged teachers and class advisors to dedicate special attention to fostering an environment free from violence and bullying. She highlighted the importance of open dialogue with students about mutual respect, safety, and responsibility. Recommendations developed in collaboration with the Lithuanian Inclusion Education Center and the Ministry of Health are available to assist educators in this crucial period.

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It is especially important to consistently create environments in schools where there is no place for violence and bullying. The first weeks of the school year are particularly important – it is then that relationships are formed, the culture of communication in the classroom and students' well-being are shaped.