The Conference of INGOs is concerned to learn that even after the public consultation organised by the governmental body since 21 July 2021, the majority of stakeholder organisations maintain the same criticism regarding the first draft of the amendments to the ‘Draft law amending the Act – Law on School Education and certain other acts’, transmitted to SEJM on 30 November 2021.

As we follow closely the recent developments in Poland, we constate that in the second draft the main concerns are still remaining:

• the process of centralisation of education through the increase of powers of superintendents (Polish: Kuratorzy);
• the limitation of powers exercised by unions, parents and local governments administering schools;
• the bureaucratisation, and de facto limitation of access to schools of NGOs and other organisations.

These trends strongly undermine the democratisation and inclusive governance of the schools.

The Conference of INGOs thinks that if the purpose of the changed Education Law is to strengthen the quality of education in Polish schools and solve educational issues in the country, the proposal needs to be further discussed and debated within society, teachers, parents, youth, local governments and bodies that administer particular schools, Civil Society Organisations, and experts maintaining participatory standards of the Council of Europe.

The Conference of INGOs hopes that after the good established and inclusive participatory process at all stages of the law-making process, as well the requirement of membership of the Council of the Europe to align the draft with the Council of Europe quality standards in education, the proposed changes in Education Law will NOT lead to the politicisation of schools, will NOT reduce the role of local authorities and will NOT threaten pluralism of pupils’, parents’ and teachers’ opinions.

  The open letter from the President of the Conference of INGOs to the Government of Poland