Article 10. The Language of Instruction

The language of instruction at Lithuanian schools of the Republic of Lithuania shall be Lithuanian.

Populous and compact communities of ethnic minorities in the Republic of Lithuania shall be provided facilities for having public or maintained pre-school institutions, schools of general education and lessons in the mother tongue. Parents (guardians, foster parents) shall choose for the children a pre-school institution or a school of general education with instruction in an appropriate language.

For small and non-compact ethnic communities, classes or optional courses as well as Sunday schools may be set up at public schools of general education for the purpose of learning or acquiring a better knowledge of the mother tongue.

In non-Lithuanian educational institutions, Lithuanian language and literature shall be taught in Lithuanian. If the parents or children so desire, facilities shall be provided for studying other subjects in the Lithuanian language as well.

All secondary schools of general education must ensure a command of the Lithuanian language in accordance with the standards established by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Facilities shall be provided throughout the territory of the Republic of Lithuania to have instruction in the Lithuanian language.

Article 17. Religious Instruction at Public Educational Institutions

At the request of the parents (guardians, foster parents), individuals authorised by church dignitaries shall give religious instruction (of the requested denominations) at public educational institutions.

Children under state care shall be given religious instruction conforming to the religion that had been professed by their family or relatives.

For those who do not attend classes of religious instruction, that time shall be given over to the teaching of subjects related to moral or civic education.

Article 18. Pupils’ Rights

Pupils shall have the right:

1) to enrol in any educational institution of their choice provided their education and other requirements (health, command of the language of instruction) are in conformity with the terms of admission;

2) from the age of 15 to take an independent decision on whether they are going to take religious instruction;

3) to join children and youth organisations, to promote their activities, and to take part in educational and arts societies;

4) to participate in the self-governance of the educational institution in the manner established by the regulations of the institution;

5) to take externally any yearly (course) examinations of a secondary or vocational school or the final school examinations.

Article 26. The Organisation of the Educational Process

Educational institutions of the Republic of Lithuania shall function according to the syllabus and national curricula approved or co-ordinated in the prescribed manner by the Ministry of Education and Science. The contents and methods of teaching must be in accordance with the tasks of the educational institution and the needs of society. The contents of teaching of separate types and levels of schools shall be co-ordinated among the schools.

It shall be prohibited to propagate racial, national, religious, social hatred and superiority, to spread militaristic and other ideas which are against the universally accepted principles of international law and humanism.

The curricula of educational institutions of ethnic minorities may be supplemented by the elements of ethnic culture.

At secondary schools of general education, in addition to Lithuanian, other languages shall be taught depending on the preference of the parents and the facilities available at the school.

BRONISLOVAS KUZMICKAS
Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council
Republic of Lithuania

25 June 1991,
No I-1489
(As amended by 26 June 1997, No VIII-306)

Source: Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Document Search
http://www3.lrs.lt/n/eng/DPaieska.html