As drones reshape warfare, Lithuania brings them into the classroom

Here, drones don't just fly through the gym. They're part of the curriculum for these students. At Ciotuva School in Vilnius, children learn how to build, fly and program drones. How long did it take you to learn it? Maybe three years. Three years? Yeah. Wow. So, how old are you now? 14. For students, the training has long since become a competition as well. At the so-called Vilnius Drone Games, teams from schools across the city compete against one another. In March, 27 schools came to Siutuvus for the event. Teachers are now also being trained for the project. In January, 25 teachers from 23 schools in the city visited Siutuvus to familiarize themselves with the initiative. It's not about, you know, piloting FPV drones, you know. But piloting is just one thing, but the bigger thing is programming, constructing, understanding maps and physics behind. Behind the competitions lie a larger plan. Vilnius wants to integrate drones more fully into schools as an investment in technological skills for the future, but also to better equip children on handling a technology that can pose a threat. Students are therefore encouraged to not only learn how to fly drones, but also possess a deep understanding of the underlying technology.