Vilnius Confirms Francysk Skaryna Gymnasium Can Admit Children From Non-EU Countries in 2027/28 School Year

Reform.news Editorial Team · 9 November 2026, 21:39

https://reform.news/en/vilnius-confirms-francysk-skaryna-gymnasium-can-admit-children-from-non-eu-countries-in-2027-28-school-year/

Vilnius’ Francysk Skaryna Gymnasium will be able to admit children arriving from countries outside the European Union who are entitled to temporary or permanent residence in Lithuania in the 2027/28 school year. This is stated in a response from the Education and Youth Department of the Vilnius City Municipality to an appeal submitted by the Association of Belarusian Parents in Lithuania on October 2.

The department explained that amendments to the city’s school admission rules, approved on August 26, would not prevent these children from enrolling at the gymnasium. The department referred to the gymnasium’s decisions on providing education in Lithuanian while allowing pupils to study Belarusian and preserve the culture and identity of the Belarusian national minority.

Children currently attending pre-primary preparation groups at the gymnasium will also be eligible to apply for places in first grade. Citywide admission criteria and priorities will apply.

Reform.news previously reported that the Vilnius City Council had revised admission rules for primary school classes for children arriving from countries outside the EU. The rules provided for the possibility of admitting newly arrived pupils to Francysk Skaryna Gymnasium in the 2026/27 school year, subject to available places.

In January, the city council also approved amendments to the gymnasium’s statutes. Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said that Lithuanian-language teaching would be strengthened at the gymnasium and bridging classes established. The Association of Belarusian Parents welcomed the inclusion of Lithuanian in the gymnasium’s statutes and called for the Belarusian language to be retained in the curriculum.