Historically the period of 1918-1940 is not long but very complicated and important period of education development in our country. The gymnasium system of those times was created in very complicated circumstances. The peculiarities of Lithuanian and national minority gymnasiums in the independent Lithuania are being analyzed in this work. Chronological limit is year 1918-1940. The purpose of this work is realized by the following tasks: • To reveal the developmental changes of Lithuanian and national minority gymnasiums in 1918-1940; • To analyze the results of education, pupils’ crop changes and the reasons for that; • To reveal the teaching programs in Lithuanian and national minority gymnasiums; • To analyze the gymnasium extracurricular activities, festivities celebrated in gymnasiums and commemorations; • To discuss the qualification of gymnasium teachers. After the First World War the revived Lithuania as a national state did not have a properly organized school system. That’s why school establishment was taken into consideration. The educated people of Lithuania were the first to start this work as they understood that establishing a national school is a very important condition for survival of a free state. Besides, the representatives of national minorities were also seeking to uphold their nationality and asked the Ministry of Education to allow them to establish their own gymnasiums. The local intellectuals, communities of educated people, public and catholic... [to full text]