Language and Education Orientations in Lithuania: A Cross-Baltic Perspective Post-EU Accession

Abstract

This paper presents an up-to-date overview of language policies and practices in Lithuania, paying particular attention to the latest developments that have taken place in national educational contexts. Against the background of recent sociodemographic changes in the three Baltic republics, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, it analyzes issues pertaining to educational measures chosen in support of both Lithuanian and other locally used languages. In tracing re-evolving individual multilingualisms amongst majority and minority populations around EU accession, it will be shown that these are symbolic of changing orientations, which are socially, politically and economically motivated.

Keywords:

• education policy
• language attitudes
• language-in-education
• language legislation
• Lithuania
• bilingualism/multilingualism

Notes

1. Today, approximately 37% of Latvia's population consists of russophones (this includes 29.6% Russians, 4.1% Belarussians, 2.7% Ukrainians, and 0.4% Jews); Estonia's russophone community amounts to approximately 29.6% of the total population (this includes 25.6% Russians, 2.1% Ukrainians, 1.3% Belarusians, and 0.2% Jews) (2000 Round of population and housing censuses in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, at www.csb.gov.lv/images/modules/items/item_file_2064_baltcen3.pdf; www.stat.ee).

2. Among them are the authors of Kalbu mokymo politikos apraŠas (2006): Daniel Coste (France), Pavel Cink (Czech Republic), Pádraig Ó Riagáin (Ireland), Joseph Sheils (European Council), Stase Skapiene (Lithuania) and Eike Thürmann (Germany).

3. These findings were obtained through a British Academy supported survey conducted in 2002 amongst community representatives in Lithuania's most multiethnic and multilingual eastern and southeastern regions.

4. Out of four political parties, Lietuvos lenku rinkimine akcija (The Election Action of Lithuanian Poles), Lietuvos rusu sajunga (The Union of Lithuanian Russians), Politine partija Rusu aljansas (Political Party of Russian Alliance), and Lietuvos lenku liaudies partija (Peoples’ Party of Lithuanian Poles) representing national minorities of Lithuania in the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) and local governments, the party Lietuvos lenku rinkimine akcija (The Election Action of Lithuanian Poles) representing the Polish community won two seats in the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) in the 2004 election and 50 mandates in local governments in the 2002 election. On the other hand, Lietuvos rusu sajunga (The Union of Lithuanian Russians) has 11 mandates, and the other two parties mentioned have 3 and 1 mandates, respectively (Politines partijos. Tautiniu mažumu ir iŠeivijos departamentas prie LR vyriausybes). This is because a great part of the Russian population supports other (not minority-based) political parties in national and local elections.