professional development, education, council members, servants, local self-government
Abstract
The aim of this article was to investigate education of council members and servants in the local self-governments and to identify manifestation of their professional development in the Republic of Lithuania during 1918–1940. Results of the study showed that only a little part of council members and servants were acquired higher education or advanced vocational education and training. However, majority of council members and servants were graduated primary schools or self-educated. Education of parliament members was higher than members of local municipalities. As distinct from members of local municipalities, education of parliament members was growing. There were established no system of common courses for all politicians of local municipalities and servants during the period of the First Republic of Lithuania. Professional development course were organised only for a limited number of secretaries and clerks of local self-government during the period of 1921–1925. 208 secretaries and clerks of local municipalities improved their qualification in all courses which were organised by Department of Local Municipalities during 1921-1925. Subject of law compounded the major part of these courses. Significant attention was given to the learning of Lithuanian language in the programs of 1922 and 1924, because many servants of local municipalities could speak and write Lithuanian not well enough. Board and head of counties also organised several courses for servants. There were no administration schools or permanent courses for servants of local municipalities during the period of 1918-1940. Problem of qualification of politicians and servants in local municipalities and its development was relevant during the all period of 1918-1940. It should be noted that low education of council members and servants and sporadic professional development course significantly limited possibilities of local self-government to implement the right to act free according to the supposed order of legislations during 1918–1940.
