A school for the children of German troops has been officially opened in Vilnius
This September, Deutsche Schule Vilnius, the German school for children of German troops serving in Lithuania, opened its doors, as well as early education and pre-school groups, instructed in German, in modular buildings next to the Lithuanian Education Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The Lithuanian state provides the funds for the establishment of the school and the education of the children.
Today the school was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport Raminta Popovienė, the Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė, the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence Nils Hilmer, the Mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas.
“We all understand how important the redeployment of the German brigade is for Lithuania. It is accompanied by other essential work – providing civilian services to troops and their families arriving in Lithuania. The job of our Ministry is to ensure that children are educated. I am pleased that, by working intensively with the municipalities which bear the major responsibility for creating and adapting the necessary educational infrastructure, we have already achieved concrete results. We are very grateful to the municipalities for their smooth work,” says Raminta Popovienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sport.
Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė says that the opening of the German School in Vilnius creates conditions for German troops and their families to feel at home in Lithuania.
“The relocation of the German brigade to Lithuania involves not only military aspects, but also the welfare of the families of German troops. We are ahead of schedule in developing the largest military infrastructure project in the history of independent Lithuania, the Rūdninkai military town built for the German Brigade. At the same time, we work seamlessly with other institutions on civil services. This is another step towards strengthening our strategic partnership,” says Šakalienė.
As Nils Hilmer, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, pointed out, the opening of the school is particularly significant for the families of the troops who have decided to come to Lithuania.
“This school is much more than just a place to learn. It is like a home for our children and a guarantee of security for our families. This school combines quality education with a sense of community and security. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our Lithuanian partners for their active support and for the swift establishment of this important infrastructure,” says Hilmer.
Monika Arens, Director of the German School in Vilnius, welcomed the opening of the school as it is an opportunity for the families of the troops to get back to their normal routine.
“We want to give our pupils the opportunity to stay connected to their homeland, while at the same time fostering the open-mindedness and curiosity that are important in a diverse community,” said the Director.
As the Mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas said, the launch of the German School in Vilnius is an important step in strengthening our bilateral partnership and helping to ensure that the lives of the families of the allies who are starting up in Vilnius run as smoothly as possible. “Our team has been working around the clock for the school and kindergarten complex that opens today. Understanding the significance of this Germany’s decision, we will respond to every need, even minor one, in a way that makes them feel at home,” the Mayor stressed.
The German school in Vilnius started the school year with only primary school children. There are two joint primary forms, with 17 pupils, and the number of pupils may increase during the school year. The
children follow the German general education curriculum and are taught by teachers who come from Germany. Grades 5-11 are planned to open the next school year. Currently, the older school-age children of German troops serving in Lithuania are studying in different private educational institutions in Vilnius.
There are 30 children in early education and pre-school education groups. They are taught by qualified Lithuanian teachers who also speak German. Another two dozen children of German troops are being educated at the Dainorėliai kindergarten-school in Vilnius.
This year, the Government has allocated almost €1.9 million to create the necessary educational infrastructure in Vilnius and Kaunas.
In Vilnius, the funds provided by the Government are intended for the renovation and adaptation of the LASUC premises, the development of new infrastructure, as well as the adaptation of the setting, the provision of security, the acquisition of necessary equipment and tools, etc.
In Kaunas, the children of the German Brigade will be educated at the Aleksandras Stulginskis School, where the first very young and pre-school age children are planned to arrive in 2026; thus, the funds will be used for the adaptation of the necessary premises, as well as for the technical project for the overhaul of the building of another future school-kindergarten for children of German troops (Verkių Street, Kaunas).
A construction of a separate school for the children of German troops serving in Lithuania is also planned in Vilnius.
The number of children of German troops educated in Lithuania is expected to increase from September 2026. The maximum number of children planned is up to 500 from 2027 in Vilnius.
MoD/Aleksas Stankevičius’ photo
Last updated: 06-11-2025
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