Following a change in the conditions for higher education institutions to become teacher training centres, higher education institutions in Lithuania were invited to apply for funding to develop and improve their teacher training infrastructure. Only higher education institutions with the status of a teacher training centre were eligible to apply (so far, only Vilnius and Vytautas Magnus Universities have this status).
Klaipeda University, which has long-standing teacher training traditions and offers bachelor’s, master’s, as well as doctoral study programs in the field of education sciences, also a vocational study program in pedagogy and modules in a dozen different subjects, did not meet some part of a single requirement of SKVC. As a result, it is not given the opportunity to become a teacher training centre, to receive funding, and to contribute to solving the problem of the shortage of teachers, not forgetting western Lithuania.
“The outgoing government makes it clear that western Lithuania has no shortage of teachers. Some of the other universities, again the ones in Vilnius and Kaunas, have met SKVC’s requirements to become teacher training centres. The question here is how other higher education institutions focusing on other than pedagogical areas met all the requirements, while we, with our extensive experience in teacher training, failed to do that. Is this not prejudice? There has never been such a biased attitude towards western Lithuania and regional policy in general. Efforts to address the shortage of teachers and to improve the infrastructure for their training are concentrated in Vilnius and Kaunas. I very much doubt that teachers, who have graduated in these cities, will come to solve the teacher shortages in western Lithuania. The region is doomed in this respect”, says Prof. Dr. Artūras Razbadauskas, KU Rector.
Failing to meet some part of a single requirement
In order to achieve the status of a teacher training centre, Klaipeda University, like other higher education institutions, had to meet SKVC’s criteria. The higher education institution must offer the first and second study cycle studies in the group of educational sciences study field and PhD studies in education programs. It must also carry out research and experimental development in the academic study field of educational science. The quality of research and experimental development in the academic study field of educational science must be of at least a very good standard, with a minimum score of 3.5. Klaipeda University met these requirements. The status of teacher training was not granted because KU does not fully meet the requirements of one point, i.e., it does not train teachers in all the ways specified in the Regulations on Teacher Training.
“The evaluation was based on three main criteria. We meet two of them and one – in part. In addition, the SKVC’s guidelines do not state that we have to train teachers in all school subjects. We already offer a wide range of courses: in addition to our university first cycle study program in non-pedagogical area, students studying English philology, archaeology and history, chemical engineering, Lithuanian philology, natural geography and oceanography, geography, and leisure sports can also choose to take a module in pedagogical studies. And we’re not limiting ourselves to that. Given that there is also a huge shortage of teachers in western Lithuania, and Klaipeda University is the only one to have sought this status, could it be possible to create more motivating conditions? This is why we are seeking to become a centre for teacher training and to receive funding to improve the infrastructure for teacher training – so that we can address these gaps,” reflects Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida Norvilienė, Vice-Rector for Studies at KU.
According to the Vice-Rector for Studies, Klaipeda University expects state support and a more attentive approach to solving important problems in teacher preparation for the Western Lithuania Region.
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KU has long-standing teacher training traditions. Teacher training in Klaipėda began in 1902 with the establishment of the Royal Teachers’ Seminary. In 1935, the only Pedagogical Institute in the Baltic States was established in Klaipėda. It trained primary school teachers for the Klaipėda Region. Higher education pedagogical courses continued with the transfer of the Faculty of Pre-School Education of K. Preikšas Pedagogical Institute (Šiauliai) to Klaipėda in 1967. Since 1991, teacher training has been carried out at Klaipeda University.
