LIETUVOS ŠVIETIMO ĮSTAIGŲ VADOVŲ POLITIZACIJA: VILNIAUS MIESTO IR VILNIAUS RAJONO SAVIVALDYBIŲ LYGINAMOJI ANALIZĖ
THE POLITICISATION OF LITHUANIAN EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS MANAGEMENT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VILNIUS CITY AND VILNIUS DISTRICT MUNICIPALITIES

Summary/Abstract: This research analyses the change and politicisation of educational management in Lithuania in 2001–2013, as well as the impact of reforming the educational managers’ recruitment procedures on the scope of politicisation. According to the data analysis, 39% of managers in Vilnius city and Vilnius district are politicised. The politicisation level is even higher (50%) among the managers who were selected through the new recruitment procedures. This is a concern because the level of politicisation in public educational organisations is higher than in other public sector organisations (government agencies or stateowned companies). Furthermore, contrary to the initial expectations, reforming the recruitment system has not decreased the politicisation level. The aim of this research is to identify factors that stimulate different behavioural strategies (‘top-down’ and the ‘bottom-up’ politicisation) and affect the actual level of politicisation. In order to achieve this aim, data were collected on the political engagement of 168 managers currently employed in public educational organisations in Vilnius city and Vilnius district as well as 64 managers who were appointed under the new recruitment procedures. Moreover, a survey of 58 public educational institutions was conducted in order to gather data on the career patterns (appointment and dismissal dates) and professional background of the former managers. The results of this research show that the level of politicisation is better explained not by the factor of organisational structure (personnel management autonomy), but by the factors of party system (change of mayors) and party priorities. A very stable, uncompetitive party system as well as prioritising a particular public policy area increases the level of politicisation and the frequency of exercising a ‘topdown’ politicisation strategy. While a ‘bottom-up’ politicisation strategy dominates in Vilnius city, ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ strategies are equally popular in Vilnius district. The recruitment reform had only a marginal effect on the level of politicisation because it does not affect “bottom-up” politicisation as well as it only prevents recruitment of those politicised managers who do not have the standard minimum qualification required.

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