Why did we focus on the current year? It reflects the atmosphere and conditions in which Polish education has to function. On one hand - successes and achievements of Polish students, on the other - attempts of defence against notorious attacks.

Today we invite you to read the first part of the publication.

Successes in the atmosphere of fight
The bigger successes of Polish educational community in Lithuania, the bigger, it would seem, actions directed against Polish schools.

Lithuanian newspaper 'Reitingai' (Rankings) published a list of best schools and gymnasiums in Lithuania at the beginning of 2014. There were some Polish schools as well among the top 50 educational institutions.

After less than a week in Presidential Palace in Vilnius, the President of Lithuania awarded winners of international contests and competitions. There were students from Polish schools in Vilnius among the winners too.

Meanwhile real dramas unfold behind the camera flashes and curtains of the festive scene. Rotation of teachers, threats of changing schools, lots of unknowns in the face of the upcoming matriculation exams...

Earlier primary and basic schools were attacked, now - secondary schools.
Dozens of schools with the Polish teaching language has been closed in Lithuania in the last 10 years. Part of Polish primary and basic schools was the main target. Currently Poles in Lithuania are fighting for other endangered schools. The depletion of the status of Polish education is now called 'reorganisation' of secondary schools network.

The process of conversion of schools is currently taking place in Lithuania. According to the original assumption, no secondary schools were supposed to remain in Lithuania since 1st September. They were supposed to receive a gymnasium status or had to be downgraded to basic school status

10 secondary schools under threat

10 Polish schools were under threat of degradation or even liquidation as a result of educational reform. These were: Vilnius Vladislovo Sirokomlės Secondary School, Vilnius Simono Konarskio Secondary School, Vilnius Joachimo Lelevelio Secondary School, Vilnius Lazdynų Secondary School, Vilnius district Zujūnai Secondary School, Vilnius district Egliškės Šv. Jono Bosko Secondary School, Vilnius district Medininkai Šv. Kazimiero Secondary School, Šalčininkai district Dieveniškės Adomo Mickevičiaus Secondary School, Šalčininkai district Baltosios Vokės Elizos Ožeškovos Secondary School, Trakai district Paluknio Secondary School.

These institutions were supposed to end their functioning as secondary schools as of 1st September. Rallies, appeals, petitions and prayers of Poles for their schools helped to save 6 schools this year, i.e. Trakai district Paluknio Secondary School, Vilnius district Zujūnai Secondary School, Vilnius district Medininkai Šv. Kazimiero Secondary School; Vilnius district Egliškės Šv. Jono Bosko Secondary School, Šalčininkai district Dieveniškės Adomo Mickevičiaus Secondary School and Šalčininkai district Baltosios Vokės Elizos Ožeškovos Secondary School have already received accreditations. The remaining schools have to wait for their accreditation until 1st September 2017.

Biggest problems in Vilnius

While other municipalities agreed with the decision of the Seimas to give secondary schools time to receive accreditation until 1st September 2017, the situation in the Vilnius city is more complicated. The capital Council is not willing to comply with the amended Law on Education, which makes it possible for secondary schools to apply for accreditation for a gymnasium status until 2017. Such actions endanger a number of secondary schools, including Polish ones. The schools may lose the status of a secondary school and be degraded to the status of a basic school.

There are attempts being made to degrade to lower status two schools in the capital:
Vilnius Simono Konarskio Secondary School and Vilnius Lazdynų Secondary School. Vilnius Joachimo Lelevelio Secondary School and Vilnius Vladislovo Sirokomlės Secondary School are still waiting for their accreditation.

Contrary to the amendments of the Law on Education, Vilnius authorities are trying to decrease the number of schools of national minorities functioning in the city. Actually, there were cases when despite similar situations and conditions, Lithuanian schools received the status of gymnasium (e.g. Vilnius Mikalojaus Daukšos Secondary School), and schools of national minorities – not (e.g. Vilnius Vladislovo Sirokomlės Secondary School).

First picketings - in spring

A wave of dissatisfaction came to Vilnius in spring. It was expressed by picketing, meetings, protests, appeals, and requests.

A peaceful rally was organised by parents and students of the Vilnius Vladislovo Sirokomlės Secondary School in April 2015 next to the building of the Ministry of Education and Science. The institution, which has 900 students, tries to get the status of gymnasium.

Summer of protests

A protest rally for the defence of education of national minorities took place on 1st June, the International Children's Day, by the Government's building. About 2000 people took part in the event.

A cautionary strike took place in national minority schools in Lithuania on 3rd June - parents did not send their children to schools. It was one of the protest forms against destructing Polish, Russian and other minorities' schools in a so-called process of schools 'accreditation'.

On the same day a Holy Mass in the intention of defence and growth of Polish education in Lithuania was celebrated in the Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius.

On 30th June, the last day of the spring session, Lithuanian Seimas voted on the amendments of the Law on Education. According to the amended law, Polish schools have two more years to receive accreditation.

The President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė signed the amendments of the Law on Education on 10th July.

A protest picketing against the plans of Vilnius municipality Council to reorganise certain capital's schools was organized by the President's Palace on 13th July by the communities of Polish and Russian schools in Vilnius.

Vilnius Joachimo Lelevelio Secondary School community (parents, graduates, teachers, directing staff) took part in the Holy Mass celebrated in the intention of the successful resolution of the future of the school in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Vilnius on 14th July.

On 15th July a meeting of Vilnius municipality Council took place, during which draft resolutions, unfavourable for national minority schools - Polish and Russian - operating in the capital, were considered. Without regard for schools' communities, protesting in front of the municipality, Vilnius city Council adopted resolutions threatening the current status of schools of national minorities in the capital.

A picketing in defence of national minority education in Lithuania took place by the Vilnius municipality building. More than 600 people took part in the event. All these people came to show their support and sympathy for the representatives of endangered schools.

"This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland."