Your child has a right to an education, which is a human right. Education enables your child to become independent and a fully developed individual and member of society. As a parent, you also have an important role in your child’s education. Firstly, you advise and educate your child and, secondly, you provide support for your child in the exercise of his/her right to an education outside the family, such as the choice of an educational institution.
A child’s right to an education
A child’s right to an education guarantees:
- the right of access to state-created or approved educational institutions
- the right to obtain official recognition of completed studies
important In Lithuania, every child has an obligation to acquire pre-school and primary education.
If your child has functional disabilities, there should be special educational programmes available according to your child’s needs.
Free primary and secondary education
The Constitution of Lithuania, guarantees your child State financed pre-school, primary and secondary education, as well as vocational training. This does not apply to private educational institutions.
Free education also means that the State finances a broad range of school supplies which are necessary for an education. Such school supplies are, for example, study literature (textbooks, exercise books and fiction books), visual materials, didactic games, electronic resources, devices, instruments and sports equipment. At the same time, a parent must ensure that the child has individual school supplies, such as stationery, specific clothing (for example, for sports or chemistry subjects) and individual materials for specific school subjects, such as housekeeping or technologies.
Language of instruction
The right to an education does not guarantee the right to obtain instruction in your mother tongue or other language of your choice to you or your child. In Lithuania, children are educated in the official language of the State, which is Lithuanian. There are, however, some exceptions.
Child’s freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Your child has a human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. At the same time, you as a parent are responsible for the determination of the child’s religious affiliation until your child has reached 14 years of age and may then choose it him/herself as provided by the law.
As a part of the educational process, schools must observe the principles of secularism and neutrality. This means that information and knowledge included in the school curriculum must be conveyed in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner, in a calm atmosphere which is free from unrestrained proselytism. To observe these principles, schools may restrict certain forms of your child’s religious expression.
In Lithuania, your child has the option to learn either traditional religion or ethics, or both subjects.
- Until your child has reached 14 years of age, you (or the legal guardian) should make the choice together with your child and inform the school about the choice in an application signed by you (or the legal guardian).
- After your child has reached 14 years of age, this choice depends on them and he/she may inform the school about it in an application which they sign. However, this application must be submitted along with your (or the legal guardian’s) written approval.
Respect for a parent’s freedom of thought, conscience and religion
You as a parent, are primarily responsible for the education and teaching of your children. This also means that you may require your child’s school to respect your religious and philosophical convictions as a part of your own right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
At the same time, it is clear that many subjects taught at school have, to a greater or lesser extent, some philosophical aspects or implications. Therefore, teaching and the educational process may involve some religious or philosophical information to be given to your child directly or indirectly. Your freedom of thought, conscience and religion does not give you the right to demand that no such information is ever given to your child. Otherwise, the teaching of your child and other children could prove to be impracticable.