Editing Lithuania (section)

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Lithuania}}
{{See also|List of universities and colleges in Lithuania}}
[[File:Vilnius University campus by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|[[Vilnius University]], one of the oldest universities in the region.<ref>{{cite web|title=FOUR CENTURIES OF ENLIGHTENMENT: A Historic View of the University of Vilnius, 1579–1979|url=http://www.lituanus.org/1981_2/81_2_01.htm|author=Tomas Venclova|website=Lituanus.org|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222449/http://www.lituanus.org/1981_2/81_2_01.htm}}</ref> It was established by [[Stephen Báthory]], King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, in 1579.]]
The [[Constitution of Lithuania]] mandates ten-year education ending at age 16 and guarantees a free public higher education for students deemed 'good'.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania came into force on 2&nbsp;November 1992|url=http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm|access-date=6 April 2010|publisher=Republic of Lithuania|archive-date=17 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117080458/http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania)|Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania]] proposes national educational policies and goals that are then voted for in the Seimas. Laws govern long-term educational strategy along with general laws on standards for higher education, vocational training, law and science, adult education, and special education.<ref name="edu1">{{cite web|url=http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/lithuania/lithuania-docs/education_lithuania.pdf|publisher=European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education|access-date=6 April 2010|title=Education in Lithuania|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215022049/http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/lithuania/lithuania-docs/education_lithuania.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2010}}</ref> 5.4% of GDP or 15.4% of total public expenditure was spent for education in 2016.<ref name=edumonitor>{{cite web|title=Education and Training Monitor 2017. Lithuania|url=https://ec.europa.eu/education/sites/education/files/monitor2017-lt_en.pdf|access-date=5 April 2018|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406041020/https://ec.europa.eu/education/sites/education/files/monitor2017-lt_en.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Vilnius University Life Sciences Center in the Sunrise Valley in Vilnius by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|[[Vilnius University]] Life Sciences Center in the Sunrise Valley]]
According to the [[World Bank]], the literacy rate among Lithuanians aged 15 years and older is 100%.<ref>{{cite web|title=ICT at a Glance |url=http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/ltu_ict.pdf |publisher=[[World Bank]] |access-date=7 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707184435/http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/ltu_ict.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref> School attendance rates are above the EU average and school leave is less common than in the EU. According to [[Eurostat]] Lithuania leads among other countries of the [[European Union]] in people with secondary education (93.3%).<ref>{{cite web|title=Upper secondary education in EU|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00065|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=16 May 2014|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120812/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00065|url-status=live}}</ref> Based on OECD data, Lithuania is among the top 5 countries in the world in postsecondary (tertiary) education attainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population with tertiary education|url=https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|website=data.oecd.org|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040912/https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, 58.15% of the population aged 25 to 34, and 33.28% of the population aged 55 to 64 had completed tertiary education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population with tertiary education|url=https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|website=data.oecd.org|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040912/https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The share of tertiary-educated 25–64-year-olds in STEM ([[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]]) fields in Lithuania were above the OECD average (29% and 26% respectively), similarly to business, administration and law (25% and 23% respectively).<ref>{{cite web|title=Education at a glance 2017. Lithuania|url=http://gpseducation.oecd.org/Content/EAGCountryNotes/LTU.pdf|website=gpseducation.oecd.org|page=2|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808021023/http://gpseducation.oecd.org/Content/EAGCountryNotes/LTU.pdf}}</ref>

Modern Lithuanian education system has multiple structural problems. Insufficient funding, quality issues, and decreasing student population are the most prevalent. Lithuanian teacher salaries below EU average, despite significant increases since 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/07/05/teachers-pay-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-the-least-in-europe|title=Teachers' wages: How do salaries for educators compare across Europe?|website=Euronews|date=5 July 2023 |access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref> Low teacher salaries was the primary reason behind national teacher strikes in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/education/mokyklose-prasideda-neterminuotas-mokytoju-streikas.d?id=66552496|title=Mokyklose prasideda neterminuotas mokytojų streikas|website=Delfi.lt|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417193855/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/education/mokyklose-prasideda-neterminuotas-mokytoju-streikas.d?id=66552496|url-status=live}}</ref> 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/visuomene/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-pavyko-1419148/|title=Mokytojų streikas pavyko|website=Dienraštis Vakaru ekspresas|date=9 December 2015|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=11 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511221339/https://ve.lt/naujienos/visuomene/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-pavyko-1419148|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-svarbiausi-faktai-233-591297|title=Mokytojų streikas: svarbiausi faktai|website=15min.lt|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222404/https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-svarbiausi-faktai-233-591297|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-tesiasi-110-ugdymo-istaigu-233-590739|title=Mokytojų streikas tęsiasi 110 ugdymo įstaigų|website=15min.lt|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222223/https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/svietimas/mokytoju-streikas-tesiasi-110-ugdymo-istaigu-233-590739|url-status=live}}</ref> Salaries in the higher education sector are also low. Many Lithuanian professors have a second job to supplement their income.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/934883/lietuvos-destytojai-bei-mokslininkai-atvirai-prabilo-kaip-prisiduria-prie-algos|title=Lietuvos dėstytojai bei mokslininkai atvirai prabilo, kaip prisiduria prie algos|website=Tv3.lt|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031153254/https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/934883/lietuvos-destytojai-bei-mokslininkai-atvirai-prabilo-kaip-prisiduria-prie-algos|url-status=live}}</ref> PISA report from 2022 found that Lithuanian results in math, science and reading were around OECD average, after trailing the OECD average in earlier reports in 2010 and 2015, although the relative improvement was primarily driven by the decrease in performance in the other OECD countries as a result of COVID 19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/12/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_76772a36/53f23881-en.pdf|title=PISA 2022 Results (Volume I)|website=Oecd.org|access-date=21 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisaproducts/46619703.pdf|title=PISA 2009 Results: Executive Summary|website=Oecd.org|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516195314/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisaproducts/46619703.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisa-2015-results-in-focus.pdf|title=Pisa 2015: Results in Focus|website=Oecd.org|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=8 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208150138/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisa-2015-results-in-focus.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The population ages 6 to 19 has decreased by 36% between 2005 and 2015. As a result, the student-teacher ratio is decreasing and expenditure per student is increasing, but schools, particularly in rural areas, are forced into reorganizations and consolidations.<ref name=edumonitor/> As with other Baltic nations, in particular [[Latvia]], the large volume of higher education graduates within the country, coupled with the high rate of spoken second languages is contributing to an education [[brain drain]].

{{As of|2008}}, there were 15 public and 6 private universities as well as 16 public and 11 private colleges in Lithuania (see: [[List of universities in Lithuania]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesAndFellowships/AcademicCareersObservatory/AcademicCareersbyCountry/Lithuania.aspx|publisher=[[European University Institute]]|title=Lithuania, Academic Career Structure|access-date=7 April 2010|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101054454/http://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesAndFellowships/AcademicCareersObservatory/AcademicCareersbyCountry/Lithuania.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vilnius University]] is one of the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest universities in Northern Europe]] and the largest university in Lithuania. [[Kaunas University of Technology]] is the largest technical university in the Baltic States and the second largest university in Lithuania. In an attempt to reduce costs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/12887651/universitetu-reforma-darbas-ant-durniaus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113151138/https://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/12887651/universitetu-reforma-darbas-ant-durniaus|archive-date=13 January 2018|title=Alfa.lt – Universitetų reforma – "darbas ant durniaus"|date=13 January 2018}}</ref> and adapt to sharply decreasing number of high-school students,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/visuomene/svietimas/pristatyta-aukstuju-mokyklu-tinklo-pertvarka-1550590/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113151028/http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/visuomene/svietimas/pristatyta-aukstuju-mokyklu-tinklo-pertvarka-1550590/|archive-date=13 January 2018|title=Pristatyta aukštųjų mokyklų tinklo pertvarka|date=13 January 2018}}</ref> Lithuanian parliament decided to reduce the number of universities in Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/salies-pulsas/vyriausybe-pritare-universitetu-pertvarkos-planui-838745|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113151301/http://www.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/salies-pulsas/vyriausybe-pritare-universitetu-pertvarkos-planui-838745|archive-date=13 January 2018|title=Vyriausybė pritarė universitetų pertvarkos planui – Diena.lt|date=13 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/seimas-po-svarstymo-pritare-valstybiniu-universitetu-pertvarkos-planui.d?id=75022448|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113151333/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/seimas-po-svarstymo-pritare-valstybiniu-universitetu-pertvarkos-planui.d?id=75022448|archive-date=13 January 2018|title=Seimas po svarstymo pritarė valstybinių universitetų pertvarkos planui – DELFI|date=13 January 2018}}</ref> In early 2018, [[Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences]] and [[Aleksandras Stulginskis University]] were merged into [[Vytautas Magnus University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/education/seimas-pritare-3-universitetu-sujungimui-formuojamas-naujas-darinys.d?id=76893227|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113152341/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/education/seimas-pritare-3-universitetu-sujungimui-formuojamas-naujas-darinys.d?id=76893227|archive-date=13 January 2018|title=Seimas pritarė 3 universitetų sujungimui: formuojamas naujas darinys – DELFI|date=13 January 2018}}</ref>