Education Minister Barbara Nowacka told reporters on Wednesday that the disputed "History and Present Times" (HIT) course would be replaced with a new course in civic education in what is seen as a step towards modernizing Poland's secondary education.
This change aims to provide a more practical approach to build students' understanding of the socio-political environment and prepare them for active participation in the democratic process, according to the education ministry.
Nowacka and Deputy Education Minister Katarzyna Lubnauer detailed the plans for the new curriculum. The introduction of civic education is seen as timely, targeting an age where students begin to engage more deeply with their socio-political surroundings.
The new course is designed to be highly practical, covering aspects of how local government operates, "including elements of the Oxford debate" and encouraging interactions with people of differing viewpoints, according to the education ministry.
"This is the moment when young people already have some knowledge and tools, and start to take an interest in their social and political environment," Nowacka said.
The decision to remove HIT from the curriculum follows the government's commitment to revamp the educational framework, reporters were told.
Lubnauer emphasized the importance of the reform, stating: "It is very important to us that we are fulfilling what we committed to - no future student cohorts will have the HIT subject."
She also said that the regulation removing HIT would be signed in June and take effect from September 1.
HIT was introduced in 2022 by the previous conservative government, and quickly proved to be less of a hit with high school students than had been expected.
It was roundly ridiculed by many students and criticised by education professionals, historians and academic institutions, mainly for its narrow definition of patriotism as viewed through a nationalistic and theocratic lens, and promotion of archaic social norms and rigid political attitudes, according to media reports.
The education ministry plans to involve a team of practitioners, including teachers and experts, to develop a robust program for civic education.
The course aims to help young people understand the functioning of the state, local government, and navigate the socio-political world, with a special emphasis on recent history, which often received limited attention in the past.
Civic education will be introduced into the curriculum at the start of the academic year in September 2025.
This educational shift is a part of Poland's effort to equip students with the skills necessary for confronting differing opinions and engaging in disputes, areas deemed essential for fostering pro-civic attitudes, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
