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Lithuania to Drop Russian Language in Schools by 2026

7/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Lithuania is set to eliminate Russian as a second foreign language in schools by 2026, driven by waning student interest and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Education officials are prioritizing discussions on this transition, highlighting the urgent need for qualified teachers in alternative languages. Notably, the choice of Russian among sixth-graders plummeted from 81.7% in 2014-2015 to just 43.5% for 2024-2025.

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Story summary

Lithuania is set to eliminate Russian as a second foreign language in schools by 2026, driven by waning student interest and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Education officials are prioritizing discussions on this transition, highlighting the urgent need for qualified teachers in alternative languages. Notably, the choice of Russian among sixth-graders plummeted from 81.7% in 2014-2015 to just 43.5% for 2024-2025.