Lithuanian Schools: Teacher’s Disappointment Over Growing Chaos
Here’s a summary of the key points from the provided text, focusing on the increasing need for tutoring in Lithuania:
* Rising Demand for Tutoring: More and more students need tutoring to fill knowledge gaps and keep up with changing school programs. This is happening even in primary school.
* Reasons for Tutoring: Lack of confidence and difficulty completing homework independently are common reasons parents seek tutoring for their children.
* Subjects Needing Help: Students moast frequently enough need help with mathematics, Lithuanian language, and the natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry).
* Tutoring Costs: ”Digiklasė” tutors charge 20-30 euros per session, with payment required monthly in advance.
* Growing Tutoring Market: The number of tutoring services is increasing, but many new businesses fail due to market competition.
* Lack of Educational Vision: E. Bekeža (from “Digiklasė”) attributes the rise in tutoring to a lack of a clear, shared vision for Lithuanian education. He questions what the education system expects of students beyond inclusion.
* Disruptions & Program Changes: School closures during COVID-19, teacher shortages, ineffective remote learning, and frequent program changes are all cited as contributing factors. The timing of a mandatory math exam after these disruptions is also criticized.
* Ministry Response: The Ministry of Education doesn’t have data on tutoring usage but has a position on the issue (though the text doesn’t detail what that position is beyond acknowledging the trend).
In essence, the article paints a picture of a stressed education system where students are falling behind, parents are turning to expensive tutoring to compensate, and a fundamental lack of direction within the system is seen as a core problem.
