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Nowacka: Support for catechists, religion and ethics removed from classrooms

Posted on by darion

In an interview for TVP INFO, the Minister of Education emphasized that religion and ethics will be excluded from the grade average from September 1. “The Ministry is currently working on introducing one hour of religion and there will be consultations, as with any change,” Nowacka noted.

The Minister stressed that it is the Church, not the Ministry of Education, that appoints catechists to teach religion and assured that the government will create a support system for catechists who want to gain additional qualifications to teach other subjects.


Students in Poland are massively giving up on religion classes

The subject of religion was introduced into the Polish education system in 1990, after the fall of communism and the rise of the Solidarity movement, which was actively supported by some members of the Polish clergy at the time. Previously, religion was taught to young Catholics in church parishes.

Over the years, interest in optional religious education has been declining among students. According to the Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS), in 2010, 93% of students attended religious education classes in schools. By 2022, that number had dropped significantly to 54%, according to demagog.org.pl, a Polish fact-checking portal.

Warsaw, 06.09.1990. A priest from the Holy Cross Church teaches religion at the Jan Zamoyski High School in Warsaw. Religion in schools was restored under special instructions from the Ministry of National Education in 1990. Warsaw, 06.09.1990. A priest from the Holy Cross Church conducts a religious education lesson at the Jan Zamoyski High School in Warsaw. Religion in schools was restored under special instructions from the Ministry of National Education in 1990. (W.Jabłonowski/PAP)

There are several reasons for the decline in popularity of religion among Polish students. For example, the quality of teaching was often poor, and instructors were mostly priests, nuns, and catechists who were subordinate to the diocese, not the Ministry of National Education.

Although students who did not identify with the Catholic faith theoretically had the opportunity to study ethics, this subject was not available in most schools in Poland.

Protest of lay catechists

From the new school year, changed regulations will come into force, facilitating the creation of religious and ethical groups from different age groups and classes, which has sparked controversy – but not among those who actually use the Polish education system, only among lay catechists (a protest at Castle Square in Warsaw against changes in the organization of religion classes was organized by the Association of Secular Catechists).

In early August, the Polish Episcopate’s Catholic Education Commission expressed concerns that new regulations regarding the organization of religious education classes were harmful and violated education law. According to OKO Press, the Episcopate has taken legal action, filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Court regarding these changes.

Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka responded that consultations with the Church took place and some of the comments were taken into account, emphasizing that the accusations of a lack of consultation are unfounded.

Source: Radio Polska/PAP/MEN/CBOS/demagog.org.pl/TVP Info/Oko Press

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