Seimas returns proposal to guarantee preschool places from 18 months

Lithuania’s parliament has returned for revision a bill that would require municipalities to provide preschool places to children from the age of 18 months, LRT reported.

The proposal, submitted by Deputy Speaker and Conservative MP Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, would lower the current age threshold from two years. It received 32 votes in favour, 14 against and 24 abstentions on Tuesday. Although it did not pass the initial presentation stage, lawmakers did not reject it and instead sent it back to its authors for improvement.

Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė said the change would help parents combine childcare with work or studies, ease the challenges families face and strengthen their economic security. She also expects it to benefit children’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

Municipalities are currently required to ensure preschool places for children from the age of two. The MP said parents often need childcare from 18 months because they must return to work.

Preliminary estimates for 2026 suggest the change would require places for about 12,329 additional children and cost around 23 million euros a year.