EDUCATION OF LITHUANIANS IN POLAND DISCUSSED IN MFA
Created 2003-02-21
On 20 February at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Lithuania, a meeting was held to discuss problems and their possible solutions concerning education of the Lithuanian ethnic minority in Poland.
The sitting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis, Minister of Education and Science Algirdas Monkevičius, Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Artūras Skardžius, Director General of the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad Antanas Petrauskas, Ambassador to Poland Darius Degutis and Consul in Sejny (Seinai) Aušra Černevičienė.
The Lithuanian diplomatic missions in Poland received a letter by Chief Executive of the Punsk District Vytautas Liškauskas, which reported about the disquieting situation in the field of education of local Lithuanians, besides, articles on the problems of establishing a Lithuanian gymnasium in Sejny appeared in the magazine “Aušra” published by Lithuanians in Poland.
On having cut down funds for school maintenance, the year 2003 may become fateful for Lithuanian schools in Poland. The Polish authorities encourage closure of schools as part of their initiated economizing measures, however, it brings about a threat of assimilation for Lithuanian inhabitants of Punsk and Sejny.
The Lithuanian officials discussed the current situation and decided to address the Polish authorities and draw their attention to those worrisome facts.
Social media
