Lithuania is a well-developed country in Europe that has one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union. Education in Lithuania does not fall behind either, with near-universal literacy and high school enrollment.

Literacy and Enrollment in Lithuania

Lithuania‘s overall literacy rate is 99.83%, and the youth literacy rate (for males and females aged 15-24) is even higher, at 99.95%. The country’s enrollment rates are also high. Enrollment rates for both primary and secondary school exceed 100% (due to enrollment of over- and underage students), sitting at 101.91% and 106.92%, respectively (as of 2022). Furthermore, enrollment in tertiary school was 76.92% in 2022, far greater than the global average (which barely exceeds 50%). 

Lithuania’s Education System

In Lithuania, there is compulsory education for children ages 7 to 17. The first compulsory level of education is primary education, which students attend from ages 7 to 11. Primary education teaches children the basics of morality, language, mathematics and the arts, among other subjects necessary to children’s development.

The next level of education is lower secondary education, which is also compulsory. The first stage of lower secondary education lasts four years and teaches more basic skills. The second stage lasts two years and is focused on developing abstract thinking within students. Also, in the second stage, students have greater freedom to choose which subjects to study.

Upper secondary education lasts for two years and is optional. At the end of the two years, students must take leaving examinations. If they pass these exams, they earn a Maturity Certificate, allowing them to pursue higher education in Lithuania. Alternatively, students can attend 3-year vocational schools to obtain both a Maturity Certificate and a Vocational Education Diploma. Either path provides students with the opportunity to move on to higher education.

A Shortage in STEM

Lithuania does not have enough STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates who are qualified to take on STEM jobs: almost half of Lithuanian graduates hold positions that do not align with the amount of education they have completed. Furthermore, the proportion of STEM students who are female was just 27.3% in 2023. It is vital that Lithuania address these problems and promote education in STEM to match the needs of the market.

Lithuania is doing so through its vocational education and training program and STEAM plan. Vocational education and training provide Lithuanians with the ability to acquire skills in STEM: although a high proportion of vocational students do pursue STEM fields, STEM vocational education is still underused by the population. However, Lithuania aims to increase interest in STEM through the STEAM plan: there are ten STEAM centers in Lithuania that allow Lithuanians to participate in engaging labs and projects. As of 2024, 20,000 students and 1,000 teachers have participated in these activities. 

Overall, education in Lithuania is quite strong. Although the country does face a lack of interest in STEM, its programs are working to change that. Furthermore, Lithuania’s high literacy and enrollment rates indicate a highly educated and capable population.

– Téa Franco, Jackson Meyer 

Photo: Flickr