The government has already made up its mind, but the episcopate is fighting back and threatening legal action. The bishops also refer to the ruling of the Constitutional Court from the time of Julia Przylebska. From September 1, 2025, a religion lesson will be held at the beginning or end of the lessons.
This plan of the Ministry of Public Education has not changed. The regulation will enter into force on September 1, 2025. This is a short document. The period of public consultation has ended. First, it envisages reducing the number of religious classes from two to one per week.
– I am very impatiently waiting for this solution, because in such a large object that I manage, every hour taken from the schedule is valuable, – says the director of the school and kindergarten complex No. 9, Poznan, Dominika Naworska.
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Secondly, religion or morals were taught in the first or last lesson. The Church does not accept changes in this form. – Unfortunately, no agreement was reached – says Fr. Leszek Gesiak from the Polish Episcopal Conference.
After the meeting of the joint commission consisting of representatives of the government and the Episcopal Conference of Poland on December 9, the church published a statement in which it opposes the reduction of the number of religious classes and considers it “unreasonable and discriminatory” that the lessons of . it was given before other classes.
– We act in accordance with the law and social expectations – explains Adrian Witczak, a representative of the Civil Alliance.
– The debate is very intense, but this trend is happening. Few people seem to benefit from religious classes, says Dr. Iga Kazimerczak, president of the Space for Education Foundation, a member of the Free School Initiative.
Poles are moving away from the Church, and this can be seen in the statistics of Katarzyna Górniak/Fakty TVN.
The Church is opposed to change
If six years ago, 88 percent of students in all types of institutes attended religious classes, last academic year it was 78.6 percent.
– Religion should not be in school. It should be mandatory for those who want it, not compulsory, because it takes valuable time, says Patrica, a student of secondary school No. 4, Szczecin.
But the church has a different opinion. – We propose that the axiological theme, religion and ethics should be an indispensable element – says Fr. Leszek Gesiak.
The Ministry of Public Education does not agree with this. In addition, the Church suggested that the process of reducing religious hours in secondary schools should be spread over time.
– We are also considering the idea of taking appropriate legal measures, which our lawyers will work on depending on the further decisions of the government, – informs Fr. Leszek Gesiak.
Is the final decision about the government's position? – Well, no. Because on many issues, we will introduce certain changes to this system after consulting and talking with the bishop, – says Katarzyna Lubnauer, Deputy Minister of National Education from the Civil Alliance.
It is possible that the regulation in its final form will be signed by the Minister of Education in January.
Main photo source: TVN24
