(894) EDUCATION IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY: THE PROBLEM OF EDUCATION OF LITHUANIAN PHILOLOGY IN PRIMARY GRADES

摘要

The statement that '"... schools should accommodate all children regardless of their physical,intellectual, emotional, social, linguistic or other conditions" (Article 3, Salamanca Framework forAction) was first made in 1994 by UNESCO. This statement supports the right to an education for allchildren. It emphasizes the importance of linguistic, ethnic, as cultural minorities as problematic fieldsin education. Its sensitivity emerges from the challenges of globalization. As globalization raises publicconcern, the inevitable consequences of it to the nation are being more widely discussed. Theeducation of civic national culture taking into account cultural, social, and economic changes in bothLithuania and the world could be strategically one of the most important areas of general education.This sentiment is especially true when relating the questions of preservation of national identity withthe need of cognition of cultural similarities and differences of ethnic minorities living in Lithuania. Forthis reason, the national civic education could strategically be viewed as one of the most importantfields of basic education, in light of cultural, social, and economic changes happening in the world. Onone hand, there exists the preservation of the Lithuanian national identity and the development anddissemination of its culture. On the other hand, a successful problem-solving while encompassing thecultural minorities in Lithuania. The question of national identity presentation is connected to theknowledge of cultural similarities and differences of cultural minorities in Lithuania. This processshould foster the preservation of languages, customs, and traditions of Lithuanians and the culturalminorities living in Lithuania. It would assure a more successful integration into both the national andthe international sphere, including the European and global cultures. Fostering a national identity andknowledge of other nations as well as interaction and cooperation with them is only possible within theconditions of tolerance for the 'other'. It is necessary to decide where to focus attention whiledeveloping a young generation and what are the priorities for the youngest pupils' development. Thequestion of Lithuanian philology education has been increasingly raised in the scientific andeducational sphere. The essence of Lithuanian philology education has been revealed in theLithuanian Law on Education: “The Lithuanian philology is the education of Lithuanian history, culture,and presence, as well as assuring the conditions of self-expression in Lithuanian language in foreigncountries (2011, p. 10). Lithuania's Progress Strategy “Lithuania 2030” is inviting “…to consolidate theLithuanian studies as the basis for humanistic education, encompassing training of generic culturalcompetencies, development of a creative individual, and public education” (p. 12). In addition to that,Lithuanian National Education Strategy for 2013-2022 is also providing “…to ensure the developmentof Lithuanian identity and culture” (p. 23). The importance of such education as early as in primarygrades is unquestionable, because the goal of primary education is “to enable a child to acquire moraland social maturity primers, basics of culture, elementary literacy and help him to prepare for studiesaccording to the general education program” (The Programs of Primary and General Education, 2008,p. 15). It is important to note that the General Programs do not indicate the themes, which pupils,teachers or schools should choose in the educational process. Also, they do not indicate that theprograms lay out quite A^, albeit ambitious, goals of general competence education. This raisesa question whether the specific content of primary education, which is significant to the developmentof Lithuanian philology in primary grades of national minority schools, is chosen. Do primary schoolteachers understand the meaning and importance of such choice? Do they have such goals? Whatmea