Lithuania

Project Partner: Alytus Youth Centre

LITHUANIA

State of the art

Introduction

Lithuanians are one of the ethnic groups in the Baltic region. While Lithuania has a population of about 2,9 million people, there are at least another million living in other countries, with Lithuanians generally located in the USA, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Russia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The native language is Lithuanian, one of two living Baltic languages. An interesting fact about the language is that as far back as the beginning of the 19th century people noticed that Lithuanian was very similar to Sanskrit. Linguists around the world are still fascinated that the Lithuanian language has retained features of this ancient language and it hasn’t really simplified much.

Many Lithuanians are multilingual; two-thirds of the population declare that they are able to speak at least two foreign languages. This exceeds the average of the European Union by several times. According to the data from Eurostat, 66.1 per cent of the population of Lithuania, aged 25 – 64, can speak two or more foreign languages, 31.5 per cent can speak one foreign language, and a mere 2.5 percent of the population cannot speak any foreign languages. The foreign languages people speak the most are English and Russian.

Religion: Predominantly, Roman Catholic (approximately 80% of the total population). Others include Orthodox, Old Believers, Lutheran, Reformat, Jewish, Sunni, Karaite and other communities.

Landscape: There are over 2,800 lakes larger than 0.5 hectares in size, and 18 rivers longer than 100 kilometres in Lithuania.

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Education system in Lithuania

Children in Lithuania can take part in pre-school education from birth until they start compulsory pre-primary education at the age of 6. According to the Law on Education, children who have reached seven years of age must attend the first form. If parents so wish and if a child is sufficiently mature to study under the primary education programme, they can start school earlier. The duration of the primary education programme is four years.

After completion of their primary education, pupils begin the 6-year lower secondary education programme. The lower secondary education programme is implemented by basic, secondary, vocational education and training schools, pro-gymnasiums and gymnasiums.

The compulsory lower secondary education programme consists of two parts: part I – a 4-year programme implemented in the 5th-8th forms and part II – a 2-year programme implemented in the 9th10th forms (1st-2nd forms of the gymnasium).

In the 9th form (1st form of the gymnasium), pupils can choose subject modules and study elective subjects according to their interests and abilities.

Upper secondary education is not compulsory and usually lasts two years (11th-12th forms of the secondary school (3rd-4th forms of the gymnasium). Pupils study according to individual education plans; the programme may include the modules of the programme for vocational education and training. Upper secondary education is provided in secondary schools, gymnasiums, and vocational education and training schools.

University degrees in Lithuania are offered in three cycles: the first cycle is undergraduate (Bachelor), the second cycle is graduate (Master, and/or specialised professional studies), and the third one is postgraduate (Doctoral; residency; postgraduate in the Arts)

After school, pupils can select various non-formal education activities and these are provided in general education schools. Most of these activities are free of charge or paid from the pupil’s education voucher.

Young people in NEET

Early school leaving level in Lithuania is currently relatively low (8-9%). Lithuania is among twelve EU countries that have already overtaken the intended European aim of 2020 (10%). This can be explained by the fact that the majority of young people prefer to continue their education in vocational training schools or colleges.

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Young people’s unemployment in Lithuania is lower than in 11 EU countries and 1percentage point lower than the EU average. There were registered 28.8 thousand of young unemployed people up to 29 years old in 2014. It is 13 thousand less comparing to 2013, which makes up 18.9 % of all unemployed.

However, the number of unemployed young people is continually fluctuating as some people lose their jobs while others are looking for their first job after finishing vocational schools or graduating from higher schools. The latter have much more problems as the employers prefer to hire people with work experience which graduates have not accumulated yet.

Unsuccessful integration into the labour market and lack of job vacancies are the most important negative factors influencing the emergence of many young people’s problems: social exclusion, drug and alcohol addiction, inability to pay for further studies and acquire a place of residence.

On the other hand, there are many job vacancies in Lithuania, and employers constantly complain about lack of employees. This can be explained by the fact that some young people inadequately evaluate their abilities hoping to be offered a higher salary than it is proposed for a beginner. Besides, often young people work inefficiently and do not achieve expected results as they want to receive a maximum salary for minimal efforts.

According to Eurostat data, there are 80-90 thousand of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Lithuania. Separate group of youngsters is made up of those who experience social risk, do not have necessary social skills and are asocial.

The priority of Lithuanian youth policy is directed towards young people not in education, employment or training. Consultations and discussions are organized how to help these youngsters to return to schools, or enter the labour market. The main reasons of young people’s unemployment in Lithuania are the following: lack of vocational training, lack of work experience and nonconformity of acquired professional knowledge to the needs of the labour market.

An early withdrawal from secondary education is also one of the factors preventing youngsters from entering into the labour market.

Lithuania is one the first countries in European Union (EU) that began to implement Youth Guarantee Initiative. During the programming period of 2014–2020, investments into the encouragement of young people’s employment will be one of the main priorities of Lithuania and the EU.

In order to significantly reduce the level of young people’s unemployment, tools provided in the Youth Guarantee Initiative plan will be implemented according to which 15-29 year old people who are not in employment, education or training will get proposals to work, continue studies, acquire or improve qualification, participate in an internship or training through the apprenticeship within 4 month after the completion of formal education, or after their involvement into the Youth Guarantees Initiative.

An individual plan will be made for each participant of the program considering his/her personal needs and status.

The individual plan will include all possible activities as well as 116 activities of integration into the labour market defined by the action programme of the European Union funds for 2014–2020 under which a young person should work, participate in education, internship or training through apprenticeship.

The Youth Guarantee Initiative will facilitate transition of young people from the education system into the labour market and enable them to acquire necessary skills for the labour market. Early intervention, activation and integration into the labour market services will be rendered in order to encourage NEET education, socialisation and employment.

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Alytus Youth Center

Alytus Youth Center (AYC) – it is an institution, providing the whole range of non-formal education activities and additional occupations. AYC is a basis and place of experienced, talented, creative and motivated staff, teachers, offering new opportunities, and initiatives.

We prevent from harmful habits, educate personal and social competencies, prepare for life by providing professional knowledge, motivating to choose, to study and achieve results. Alytus Youth Centre is the establishment, involving the highest number of students and visitors among non-formal education schools in Alytus, and it is the second largest center in the country.

AYC offers educational activities, events, exhibitions, and other forms of learning, occupation and pastime, supports and actively involves over 1000 members of the community – children, youth and adults, some of whom are motivation and purpose driven, and others who just want to find themselves and to achieve the objective – to become a successful person.

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