Education and Science, Lithuania

His comment came after the National Examination Center (NEC) published the results showing that around a third of candidates failed to pass the national-level math exam. 

According to the minister, upgraded general education curricula will be rolled out in some schools in September and will eventually be introduced nationwide. 

"We have to make students interested and motivated to learn math, and to use new methods to foster analytical thinking and applied mathematical skills which are lacking now," Monkevicius said.  

The training of teachers and application of modern information technologies will also be geared toward achieving this goal, he said.  

The ministry also plans to step up assistance to students preparing for math and science exams.

According to the NEC, around one-third of more than 15,000 candidates did not pass the national-level math exam this year. By comparison, less than one-fifth of those who took the exam last year failed.