Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka on 25 August in TVN24 stated that the bishops' opposition to compulsory wellness education " smells like Braun". Subject substance will become mandatory from 1 September 2026, although the sexual wellness module will stay optional. The dispute concerns the right of parents to decide on the upbringing of children and the place of religion at school.
Minister corresponds to political label
Barbara Nowack accused the bishops that before the beginning of the school year they were trying to origin a fuss around education. On TVN24, she asked why they would not want youths to know how to defend themselves from bad touching, care for health, and benefit from vaccination. She then stated that criticism of wellness education by bishops "smelling Braun".
This is simply a strong comparison, but it does not respond to the point of objections. Bishops did not question the request to teach young people first aid, healthy nutrition or prevention of addiction. The dispute concerns the limits of state power in the field of education and the way in which sexuality, household and work are presented. The minister may reject the Episcopal arguments. However, she should mention to them point by point, alternatively of replacing a conversation with a political name.
Health education compulsory from 1 September
According to Information from the Ministry of National Education, from school year 2026/2027 wellness education will be compulsory in grades IV to VIII of primary school and for 2 years in secondary schools. The mandatory scope will include safety, digital hygiene, nutrition, intellectual and physical health, drug prevention and first aid.
The hotel has separated sexual wellness issues into a separate, optional subject. MEN besides stated that in secondary schools, the manager will choice 2 classes from classes I-III, in which the compulsory part of wellness education will be implemented. These changes were further described erstwhile health education has become mandatory since September.
Bishops point to parents' rights
The Bureau of the Polish Episcopal Conference on 24 August published a message "The young man deserves more". W KEP document The bishops appealed to reconstruct the right place to spiritual lessons at school and expressed concern about the compulsory nature of wellness education. They stressed that the specified separation of the sexuality module as optional does not remove all doubts about the program and parents' right to decide on upbringing.
The Church has all right to talk on the subject of school, due to the fact that it concerns families, consciences and the future form of society. This does not mean that all evaluation of bishops is beyond discussion. This means that the public authority has an work to respond to an argument alternatively than an effort to brand the caller. This is what pluralism is about, which liberal elites talk so willingly until they meet with opposition.
Religion marginalized
The dispute besides involves limiting religion to 1 hr a week and placing it at the first or last lesson hour. Nowacka convinces that the solution is rational and well received. The Episcopate sees him further weakening the presence of religion in the school. We've already written about this conflict in analysis. Bishops' dispute with MEN about household and school education.
The State does not own children. The school is expected to give reliable cognition and support to the family, not take the precedence of parenting. Therefore, Poles request an open agenda, clear principles of consent to the content of delicate and peaceful debate. The sharper the ideological dispute, the little space it should be for labels. Parents’ trust in the school and their real impact on what their children learn are at stake here.
Source: Polsat News
Source: Polsat News
