Vilnius Belarusian Gymnasium is recruiting children for its zero grade — half have been found, but five more are urgently needed

Belarusian Gymnasium in Vilnius, September 1, 2025. Photo: Nasha Niva

The fate of the zero grade for the next academic year is currently being decided at the only Belarusian gymnasium named after Francis Skaryna in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Currently, there are only five children on the list of applicants. For the class to open, a minimum of ten children aged 4-6 are needed. If the group is not recruited by the end of April, the zero grade might simply not open.

Parents whose children are currently studying at the gymnasium are writing about this in parent chats and social media. They are trying to reach out to other Belarusian families — as many simply don't know that such an opportunity exists at all.

"This is a regular state gymnasium, but it has excellent educational facilities and teachers. The staff is very warm, children feel comfortable there, and they enjoy attending. My son learned Belarusian, Belarusian songs, games, and dances in half a year!

We also need to defend our right to education in our native language. Perhaps not all parents are aware of this opportunity," says Anastasia, a mother of a student at the Belarusian gymnasium.

The only school of its kind

In Lithuania, in recent years, there has been a consistent strengthening of the policy towards Lithuanian-language education: in schools of national minorities, the number of state language lessons is increasing, and for foreign children, a decision has already been made that from 2026, primary education will be organized only in the Lithuanian language. According to the new rules, foreign children (with a permanent or temporary residence permit) who have not previously studied in Lithuania and are seeking primary education will only be able to choose state schools with Lithuanian as the language of instruction.

The Skaryna Gymnasium has become an exception and remains practically the only place in Vilnius where a child can study in Belarusian from the zero grade. At the same time, children also learn Lithuanian from the very beginning, without falling out of the local education system.

Parents have a little over two weeks to submit an application — until April 30.

And on April 22, the gymnasium will hold an open day; you can come, see, meet the teachers, and ask questions. Registration is via this link.

The Francis Skaryna Gymnasium in Vilnius, which has about 400 students, was founded in 1994, initially as a school, and in 2013, it received gymnasium status.

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