Preserve regional schools says Pavalkis

  • 2013-09-02
  • From wire reports

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis is sure that irrespectively of decreasing number of students, regional universities and small local schools must be preserved, reports ELTA. According to the minister, the youth gain not only knowledge, but also satisfy their cultural needs in such education institutions.

Pavalkis commented on the situation in education in an interview with radio Laisvoji Banga on Sept. 2. The minister noted that the number of pupils has decreased by 20,000 this year compared to the number in 2012. According to him, the downward trend is observed throughout Lithuania, except perhaps the regions of Kaunas and Vilnius, where families with children tend to move to.

According to Pavalkis, though 70 schools were closed last year, this year municipalities took into account the program of the government; therefore, the number of schools will decrease only by 13.
The minister also said that regional universities that tend to have not enough students willing to enter them should not be closed down. “My profound belief is that we must preserve regional universities, perhaps not as a body of science, but maybe as a place for culture and education,” said Pavalkis.