ETUCE Database of Good Practices

Duration

Ongoing (LEETU teachers’ strikes in 2018, 2023, after-strike activities)

Partnership

Government, educational community (teachers, students, parents), etc.

Reason it was developed

The impact of LEETU teachers' strikes in 2018 and 2024 on the education for democratic citizenship and the transmission of fundamental values. 1. Justification Based on Research on the Situation in Lithuania and the Attitude Towards Teachers’ Strikes as Active Civic Action. Since 2007, the Lithuanian Institute of Civic Power has conducted an annual Civic Power Survey (the survey methodology was developed by experts from the Civic Society Institute ). Throughout this period, the survey has been supported by Lithuania’s highest institutions: the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania. The Civic Power Index survey has been carried out through various projects, including “Conscious and Active Citizen Participation in Public Life” (NGO Program under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism in Lithuania) and “Building the Republic: Developing Civic Action Competencies in Society” (funded by the European Social Fund and the Lithuanian state budget under the European Commission’s Human Resources Development Action Program), among others.This index reflects changes in society’s civic power—whether it grows as people acquire more democratic experience and skills, or declines as political alienation intensifies. 2. Correlation Between Teachers’ Civic Power and Ongoing Strikes • Teachers’ civic power is assessed separately each year, as teachers tend to be more engaged in public affairs and have a more positive view of civic influence on decision-making. • The Civic Power Index (CPI) significantly increases following teachers’ strikes. For example, in 2019, the average CPI score for Lithuanian teachers was 53.7 out of 100, compared to 39.7 for the general population. This increase followed the 2018 teachers' strike, which shook the entire society—teachers, protesting against simulated negotiations, occupied the premises of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport for three weeks. • A similar trend was observed after the 2023 strike initiated by the Lithuanian Education Employees’ Trade Union (LŠDPS). The average CPI score for teachers reached 51.6 out of 100, while the national average in 2023 was 36.7. • The same study collected and summarized data on participation in the 2023 teachers' strike. More than half of Lithuanian citizens (59%) supported the teachers’ strike in the fall of 2023, which demanded better salaries and working conditions. As expected, support among teachers was even higher—79% of them backed the strike. The share of those opposing the strike was relatively small in both society and among teachers, with less than a tenth expressing disapproval. 3. Collaboration between Teachers and Students During and After the Strike Although the educational process was disrupted in 2018 and 2023, students and parents largely supported and approved of this form of civic protest (more information can be found below, number 26)

Activities

2018 teachers' strike shook the entire society—teachers, protesting against simulated negotiations, occupied the premises of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport for three weeks. Students, parents, doctors, actors, simple people expressed support for the protested teachers, living in the ministry building bringing them food, clothes, singing and acting, etc. • This unprecedented event in Lithuania motivated some to take action and united them, while others were shocked or outraged. However, the society received very fragmented and inconsistent information, rife with rumors and biased interpretations. So teacher Lilija Bruckiene has written the book called ""Five Minutes to Prestige"". The book presents the authentic experience of a teacher who lived in the ministry for three weeks. The events are presented in chronological order, spanning from the summer of 2018 to the autumn of 2019, supplemented by articles written both while at the ministry and afterwards. This not only reveals the facts about what happened during the strike but also analyzes deeper issues within the education system. • Mass demonstration in Vilnius in solitarity with teachers’ strike 2018. Large protest has been held in Vilnius, with many Lithuanians gathering in solidarity of a teacher strike currently held by over thousand workers of schools and kindergartens across Lithuania. • In 2023, collaboration between teachers and students is evidenced by the fact that from the very first days of the strike, the Lithuanian School Students' Union— the only organization representing students of this age group—officially expressed support for teachers and actively participated in various protest actions. • One of protest actions during the strike 2023 were the organized pickets as school in Vilnius, in front of the government building on Vincas Kudirka Square in Vilnius. Lithuanian School Students' Union together with LEETU teachers on strike spent time and slept in Vilnius Kudirkos for two weeks. There were civic education lessons in front of the government. They set up a blackboard there and invited politicians, economists, and political scientists to come to the ,,class"" and have civil lessons or answer questions in front of teachers, students, journalists. • During the strike 2023, an initiative called “The Path of the Strike” was carried out. Teachers from different parts of Lithuania walked to Vilnius to demonstrate their commitment. The longest distance covered was 410 km, completed in 14 days. Alongside teachers, students and their parents also joined the journey. Four students, accompanied by their teachers and tutor, walked the entire distance, while others participated according to their physical abilities. At times, there were more high school students than teachers on the road. • On weekends, when no classes were held, numerous instances were recorded where young people from schools that were not participating in the strike still showed their support. As a form of civic education, some entire classes—of various ages—organized one-day or several-hour-long marches, either with their teachers or just with their parents. • At the final event in Vilnius, students from across Lithuania attended and actively contributed to the planning and execution of the program. Students saw their participation not only as moral support for teachers but also as an act of civic responsibility and a defense of democratic values.

Results

•The Civic Power Index (CPI) significantly increases following teachers’ strikes. • A lot of TV and radio programs, as well as articles in publications, have been about strikes concerning education for democratic citizenship and the transmission of fundamental values. •Students saw their participation not only as moral support for teachers but also as an act of civic responsibility and a defense of democratic values. • A documentary film titled ""Only Those Who Walk Can Reach Their Destination"" was created using collected video footage. The film is freely accessible on YouTube, making it a valuable resource for civic education lessons. •The resources as a documentary film titled ""Only Those Who Walk Can Reach Their Destination"" and a research project titled ""The Road to Vilnius – A Story of Light and Unity"" made by students are valuable for civic education lesons. • LEETU representatives developed, tested, and publicly shared lesson cycles on civic education. These lessons were based on active learning methods and included all necessary teaching materials. The developed lesson cycles included ""Forms of Government and Their Characteristics"" (integrated history, civic education, art, and homeroom lessons for middle and high school students) and ""Together We Can Do More"" (an interactive, integrated lesson cycle aimed at fostering civic competencies in primary education). • An 11th-grade student, A. Anužytė, who participated in the ""Path of the Strike"" initiative, conducted a research project titled ""The Road to Vilnius – A Story of Light and Unity."" This project compiled testimonies from students and teachers who walked during the strike, presented in an interview format. The work was publicly shar •The book ""Five Minutes to Prestige"" written by Lilija Bruckiene. The book presents the authentic experience of a teacher who lived in the ministry for three weeks. The events are presented in chronological order, spanning from the summer of 2018 to the autumn of 2019, supplemented by articles written both while at the ministry and afterwards. This not only reveals the facts about what happened during the strike but also analyzes deeper issues within the education system.

Funding

Everything was funded from LEETU funds, teachers' personal funds, and people also donated.