Following the changes introduced by the Ministry of National Education regarding the organization of religious lessons in public schools, the Presidium of the Episcopal Church of Poland has published a message to the faithful in Poland that will be read out during the Holy Mass. . It will be held on January 1st at temples across the country.
The Presidium of the Episcopal Conference of Poland has announced that “by September 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the Minister of Education, regarding the non-inclusion of grades in religion classes in the average grade and the merging of classes for children and young people of different educational ages into larger classes. It recognizes the changes introduced in the Participation in groups, especially in religious classes, is harmful from an educational point of view. As the bishops pointed out, “this change was implemented without agreement with the authorities of the Catholic Church, the Polish Independent Orthodox Church, and other churches and religious organizations as required by the Education System Act.”
They also pointed to changes to reducing religious education to one hour a week and requiring religious classes to be held before and after school. In the caucus' opinion, these changes would be “discriminatory because they would significantly limit the right of students whose parents or students have requested religion classes to take them.”
“The introduction of a period of protection for religious teachers is also not considered,” the bishops pointed out.
Religion in school. KEP accuses the Ministry of National Education for illegal solutions
Representatives of the Polish Episcopal Conference stressed that “the implementation of these solutions will also be illegal, as the necessary agreements have not been reached with the Church on this matter.” They acknowledged that “negotiations held by the Church with the Government of the Republic of Poland did not result in an agreement.”
“The Church's compromise proposal to introduce the principle of compulsory education in religion and ethics, citing the need for the axiomatic formation of students, was rejected by the government. Similarly, the widespread phasing out of religious education “Religious teachers will be sent to secondary schools for several years, while respecting the rights of workers,” the statement said.
Both leaders said that in the face of this action by the Ministry of National Education and its lack of willingness to reach an agreement on an issue of vital importance for the education and development of values-oriented Polish children and young people, we strongly object to this. He emphasized that he would express his intentions. They announced that “the Church will take further appropriate legal action to block the changes being introduced.”
Conflict over religious hierarchy. No progress in negotiations between the Polish Anglican Church and the government
On December 9, a meeting of the Joint Committee of the Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Episcopal Conference of Poland on the Precepts of Religion was held at the KEP Secretariat in Warsaw. In a statement sent to the PAP, the church said no agreement had been reached. The Anglican Church subsequently announced that it would take further legal action for violations of applicable regulations.
According to Education Minister Barbara Nowacka, “an agreement with the church is not necessary” in this case, as the Ministry of National Education's regulations do not change the provisions of the agreement.
According to the July amendments to the regulations of the Ministry of National Education on the composition of religious lessons, school (kindergarten) principals can more easily combine groups of children from different age groups and classes during religious lessons. It will look like this. Starting next year, classes on religion and ethics will be held once a week before and after compulsory education classes at public schools.
This is the premise of the project submitted to consultation. Currently, religious education in public schools is held for two hours a week, and the number of hours per week for ethics is determined by the principal.
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