Education

The educational program implemented by the Secretariat of the International Commission

Since 2002 the International Commission implements the programme Teaching the Holocaust, Prevention of Crimes against Humanity and Tolerance Education (Programme). In 2002 the Commission signed the cooperation contracts with Ministry of Education and foreign institutions were signed with Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority, The Holocaust Centre Beth Shalom and New Jersey Commission.

In 2002, Lithuania became a member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research (today this organization is named IHRA). Lithuania assumed an obligation to discuss regularly the issue of the Holocaust, to improve the studies of the causes, course of events, and repercussions of the Holocaust in Lithuanian schools, universities, public organizations, non-governmental organizations, to inform the public, particularly young people, of the latest investigations of modern history.

The aims of the programme:

• to adopt and use up-to-date results and conclusions of the researchers of the Commission in the educational process (about the Nazi and Soviet occupations);
• to show the danger of the radical ideologies for the political stability and democracy: to break old prejudices and stereotypes;
• to promote tolerance and mutual understanding between various nations and communities, respect for other cultures, nationalities, and religions;
• to motivate direct contacts between schools, teachers, and students of Lithuania and other countries.

Directions

The programme is implemented in five directions:

1. Establishment and development of the Tolerance Education Centers in the secondary schools;
2. Initiation to commemorate Historical dates and events;
3. Initiation and coordination of the education projects;
4. Training of the teachers;
5. Preparation of methodology.