PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 Encyclopediaat the primary and basic levels includes the mother tongue (mainly Lithuanian, but insome schools Russian, Polish, and Belorussian), mathematics, foreign languages, history,geography, sciences, civil education, music, art, physical training, crafts, informatics,technologies, and moral education (either religion or ethics). In addition to these subjects,the language minority schools also teach Lithuanian as a state language. Reading andwriting are taught as part of the mother tongue.Upper-secondary school consists of grades 11 and 12. Beginning in 2000, a systemof “profiles” was introduced in upper-secondary schools, where upper-grade studentschose one of four profiles—humanities, mathematics and science, technology, or art—and their curriculum was arranged according to that profile. Since the 2006–07 schoolyear, the concept of profiles was revised and a system of “individualized learning” hasbeen adopted, where students no longer are required to commit to any one profile, thusbroadening their choices.In parallel, gymnasiums offer general education at a more advanced level than thatof ordinary secondary schools. Education in gymnasiums lasts 4 years and correspondsto grades 9 to 12 of the secondary school system.In 1991, the Education Law authorized the creation of alternative, privately ownededucational institutions. However, the number of private schools is still minimal (about1.7% of all schools). The proportion of schools that are private is largest among primaryschools (7%). 3Reading Curriculum in the Primary GradesReading PolicyThe official reading policy is reflected in the General Curriculum and Standards ofEducation for preprimary, primary, and basic education. 4 The main goals for languageinstruction in primary schools related to reading include the education of a reader who:• Enjoys reading;• Has aesthetic insight and comprehends the spiritual values presented in the text,as well as the beauty of the language;• Understands the importance of scientific, journalistic, and other sources ofinformation and constantly experiences the need to draw knowledge from thesesources; and• Is able to independently find needed information and use it consciously.The need to preserve and foster cultural traditions is emphasized in all levels of education.LithuaniaSummary of National CurriculumReading is taught as part of the mother-tongue curriculum in primary schools. Variousaspects of reading literacy (as understood in the PIRLS 2006 Framework and Specifications,2 nd Edition) are subtopics within the mother-tongue curriculum. However, “reading”often refers to reading ability, without attention to the processes of comprehension.238