“Our common line, this is the statement itself, what we propose to do, and it is not an appeal to the mayors, but to the ministry to stop the implementation of this program, and we have initiated a petition that can be signed by Lithuanian residents, urging them to do so”, – LRT on Monday “peasant” Aurelijs Veryga told the radio.
As indicated on the petition.lt page, currently 6.5 thousand have been collected for stopping the program. signatures.
A. Veryga said that he believes that the weak point of the life skills program is sexuality education.
“If it wasn’t part of the curriculum, I think it could be taught in part because the same teachers are unprepared,” he added.
According to A. Veryga, dissatisfaction with this program arose because “no space was left for decisions, not only for mayors, but also for parents, who reasonably have all sorts of doubts.”
At that time, the advisor to the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Agnė Liucilė Andriuškevičienė, said that the indignation in society was not caused by the program itself.
“All this confusion that has arisen in society is partly not because of the program itself, because many critics are not even familiar with it, they have not even read it, but people are simply reacting to the disinformation that has appeared, which has been many and varied in recent days,” LRT asserted to radio she
According to ALAndriuškevičienė, this program was prepared by experts in the field, it does not envisage teaching schoolchildren “any kind of sexual relations.”
The Parents’ Forum accuses the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (ŠMSM) of spreading LGBT propaganda during life skills classes, and is outraged that children will be taught about contraception instead of abstinence from sexual intercourse.
Lawyer Ignas Vēgėlė stated in the TV show “Dēmesio centru” that children will be taught, among other things, “how to make that contraceptive for oral sex” in these classes.
President Gitanas Nausėda has said that the life skills program criticized by some politicians and parents’ organizations is important, but it must be implemented after preparation.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said that they are trying to compromise the program and use it for elections, and the Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, said that there is no point in delaying this program, as there is enough preparation for it.
ŠMSM claims that misleading information is published in the public space about the life skills program, and the pedagogues are ready for these lessons and will still be able to improve.
Starting from this school year, the life skills lesson introduced in schools is taught one lesson per week in grades 5 and 7, and one lesson every two weeks in grade 9. Gradually from class 1 to class 10, one lesson per week will be devoted to this subject.
According to ŠMSM, the most important goal of this lesson is to develop students’ social and emotional literacy.
The life skills curriculum integrates many topics: social and emotional development, health education, substance abuse prevention, bullying and violence prevention, human safety, traffic safety, first aid, sexuality education, mental health promotion, gender equality, building respectful relationships, human rights and others.
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### Interview with Aurelijs Veryga: Concerns Over Lithuania’s Life Skills Program
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Aurelijs Veryga. There seems to be significant concern regarding the implementation of the life skills program in Lithuanian schools. Can you tell us more about your position and the petition you have initiated?
**Aurelijs Veryga:** Thank you for having me. Our common line is straightforward. We are urging the Ministry of Education to halt the implementation of this program. We’ve launched a petition, which currently has 6,500 signatures, asking Lithuanian residents to support our call for a pause. Many people feel uneasy about several aspects of the program, particularly concerning the sexuality education component.
**Editor:** You mentioned that one of the weak points of the program is its approach to sexuality education. Could you elaborate on your concerns?
**Aurelijs Veryga:** Certainly. The core issue is that many teachers feel unprepared to teach these sensitive topics, especially sexuality education. If this subject matter were excluded from the curriculum, it might alleviate some of the concerns. However, the inclusion as it stands has raised eyebrows among parents and local leaders, many of whom believe there hasn’t been enough room for community input in these decisions.
**Editor:** The Ministry has responded, indicating that public discontent may stem from misinformation rather than the program itself. What’s your take on this response?
**Aurelijs Veryga:** While the Ministry claims that criticism stems from a lack of familiarity with the program, the reality is that the concerns are valid. People are reacting to what they perceive as an imposition of inappropriate content on their children. Different perspectives exist, and we must acknowledge the fears and doubts of parents and local officials.
**Editor:** There have been accusations that the program promotes LGBT propaganda, and discussions around teaching contraceptive methods. How do you respond to these claims?
**Aurelijs Veryga:** This is precisely the kind of contention that has fueled the petition. Parents are worried about the messages being communicated to children, particularly regarding sexual relations and contraception. Critics assert that the focus should be on teaching abstinence rather than providing contraception information.
**Editor:** President Gitanas Nausėda has called for careful implementation of the program. Do you think there’s a common ground that could be found between critics and supporters?
**Aurelijs Veryga:** I believe there is potential for a compromise, but it requires a genuine effort to address the concerns of parents and community leaders. Before proceeding, there has to be a comprehensive dialogue that involves all stakeholders — not just the Ministry or educators but also parents and local representatives.
**Editor:** Thank you, Aurelijs, for shedding light on this important issue. We hope to see a constructive dialogue continue as this situation develops.
**Aurelijs Veryga:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we prioritize the well-being and education of our children through a collaborative approach.
