Language competence in education: re-thinking minority issues in Lithuania

This study was inspired by long-lasting debates in the Baltic states, Lithuania in particular, on the assessment results of study subjects in minority (Russian and Polish) schools, including proficiency in Lithuanian. The article presents solid evidence to the effect that national and international school examination results differ significantly with respect to disciplines (Lithuanian language vs. other subjects), ethnicity (titular vs. minority), and municipality (large cities vs. rural areas). The case study of Visaginas shows that the sociolinguistic environment and proficiency in an official language are significant defining factors of this town