The Ministry of Education, under the leadership of the newly appointed Minister, Barbara Nowacka, has taken a resolute step towards enhancing the education system. Following the October elections, Minister Nowacka announced plans to trim the extensive compulsory reading list and replace it with more accessible materials. Her primary goal is to streamline the core curriculum, a move that holds promise for a more balanced and comprehensive education system. What hurdles does she face in implementing these changes?

Ordo Iuris (Legal Order) is an international non-governmental organisation that primarily works in law. They focus on issues related to the protection of life, family, religious freedom, and Christian morality. The association is known for its conservative stance on social and ethical issues. It actively participates in public debates, particularly on issues related to the right to life and sexual minorities.

In an official statement, Ordo Iuris members argue that two great Poles, John Paul II and Stefan Wyszynski, should be added to the extensive reading list of secondary school pupils in Polish language lessons at the extended level. They assert that these works have so far been on the supplementary reading list, and their exclusion denies children the opportunity to learn from their valuable works.

The organisation suggests that students should also be required to study "Powrót taty" (Father’s Return) by Adam Mickiewicz or 'W pamiętniku Zofii Bobrówny' (In Sophie’s Diary) by Juliusz Słowacki. Furthermore, they oppose the removal of patriotic songs and chants, which they believe are universally liked and provide a link between generations. They also want to keep "Krzyżacy" by Henryk Sienkiewicz, "Quo Vadis" by Henryk Sienkiewicz, "Reduta Ordona" by Adam Mickiewicz, "Śmierć Pułkownika" by Adam Mickiewicz, "Janko Muzykant" by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and "Katarynka" by Bolesław Prus in the reading list.

The core curriculum for primary and secondary school students is becoming too extensive, with subjects that were previously only part of humanities studies now being included. Many teachers are concerned with how much material students are expected to study and read. Specifically, Polish language teachers request a reduced compulsory reading list and more freedom in selecting books for students to read. They also call for personnel changes at the Central Examination Commission (Polish: Centralna Komisja Egzaminacyjna, CKE), which oversees Polish language core curriculum changes.

A petition initiated by Polish language specialists, which almost 3,500 people have signed, calls for changes to the Polish language core curriculum. The examiners at CKE analysed the reading list and material and selected what they believed were necessary elements. Unfortunately, some conservative groups, such as Ordo Iuris, do not support the modernisation of the curriculum and have been sending thousands of letters to the Ministry of Education. These letters all follow the same format using the "copy-paste" principle. Despite the opposition, Polish language specialists continue fighting for the best interest of Polish youth.

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza