The clergy accuses of not consulting
On 1 October, a draft regulation was published on the website of the Government Legislative Centre, which limits spiritual activities in schools to 1 hr a week and orders their organisation before or after compulsory lessons. Classes can besides be conducted in inter-school groups.
Today, the school is obliged to organize spiritual lessons in a given class if at least 7 students agree. However, the assessment of religion is not taken into account erstwhile calculating the average rating.
The fresh activities and plans of the Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka rise opposition from the Church. In August, the Episcopate appealed to defend spiritual lessons, arguing that the merging of classes is discriminatory and violates educational law. Bishops besides claim that the changes were made without consulting church representatives. Minister Nowacka pointed out that it was the Church who strives to conflict with the authorities and that the clergy intensify the dispute in order to interfere with the powers of the rulers.
Kiepura wants 2 lessons
The Ministry of National Education presently employs six people. These are constitutional ministers and 5 deputies, including 3 state secretaries who are Members and 2 Undersecretaries. Each coalition organization thus has its typical in the resort.
Henryk Kiepura of the PSL as 1 of the Deputy Ministers is responsible, among others, for vocational training and cooperation with local authorities. However, its ability to influence the fresh regulation is limited, as there is no supervision of the general education department or the legal department.
On Wednesday, during the RMF radio interview, Kiepura was asked about the draft MEN regulation, which restricts spiritual learning in schools to 1 hr a week and was published the day before on the Government Legislative Centre website. The Deputy Minister declared that the PSL organization would reject this task while proposing to keep the backing of 2 lessons of religion.
One lesson will be taught. On the another hand, if the school environment, parents, teachers, management or even students consider that there is no request for another, then the directorate can arrange another classes. However, backing from [will concern—ed.] 2 lessons of religion – explained Kiepur.
Needs of local communities
Kiepura then explains that those who do not want to participate in another spiritual activities could attend another classes at that time, and the school would decide. The Deputy Minister pointed out that in practice the number of classes should not change.
He besides stressed that it was crucial to take into account the diverse needs of religion in different local communities. He pointed out the differences in the interest of religion between residents of large cities and regions specified as east Poland, where this interest is much greater.
Kiepura besides said that request needs to be addressed, but does not advocate the elimination of the second hr of religion where request is.
