OECD Reviews of School Resources: Lithuania 2016
The effective use of school resources is a policy priority across OECD countries. The OECD Reviews of School Resources explore how resources can be governed, distributed, utilised and managed to improve the quality, equity and efficiency of school education.
The series considers four types of resources: financial resources, such as public funding of individual schools; human resources, such as teachers, school leaders and education administrators; physical resources, such as location, buildings and equipment; and other resources, such as learning time.
This series offers timely policy advice to both governments and the education community. It includes both country reports and thematic studies.
Executive summary
Since regaining independence in 1990, Lithuania has clearly stated the importance of education to societal development. The National Education Strategy 2013-22 includes a focus on education as a foundation for the future and a commitment to increase the level of investment from public funds in education to 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022. However, the international financial crisis hit the Lithuanian economy harder than on average in OECD economies. A far-reaching convergence programme includes a target reduction for educational expenditure from 6.2% to 4.8% of GDP in 2020. Already, public expenditure per student in Lithuania is one of the lowest among European Union countries. There has also been mass emigration since 1990, with around 20% of the 1990s population leaving Lithuania over the following 20 years. The majority of emigrants are of working age and, increasingly, families. This has presented significant efficiency challenges to the school network. Also, international data reveal considerable concerns with the quality of school education in Lithuania, including significant rural-urban disparities.