Vocational Education and Training (VET)

2021

From the 15th of December 2020, when quarantine requirements were significantly increased, vocational training and higher education moved online. Initial contact vocational training is allowed, in conjunction with the social skills programme. There may also be compulsory internships, practical training or assessment of competencies that cannot be implemented remotely. In the case of contact training, the management of the flow of persons, safe distancing and other necessary public health measures must be ensured.

2021-2022 school year in initial vocational eucation and training was started in a contact manner, in compliance with basic safety conditions. All schools provide opportunities for students to voluntarily test in one of the methods chosen by the school (cumulative, antigens). The school decides on the method of testing. Pupils are tested at school, tests are provided by the school.

Non-immune employees are required to be tested regularly in accordance with government procedures.

Contact continuing vocational education and training is available only to those who have been vaccinated, have recovered or have a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test at least 48 hours previously (from the time of sampling).

In the case of COVID-19, a person with confirmed coronavirus infection shall be isolated. All non-immune persons who have been in contact with him must be isolated for 10 days.

2020

Going into lockdown and switching to online learning. From 16 March 2020 Lithuania went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All types of schools were closed. VET institutions also stopped their usual learning process. The first two weeks of quarantine were announced as holidays, during which VET institutions prepared for online education. With the start of online learning in early April, pedagogical staff in VET institutions worked remotely; the school head decided how to organise the work of non-teaching staff. Practical parts of VET that required physical contact, such as internships and qualification exams, were not carried out. If the VET took the form of an apprenticeship and the training was organised by the employer, the real contact training could continue if the employer could ensure safe learning conditions. If a socially vulnerable group student did not have a computer and internet connection at home, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport asked VET institutions to find ways to address these issues. Contactless food delivery was organised for students who received free meals, such as the disabled. VET students who were awarded the scholarship continued to receive it despite the situation when VET could not be implemented.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport encouraged VET institutions to contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. VET institutions that have empty dormitories were asked to ‘lend’ them to municipalities and to accommodate those in need of self-isolation if they needed a place to live in self-isolation. At the same time VET institutions were asked to contribute in other ways to solving the problems caused by the disease. For example, VET institutions with sewing programmes were able to sew protective masks that were in short supply at one stage.

Relaxing the quarantine conditions. From 25 May VET institutions were permitted to continue VET learning in the usual way. VET institutions took the final decision on whether they would work remotely or by mixing regular and online learning. The following safety requirements were set for the renewed regular educational process:

• Adhere to the principle of group isolation. That is, conduct teaching in a way that students from different VET groups would not mix. For example, to adjust the schedule of groups so that students come to the institution at different times, to plan the directions of movement in the corridors and to organise non-buffet meals.
• A distance of 1 m must be maintained between students in classrooms or teaching places.
• Classes and premises must be ventilated frequently; frequently touched surfaces must be disinfected.
• General hygiene requirements (wash hands, display sneezing label, etc.) must be observed, hands must be disinfected, and adults must wear face protection indoors.
• Assess the health of students and teachers by measuring temperature and monitoring for signs of infection.

From 1 June, the requirements have been further relaxed: in VET institutions there is no longer a requirement to maintain a distance of 1 m between each other. It was advised to minimise the student flows, to shorten time of contact, wear face masks, respirators or other means to cover the mouth and nose.

Organisation of the 2020–2021 school year in VET institutions. From 1 September the new school year in VET started and the new requirements for VET provision were established:

• A distance of 1 m must be maintained between students in classrooms or teaching places. If a distance of at least 2 m cannot be maintained between them, face protection – masks, respirators, etc. – must be worn in indoor spaces. Masks may not be worn by people with disabilities who are unable to wear masks due to their medical condition. If the worker is unable to wear the mask due to his/her health condition or the specifics of the activity performed, other personal protective equipment may be chosen for him/her.
• The principle of group isolation is used in the organising VET provision indoors.
• General hygiene requirements must be observed, the opportunity to wash hands with soap or disinfect hands must be ensured.
• People with a fever (37.3 °C and above) or signs of a contagious disease (e.g. runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing) are not allowed to take part in contact activities.
• The health status of staff and students is monitored.
• Participation in VET activities by contact is prohibited for people who must be in isolation.
• Premises must be ventilated frequently; frequently touched surfaces must be disinfected.
• Catering for the participants is organised in accordance with the requirements for public catering establishments.

In the 2020–2021 school year 1,500 more students started VET than the previous year: this year 21,100 people chose VET, last year it was 19,600. Of these, state-funded places were allocated to 20,800 people who signed VET contracts, compared to 19,200 in 2019. Nearly 400 gymnasium pupils use the opportunity for the first time this year to acquire professional knowledge while being still in school.

Covid-19 in the VET institution. If a member of the VET community is found to be infected with Covid-19, the head of the institution must immediately inform the National Public Health Centre under the Ministry of Health. In collaboration with the supervisor, the people who had contact with the sick person are identified and 14 days of isolation is applied to those in contact. For the contact group, several groups or the whole VET institution, the VET provision is continued online.

According to the data of 15 September, due to the recorded case of Covid-19 and possible contact, one VET group (10 students) is working online.

2019

VET funding methodology changes

On 28August 2019, the Government adopted a decision, that changes the VET funding methodology. The main principle that the funds are allocated to a single student, remains. The main change is that now the credits are counted and not the VET hours.

The decision states that a one-year formal VET programme amounts to 60 credits. If the programme amounts to a different number of credits or if a student studies in modules, the funds are calculated according to the number of credits. This method of calculating funds is more flexible – a person choosing separate modules can acquire separate wanted competencies.

The new methodology promotes apprenticeship. If a student studies as an apprentice, the funds allocated to him/her are increased by 25%. The funds for education are calculated more precisely, as it takes into account the actual number of students in the group. It allows for the shortage of funding in lesser groups to be eased. The funding allocated for learning equipment will be differentiated even more.

The new funding methodology enters into force on 1 January 2020. 

The first results of the legal regulation reform of VET

The first results of the reform of vocational education and training (VET) have become visible in 2019. The Minister of Education, Science and Sport[1] approved councils in 47 VET schools. Councils in 20 other schools will be formed in the near future. A council is a collegial VET school management body. It consists of nine members. Four members are selected from representative of social partners. A person can become a member if he/she has the highest reputation, experience in VET or specialist training, etc. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, regional development councils and VETs themselves appoint the rest of the members.

According to the state VET school network development plan for 2018-2020, mergers of VET schools have begun. Programmes that are unprovided, are chosen by too few students, or which are dated programmes are being closed. 1700 such programmes have been removed from the register. During the winter’s admission to VET, candidates could choose from approximately 950 programmes. VET schools renew their programmes according to new professional standards. Five professional standards were renewed in 2018 and 15 professional standards will be renewed in 2019. The plan is to have the final students finish dated programmes in 2020. Then all VET programmes will be renewed and the dated ones closed. Professional standards will be reviewed at least every two years.

Adult Education

2021

From the 15th of December 2020 with the introduction of the strict quarantine measures, non-formal adult education was only allowed online. If the activities cannot be conducted remotely, non-formal adult education should be stopped. From the 6th of March contact sessions have been allowed if they take place outdoors and they are attended by a maximum of 5 people. Such activities must comply with the safety requirements in force at the time. From the 22nd of March indoor classes are allowed, but only for a maximum of 5 people. Everyone must have a safe space of 30 square meters and comply with the safety requirements in force at the time. Indoor classes can take place only in those municipalities where the epidemiological situation is considered stable. From the 12th of April the number of persons who can participate in a single outdoor activity was increased to 10. The situation indoors is still the same – no more than 5 people can take part, but they need less space – 20 sq. m per person.

2020

On 16 March quarantine was introduced in the country, which stopped the normal activities of educational institutions. Formal and non-formal adult education was continued online. On 25–30 May, after the quarantine requirements were relaxed, a return to the formal adult education classes was allowed (here the adults learn according to the lower secondary curriculum and upper secondary curriculum). Non-formal adult education is further implemented online and in contact. If learning takes place through contact, participants have to follow safety requirements.

In the 2020–2021 school year, education in adult formal education schools could have started in various ways. The school head decided how the learning will take place – contact, online or mixed. When organising education, it is important to follow the following safety requirements:

• A distance of 1 m must be maintained between students in classrooms or teaching places. If a distance of at least 2 m cannot be maintained between them, face protection then masks, respirators, etc. must be worn in indoor spaces. Masks may not be worn by people with disabilities who are unable to wear masks due to their medical condition. If the worker is unable to wear the mask due to his/her health condition or the specifics of the activity performed, other personal protective equipment may be chosen for him/her.
• The principle of group isolation is used in the organising education indoors.
• General hygiene requirements must be observed; the opportunity to wash hands with soap or disinfect hands must be ensured.
• People with a fever (37.3 °C and above) or signs of a contagious disease (e.g. runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing) are not allowed to take part in contact activities.
• The health status of staff and students is monitored.
• Participation in VET activities by contact is prohibited for people who must be in isolation.
• Premises must be ventilated frequently; frequently touched surfaces must be disinfected.

• Catering for the participants is organised in accordance with the requirements for public catering establishments.

2019

No reforms