Structural and systemic reforms in education: can structural changes improve educational quality and ensure social justice?

Abstract

During the last three decades Lithuania implemented a number of structural reforms in the domains of general secondary and higher education. One of the commonly declared goals while promoting these reforms was improving educational quality and ensuring social justice. Our analysis showed that structural reforms can not achieve these goals unless they are part and parcel of a broader systemic educational reform. Structural reforms can be implemented, and there are numerous examples of such implementation in single segments of the educational system. Without initiating changes in other domains, it’s highly unrealistic to declare success in improving educational quality and ensuring social justice. Structural reforms can solve practical tasks of a more rational usage of resources and effective education management.