In an interview with public broadcaster TVP Info, Barbara Nowacka said that from September 1, students attending religion and ethics classes will no longer be graded.
She added that her ministry is working on reducing the number of hours of religion classes, a move that she said will be subject to public consultations, "as with any change."
Nowacka also said that "it is the Church, not the Ministry of Education" that assigns catechists to teach religion and promised that the government will create a support system for catechism teachers seeking additional qualifications to teach other subjects.
Students opting out of religion classes
The subject of religion was introduced into the Polish education system in 1990, following the fall of communism and the surging popularity of the Solidarity movement, which was actively supported by some members of the Polish clergy at the time.
Prior to that, religion was taught to young Catholics in church parishes.
Over the years, interest in optional religion classes among students declined.
According to a survey by pollster CBOS, in 2010, ninety-three percent of students attended religion classes in schools. By 2022, the figure had dropped to 54 percent, according to demagog.org.pl, a Polish fact-checking portal.
Warsaw, Sept. 6, 1990: A religion class at the Jan Zamoyski High School, taught by a priest from the Holy Cross Church. Religion in schools had been restored under special instructions of the Ministry of Education in 1990 (W.Jabłonowski/PAP)
There are several reasons for the decline in the popularity of religion among Polish students. One is that the quality of teaching was often poor, with instructors being mainly priests, nuns, and catechists who reported to the diocese rather than the Ministry of National Education.
Although students who did not identify with the Catholic faith theoretically had the option to study ethics, this subject was not available in most schools in Poland.
Lay catechists protest
Starting from the new school year, revised regulations that facilitate the formation of religion and ethics groups from different age groups and classes will come into effect, which has sparked controversy - but not among those who actually use the Polish education system, only among lay catechists (the protest on Castle Square in Warsaw against the changes in organizing religion classes was organized by the Association of Lay Catechists).
In early August, the Catholic Education Committee of the Polish Episcopate raised concerns that the new regulations on organizing religion classes were detrimental and violated education law. According to OKO Press, the Episcopate has taken legal action by filing a lawsuit with the Polish Supreme Court regarding these changes.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka responded that consultations with the Church had occurred, and some comments were taken into account, emphasizing that accusations of a lack of consultation are false.
Source: Radio Poland/PAP/MEN/CBOS/demagog.org.pl/TVP Info/Oko Press
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