The Free Trade Union “Forum-Oświata” is another teachers' trade union, after “Solidarity”, that wants to veto the amendment to the Education Law implementing the curriculum reform. He submitted a request to President Karol Nawrocki on this matter. The Polish Teachers' Union is not asking for a veto.
The amendment to the Education Law and certain other acts, which was submitted to the president, changes, among others: definition of the core curriculum for preschool education and the core curriculum for general education. They are to clearly and precisely define educational goals and learning outcomes, and be consistent internally and between subjects.
The change in the core curriculum for preschool education, the core curriculum for general education and the framework teaching plans for public schools is planned for gradual implementation, starting from the school year 2026/2027 in preschool education and in grades I and IV of primary school, and in the case of grade I of secondary schools, from the school year 2027/2028.
At the beginning of December The National Secretariat of Science and Education of NSZZ “Solidarność” appealed to Nawrocki to veto the amendment.according to which the amendment raises serious substantive and legal reservations.
Now the Free Trade Union “Forum-Oświata” has asked the president not to sign the act.
In his position sent to PAP, he indicated, among other things, that the act “was not adopted by the Sejm as a bill beyond political divisions (233 votes for, 200 votes against, 6 abstentions).” In his opinion, this means that:
“a very important law, the implementation of which will affect many millions of citizens (…), was pushed through despite many critical opinions from both teachers, parents, associations and educational experts.”
According to WZZ “Forum-Oświata”, the management of the Ministry of Education is “sort of 'forcibly' pushing its idea for reform.” As we read, this is “another example of the government experimenting on a 'living organism' such as the Polish School.”
Trade unionists argue, among other things, that “the concept of implementing another reform from September 1, 2025 will, in practice, lead to the long-term operation of two different core curricula in paralleltwo systems and examination requirements.” Meanwhile, as they added, “there is a lack of training for teachers, textbooks, materials, etc.”
In their opinion, the Ministry of National Education thus “generates further competence and organizational chaos in schools.”
In turn, the ZNP informed PAP that it was not asking the president to veto this bill. “The amendment to the Education Law defines the framework of the reform, the stages of its implementation and the directions of changes in the core curriculum for preschool education and general education. For several years, there has been a discussion on what should be changed in education, which shows that the core curriculum should be slimmed down and focus on skills training,” said ZNP spokeswoman Magdalena Kaszulanis.
She added that “specific and detailed provisions are included in the draft regulations on the core curriculum, which are currently being consulted and reviewed by the community.”
On Wednesday, Education Minister Barbara Nowacka assured that the Ministry of National Education is prepared for any variant and the reform will be implemented regardless of whether the president signs the amendment or vetoes it.
– What we propose in the reform are calm changes that give teachers greater autonomy, give students the opportunity to work in teams and develop key competences in the 21st century. And this is simply in the interest of Poland, Polish youth, the Polish economy, the Polish future and the well-being of young people, but also the well-being of teachers – she pointed out.
According to the amendment, the basics are to be written in the language of learning outcomes precisely enough to enable the creation of diagnostic tools and exams on their basis and to effectively support students in the learning process. At the same time, they should be flexible enough to allow teachers to implement them according to their own ideas and in a way that takes into account the diverse educational needs of students, focused on building students' competences, and not only on memorizing information.
The amendment also introduces, among others: changes in the scope of pedagogical supervision, including the abandonment of the obligation for the education superintendent to issue opinions on the organization sheets of public schools and institutions (there will only be follow-up inspections). It also returns, from the 2026/2027 school year, to the April date of the eighth-grade exam. (PAP)
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