Project duration: 2000–2001
Project funder: Delegation of the European Commission to Lithuania
Project coordinator: Europe House
Project partners:
Modern Didactics Centre
Siauliai Youth and Pupils Information Center “Youth on the Way to Europe”
Final project event
PROJECT RELEVANCE
In 2000, Lithuania is intensively preparing for European Union membership; therefore, there is a lack of objective knowledge regarding integration processes and future changes within society, especially among the youth. It is expected that the project will help foster a civic-minded, pro-European generation by encouraging students not only to passively receive information but also to actively take an interest in Western values and principles of democratic governance. Furthermore, this will serve as an important tool to reduce euroskepticism and strengthen the sense of community, preparing schools to become open, modern, and competitive parts of the European educational space.
Communication with schools revealed that many students and teachers with creative ideas lack the opportunity—and often the determination—to implement their visions outside the school environment. It also became clear that information regarding the problems, benefits, and opportunities of Lithuania’s integration into the EU is insufficient and not accessible to every student due to complex terminology and the way issues are formulated. Thus, the project titled “European Integration and the School” was born.
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PROJECT AIM
- To increase secondary school students’ knowledge of the EU-related issues.
- To increase awareness of the youth in the above issues.
- To develop civic consciousness of the youth.
- To help shape students’ views on Lithuania’s integration into the EU.
- To encourage active participation of the youth in discussing the EU-related issues.
- To increase the ability of schools to work in teams of teachers and students for common goals.
- To increase understanding of a European school.
PROJECT TARGER GROUP
Students and teachers of secondary schools.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
I STAGE – Lecturers for students on EU-Related Issues, February–May 2001
A series of five reports-discussions were organised for more than 200 senior Vilnius and Siauliai secondary school students on different EU-related issues.
Topics of reports were as follows:
“Costs and Benefits of Lithuania’s Membership in the EU”
“Free Movement of Persons: Advantages and Problems”
“Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and the Future of Lithuanian Energy”
“Relationship with Russia and Lithuania’s Integration into the EU”
“Prospects of Agricultural Development in Lithuania”
On the basis of each report more than 80 participants drafted their own presentations, which were delivered to their contemporaries in different Vilnius and Siauliai secondary schools.
II STAGE – Summer camp “Youth on the Way to Europe”, June 2001
A seven-day summer camp “Youth on the Way to Europe” was organized by the end of June for 50 best reporters and participants of discussions from Vilnius and Siauliai secondary schools. The programme of the camp contained both work and leisure activities, namely the Council Game where students simulated the EU Council of Ministers and considered the issue of accession of new member countries to the EU, guided discussions on the Future of Young People in the EU, the training on developing presentation skills of students as well as workshops on the country’s negotiation process. On the bases of the EU “directives” participants worked out the negotiating positions and conducted negotiations on the Protection of Bats and the Use of Yellow Bicycles in the Capital”.
III STAGE – Competition “My School – European School”, February–April 2001
Modern Didactics Centre was responsible for organization of the competition.
The aim of the competition was to involve secondary school teachers and students in the building of a new democratic school, to develop students’ initiative and active participation in school reforms.
The competition was conducted in secondary schools of Lithuania. 143 secondary schools participated in the competition, which submitted 163 projects.
Projects displayed participants’ vision of a European school, expressed by means of researches, radio programmes, graffiti, presentations, performances, etc.
Winners of the competition:
Team of Kaunas Sargenai secondary school – Project-action “Solidarity I”.
Team of Klaipeda district Veivirzenai secondary school – Project of school decoration “Graffiti”.
Team of Kursenai Laurynas Ivinskis gymnasium – Project “Help the friend”.
Team of Vilnius Baltupiai secondary school – Project “Agora”
PROJECT RESULTS
During the project “European Integration into School Community”, the competition “My School – European School” was successfully organized, with 143 Lithuanian schools submitting as many as 163 creative projects reflecting a vision of an open and democratic school. Additionally, approximately 200 students participated in lecture-discussions regarding EU membership, and more than 80 of them prepared and delivered presentations on the most relevant integration topics to their peers. The authors of the best presentations consolidated their knowledge and negotiation skills at a special summer camp, thereby strengthening cooperation between students and teachers and fostering interest in current political affairs.