Poland’s political landscape has experienced significant changes in recent years. In the 2023 parliamentary elections, the opposition coalition, led by Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition, secured a majority, ending the eight-year rule of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. This transition marked a shift towards more liberal policies and a renewed emphasis on strengthening ties with the European Union.
However, the new government faces challenges, particularly in its relationship with President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with PiS. This has led to a tense cohabitation, with frequent clashes over policy directions and legislative initiatives.
Nonetheless, the new government’s commitment to educational reform creates a fertile plane to shape necessary curriculum changes, as suggested in IMPACT-se’s December report on Polish textbooks.
Recent reforms:
Previous reforms have aimed to modernize the education system, focusing on reducing student stress and promoting creativity, with new regulations limiting homework for younger students.
Whilst there have been a significant number of structural education reforms enacted by the Polish government, particularly with the introduction of standardized assessments in 1999 and reverting the school structure to an ‘8+4’ model in 2017, there has been notably little discussion of educational content.
Despite these efforts, educational content has remained relatively unchanged, leaving space for further improvement in areas such as inclusivity, critical thinking, and global awareness. Addressing this gap, as of November 2024, Poland’s Minister of National Education is Barbara Nowacka, a prominent politician known for her advocacy for educational reforms.
Beginning September 2025, ‘Civic Education’ will be introduced as a new subject in general and technical secondary schools. This will include education on societal issues such as human rights, and understanding democratic processes, as well as civic responsibility.
Moreover, reforms emphasize broader themes like digital literacy, health education, and sustainable development, signaling a move toward aligning Polish education with global trends.
Opportunities for change:
Given the curricular reforms scheduled for 2025 and Nowacka’s enthusiasm for educational reform. IMPACT-se’s December 2024 Poland report comes at a potentially opportune moment. Issues identified in the report, such as the need to place the Poland’s Jewish heritage more firmly within the social fabric, would compliment the more inclusive educational approach which appears to be emerging.
