The mayors ask to take into account the specifics of the districts regarding the number of students in the classes

“It is difficult for municipalities to understand these numbers and this order of formation of sets. Today, nobody in the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports can explain why 21 students, why not 20 or 18 students”, Šilutė district mayor Vytautas Laurinaitis told LRT radio on Wednesday.

“Why is there 20 kilometers to another gymnasium, where we have 11 classes, why not 25?” “Why didn’t the ministry appreciate that the children transported in the municipalities are 8-10 kilometers around the gymnasium, these are completely different municipalities,” he said.

V. Laurinaitis also emphasized that funding is allocated to private schools even in the absence of 21 students in the third grade of the gymnasium, while municipal schools are not, thereby applying double standards. The mayor did not hide that he is waiting for the Seimas elections and hopes that the new government will abolish this procedure.

He was seconded by the mayor of Plungė district, Audrius Klišonis, emphasizing that municipalities differ both in terms of area and population. According to him, it is difficult to compare the municipality of Varėna, which has the largest area, as well as the municipalities of Pagėgii, Neringa or big cities like Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda.

“The situation is quite different. Everyone has their own specifics. (…) I would like municipalities to have greater responsibility and a greater opportunity to solve network problems on their own, because local residents, local elected politicians know the situation well, I think they can solve one or another problem more accurately”, said A. Clichon.

The mayors said that the municipalities should be left with the possibility to finance the necessary costs themselves if the required number of students is not formed in the class, but such a possibility is not foreseen.

According to A. Klišonis, every decision, even the Government’s, can be changed.

“I think that every decision, including the Government’s resolution, let the Government not be offended, is not a sacred cow, it can be changed. You want the same flexibility that works for absolutely everyone, simply does not work for anyone. It’s a solution for both Vilnius, Šilute and Plunge,” said the mayor.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports Ramūnas Skaudžius states that no matter what number of students is planned, there will always be schools for which it is not suitable.

“When it comes to the number of students, it will always be (…) when we find at least one school that it is normal and the municipality needs to finance itself. When I came to the post of deputy minister, I found a school where there was one student”, said R. Skaudžius.

According to him, the Government’s resolution, providing for changes regarding the composition of classes, was adopted in 2021. In 2022, the first phase came into force, when there were no more joint 5-10 grades.

“Now it’s 2024, which says that there should be at least 21 students in gymnasiums and secondary education in most cases, but exceptions have certainly been left in order for the existing order to be valid – at least 12 students as it was until now. Basically 21 are for district schools. 12 can be students in schools where the language of national minorities is taught, if the department or joint school,” said the vice-minister.

R. Skaudžius said that the ministry listens to the comments and the decision was already strange, considering that 12 students could be in school departments, so there are still opportunities for changes.

“It is impossible to claim that the ministry does not listen and hear at all. As for whether there is an opportunity – the opportunity is always there, this place just needs dialogue and arguments,” he said.

Gintaras Sarafinas, the editor of “Reitingai” magazine, told LRT radio that about 5,000 have been collected due to the changes in classroom sets that will come into force in the fall. signatures from various regions that oppose such a reform. These signatures should be sent to the Government this week, according to the editor, so that the decision in schools is stopped.