Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania

Under the order of Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis, pupils of ethnic minorities' schools will have a 400 words essay for the Lithuanian language and literature state exam. Meanwhile, school leavers from regular Lithuanian schools will have a 500 words essay. What is more, representatives of ethnic minorities' schools will be allowed to make more mistakes, even though the Lithuanian language exam is the only compulsory exam for those who want to enroll in universities. "There will be no tragedy in Lithuania about making a new kind of exam a bit easier," the minister had said.

However, renowned teachers and experts of the Lithuanian language and literature – professor Viktorija Daujotyte, Philology Faculty dean at Vilnius University Antanas Smetona and senior teacher of the Lithuanian language and literature at Vilnius Sv Kristoforo school Dainora Eigminiene do not hide their disappointment: the hard work of the Lithuanian language teachers has been wiped off, while Lithuania this year had a historical chance of allowing its citizens have a united exam of the Lithuanian language and literature. Eigminiene thinks that "children had fallen victims of the situation".

According to prof. Daujotyte, "it was a blow to our democracy and moral position." Dean Smetona who surprised Lithuania by suggesting introducing a Lithuanian language exam for all those wising to enter Vilnius University said that it is rather possible in the future.