Lithuania may phase out Russian as a second foreign language in schools by 2026, according to education officials and lawmakers, citing shifting student preferences and geopolitical concerns.
Vice Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jonas Petkevičius said Wednesday that discussions will be held with both the Seimas Education and Science Committee and the broader public on the possible removal of Russian from the school curriculum as a second foreign language.
“We are observing trends and will certainly be considering the possibility of dropping Russian as a second foreign language,” Petkevičius told LRT RADIO.
He noted a significant decline in the number of students choosing to study Russian in recent years. However, Petkevičius cautioned that the decision must take into account the availability of qualified teachers for alternative languages, particularly in rural regions.
“We are seeing more teachers of German and French, but we still face a shortage of Spanish teachers,” he said. “What’s the point of removing Russian if we have nothing to replace it with? Children are required to learn a second foreign language according to the curriculum. So this must be a carefully considered, comprehensive decision.”
Darius Jakavičius, a member of the Seimas Education and Science Committee representing the ruling Social Democrats, proposed that the shift could take effect in September 2026.
He believes it is a good time “to take advantage of the current geopolitical opportunity” and replace Russian with a European Union language, Jakavičius told LRT RADIO. He said he plans to raise the issue in the parliamentary committee.
“I believe we need to find a solution and, starting September 1, 2026, prevent fifth- or sixth-grade students – depending on when their schools choose the second foreign language – from selecting Russian,” he said.
According to the Education Ministry, the percentage of sixth-grade students choosing Russian as their second foreign language has dropped sharply in recent years: from 81.7% in the 2014–2015 academic year to just 43.5% for 2024–2025.
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