# Lithuanian education system reform debate

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lithuanian-education-system-reform-debate
> Updated: 2026-09-01T11:04:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has criticized the national education system, describing it as “degrading” and failing to keep pace with modern requirements. The President specifically targeted the increasing administrative burden on teachers, the need to raise teacher salaries to 130 percent of the national average, and a perceived lack of academic standards for students.

These criticisms followed a parliamentary decision to delay mandatory minimum achievement thresholds for tenth-grade students until 2029. In response to the President’s concerns, Education, Science, and Sport Minister Raminta Popovienė stated she is not “merely imitating work” and is working within the government program. The Ministry is currently collaborating with presidential advisors in a working group to address achievement threshold issues while attempting to avoid harming students.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-01: Lithuanian President and Education Minister address sector challenges

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Education Minister Raminta Popovienė have addressed tensions regarding education reforms and the PUPP achievement testing standards.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lithuanian-president-and-education-minister-address-sector-challenges

### 2026-09-01: Gitanas Nausėda criticizes Lithuanian education system

President Gitanas Nausėda criticized Lithuania's education system, calling for real solutions to teacher shortages, salary commitments, and declining academic standards for students.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gitanas-nausda-criticizes-lithuanian-education-system

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Cite as: Lithuanian education system reform debate. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lithuanian-education-system-reform-debate