Vilnius Launches 'Mokau Vilniuje' Platform to Attract Teachers

Vilnius is tackling its teacher shortage with a new digital initiative called "Mokau Vilniuje" (I Teach in Vilnius). The platform aims to change how the city views and addresses the issue of finding educators for its schools.

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What we are presenting today is Vilnius's aspiration to look differently at the problem of teacher shortages.

According to Vilnius Vice Mayor Valdas Mitalas, the platform acknowledges that teachers now have more choices and should have a centralized place to showcase their desire to teach. "Mokau Vilniuje" acts as a single point of contact, connecting teachers with all schools within the Vilnius municipality, thereby facilitating better career prospects.

Unė Kaunaitė, director of "EDU Vilnius," explained that the registration process is straightforward. Teachers can choose to make their profiles public or private. They can specify the type of job they seek, the educational level, subject matter, and employment status. This flexibility aims to empower teachers in their job search.

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We recognize that a teacher can and must choose now. And they must have the opportunity to upload their aspiration to teach onto one platform – the 'Mokau Vilniuje' platform – a single window to all Vilnius schools, so that they can reach all schools in the Vilnius municipality and get the best offers for continuing and developing their careers.

A significant feature of the platform is the mandatory disclosure of salary ranges by educational institutions. This ensures clarity for teachers regarding potential earnings. Linas Janulionis, director of Vilnius Fabijoniškių Gymnasium, praised the platform, calling it a positive development that could help schools utilize teacher vacation days more effectively instead of scrambling for staff during the summer.

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Registration at the beginning is very short, very simple and clear. And then, having opened their profile, the teacher can provide as much information as they want – what job they are looking for, at what level, in what subject, for what position.

The initiative comes as Vilnius grapples with an aging teaching population. Data shows a high percentage of retirees among primary school teachers, as well as those teaching mathematics, Lithuanian, and English. The city previously launched "Pradedu mokyti Vilniuje" (I Start Teaching in Vilnius) to attract new educators, including those with no prior teaching experience, by offering a streamlined path to a teaching qualification alongside early school employment.

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A particularly unique thing, arising from many years of practice – is the ability to indicate whether your profile is visible, or if you prefer to hide your personal data.