Curricula and subject loads in Lithuanian, Greek, Spanish, and Italian schools are detailed, showing variations in required subjects and time allocation.
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The number of subjects and the workload for students in Lithuanian schools are determined by General Education Plans. In primary school, students study 14–15 subjects, including 11 mandatory ones (with 12 in schools for national minorities) and 3 optional subjects. In basic education, there are 18 mandatory subjects, or 19 in schools for national minorities, with mandatory socio-civic activities also included. In middle school, students must choose at least 8 subjects, including Lithuanian or the native language in minority schools, mathematics, and physical education as mandatory courses. The Ministry states that all subjects and their allocated hours are specified in the General Education Plans, and minority students have more hours due to studying their native language. The Ministry emphasizes that the total student workload is regulated according to hygiene standards, and if students feel overwhelmed, the issue should be addressed within the school rather than the curriculum. The Ministry recommends that the total time for homework in primary classes should not exceed 40 minutes per day, with specific time allocations for different educational concentrations. Students in Greek, Italian, and Spanish schools also see their workload increase with age, though it is slightly less than in Lithuania, with fewer mandatory subjects. Greek primary students study 13–14 subjects, Spanish students 8–10, and Italian students aim for 10 in primary school. Greece has a centralized primary education program where all subjects are mandatory, and “Skills Workshops” offer flexibility in topics. Spain’s education system is decentralized, allowing autonomous communities to adapt up to 40% of the content, especially if they have their own official language. Italian primary students study 10 main subjects, plus at least 33 hours of interdisciplinary civic education annually, with some regions offering a second foreign or minority language.
