The Polish Bishops’ Conference has expressed strong opposition to new education regulations introduced by the Polish Ministry of Education. They argue that these changes violate the country’s constitutional principles. These regulations, signed by Education Minister Barbara Nowacka on January 17, affect how religion classes are organized in public schools and kindergartens.
Starting September 1, 2025, religion or ethics classes will be limited to just one hour each week, scheduled either right before or after the regular subjects. The bishops contend this restricts the rights of students and their parents who wish to prioritize religious education.
The Conference labeled the regulation “unlawful,” stating it lacks necessary agreements with the Catholic Church and other religious organizations. They point out this action violates Article 7 of the Polish Constitution, which mandates that public authorities must operate within the law.
Father Leszek Gęsiak, the spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference, expressed disappointment over the Ministry’s lack of dialogue. He noted that although they had engaged in discussions and presented various compromises, their concerns were not addressed.
Additionally, the bishops raised concerns about the impact on employment rights for religion teachers. With reduced class hours, many educators may lose their jobs. Father Gęsiak mentioned that the Church is exploring legal options as the situation unfolds.
Bishop Wojciech Osial called for the Ministry to consider the rights of all involved—parents, students, and teachers. He proposed that if students opt out of religion classes, they could have ethics classes instead. This ethics curriculum would be developed by the Ministry, making it independent of the Church.
The Church had also suggested a compromise that would reduce religious education in secondary schools while ensuring mandatory classes in either religion or ethics. This change would be phased in over several years, allowing time to respect the employment rights of affected teachers.
In their statement, the bishops urged the Ministry to rethink its approach, highlighting the importance of ethics education for young people’s development. Bishop Osial reinforced that ethics plays a vital role in shaping their future.
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Source linkPoland,education,religion
