Lithuania faces shortage of education support specialists in schools

An audit of Lithuanian schools found that more than half of institutions lack at least one education support specialist, hindering inclusive education. The audit cited that while 76 % of municipalities have measures to attract or retain such specialists, demand far exceeds supply – about 1,160 specialist positions were sought last year, yet the pool of applicants was roughly three times smaller.

Teachers reported that 41 % do not receive adequate assistance because specialists are either fully occupied or their posts remain vacant. Specialists themselves said administrative tasks consume a large part of their day; 69 % identified paperwork, meeting preparation, and report writing as major obstacles, limiting direct contact with children. Reducing administrative load and offering competitive salaries were highlighted as necessary steps to improve service quality and staff wellbeing.