Mariusz Kamiński made the announcement at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He was speaking to reporters after he and Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek signed a letter of intent to initiate the process of setting up the new border patrol academy, known as the Higher School of the Border Guard (WSSG).
Kamiński noted that Poland already had academies for police officers and firefighters, both of which are overseen by the interior ministry.
He told reporters: “We are launching a fast-track procedure to create a dedicated higher school for Border Guard agency officers” in the northwestern city of Koszalin.
He added: “The decision to establish this higher school is an expression of the government’s great appreciation for the Border Guard and its role in performing extremely important state functions, and also a thank you to border officers for their exemplary service in the defence of our borders.”
The interior minister said that a government bill to launch the school would likely be submitted to the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, before Easter.
“Hopefully parliament will enact the bill quickly,” he added.
Kamiński said that enrollment for the new academy would start on October 1, with the first semester due to begin in February 2024.
The Higher School of the Border Guard in Koszalin will offer free degree courses to high school graduates who majored in border security, and to active-duty Border Guard officers required to upgrade their qualifications, according to officials.
There will also be fee-based degree courses for other students, the PAP news agency reported.
Thursday is day 393 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl, InfoSecurity24