The Work of the Constituent Seimas in the Field of Education: Expectations and Problems

Abstract

The article deals with the activities of the Constituent Seimas in the area of education. The main laws on education adopted by the Seimas were the Statute of the University of Lithuania and the Law on Primary Schools. In addition, obligatory primary education and obligatory teaching of religion were introduced in the Lithuanian Constitution. The article also reveals some ideological viewpoints of the Seimas’ fractions and of some individual members of the Seimas on education. The ruling block of Christian Democrats, having the approval of the majority of Lithuanian people, sought to establish their ideological viewpoints, however, hostile attitude of Peasants and Populist block and Social Democrats towards religion blocked the ideas of Christian Democrats and going to trade-offs. The greatest controversy was caused due to the establishment of Theology Faculty in the University of Lithuania and obligatory teaching of religion in primary schools. Some Lithuanian political parties failed to understand the expectations of believers who represented about 90% of Lithuania’s population.