Curriculum, subjects, number of hours

When organising VET, VET providers use General Plan of the Vocational Education and Training Curriculum for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, Description of Formal Vocational Education and Training Curriculum and other legal acts for organising education. The Minister of Education, Science and Sport approves these legal acts. The VET institution prepares its curriculum according to these documents.

Preparation of VET institution’s curriculum

When planning the implementation of a VET programme or module, the VET school or other VET provider adjusts it to the needs of the labour market and pupils. VET providers can independently modify up to 15 per cent of the content of a programme to take account of market needs and providing they do not change the scope of the general VET programme. The mandatory modules of a VET programme cannot be changed.

The VET institution prepares its own curriculum. The school’s curriculum describes the implementation of education contents, provides solutions on how to organise the education process – in the form of school or apprenticeship, how to assess pupils’ achievements, how to organise practice etc. It is recommended that a working group composed of representatives of the school’s community be formed to prepare the school’s curriculum.

A VET programme or module can be implemented over a shorter or longer period of time than is foreseen in the legal act. In that case possibilities and learning and working load are taken into account.

The VET provider approves the school’s curriculum before the 1^st September of the school year.

VET programme (except modular VET programmes): subjects and number of hours

The duration of the VET programme depends on the education level of a student and whether the VET programme is modular.

VET programmes accordint to the general VET plans approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport.

*The indicated number of hours for VET does not include hours for non-formal education.

The VET programme comprises vocational education and training (theoretical and practical training and practice), general VET subjects and non-formal education.

General VET subjects are usually:

• Civil safety;
• Basics of economics and business;
• Aesthetics;
• Professional information technologies;
• Culture of Lithuanian language and language of profession;
• Moral education (ethics or religion). This subject is not included as a mandatory subject in the VET programmes for those who have acquired upper secondary education or who have finished the upper secondary education programme;
• Physical education.

Basics of economics and business, aesthetics, professional information technologies can be integrated in the teaching of the profession.

While educating competencies required for the profession, the lifelong learning abilities are also developed. Critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem solving, decision-making and constructive management of emotions are taught with general abilities.

Non-formal education programmes are prepared according to criteria of state and municipal programmes financed by the Minister for Education, Science and Sport. The hours for non-formal education programmes are set each year.

Practical training covers 60-70% of the hours allocated for VET subjects. The practice takes place in the final year. It takes place in an enterprise, institution, organisation, farm etc. Practice may be continuous or split into separate parts. Before starting the practice, the student must have completed practice-related training programmes and have received a satisfactory assessment of the above-mentioned programmes.

When a VET programme is organised in the form of apprenticeship, the VET provider implements at least 20 and no more than 50 per cent of the VET programme or modular VET programme time. The rest is implemented at the apprenticeship workplace.

Modular VET programme: subjects and number of hours

The modular VET programme is divided into credits. The table below shows the hours allocated for one, one and a half and two years of study of 60, 90, and 110 credits for a modular VET programme for acquiring initial qualifications (according to the general VET plans approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport).

* Training hours in the workplace are allocated to the final module and training at the work place after completing one or several modules.

Hours for physical activity regulation are distributed in the last course if the modular programme is 110 or 90 credits.

While educating competencies required for the profession, the lifelong learning abilities are also developed. Critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem solving, decision-making and constructive management of emotions are taught with general abilities. At least 10 per cent of a modular programme must be dedicated to the education of lifelong learning abilities. It is integrated in the modules.

Non-formal education programmes are prepared according to the criteria of state and municipal programmes financed by the Minister for Education, Science and Sport. The hours for all non-formal education programmes are set each year.

Distribution of credits of a modular VET programme

27 hours are allocated for 1 credit in modular VET programmes. In the case of initial VET, the VET provider has to assign 22 hours of each credit to contact work in class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. The remaining 5 hours are dedicated for extra curriculum work. If a student has special educational needs due to intellectual disabilities, all 27 hours are allocated to contact work in class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. In the case of a continuous modular VET programme, at least 17 hours are dedicated to contact work in class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. The remaining 10 hours of one credit are dedicated for extra curriculum work.

After completion of one or several modules and after receiving satisfactory assessment for these modules, there is usually time for practical training at a work place. It is recommended to implement this in sectorial practical training centre. During the last module of a modular VET programme, pupils who have satisfactory assessments from all modules are sent to an enterprise, institution, organisation, farm etc. to learn in a real work place.

Teaching methods and materials

In pursuing general education goals, every teacher is free to select the educational methods he/she deems adequate, to combine several of them and create his/her individual style of instruction. Specific education methods should reflect the actual situation: the needs and abilities of pupils, skills and faculties of each individual teacher as well as the changing socio-cultural context. The teacher has a right to propose his/her individual programmes and choose various ways and forms of pedagogical activities.

VET school teachers are free to choose the ways and means of organising their teaching activities and select any of the accredited curricula and textbooks.