Minister of Education of Poland in defense of Polish children in Lithuania

The Minister of Education of Poland stated ‘I share your anxiety’ when she addressed parents of students of Polish schools in Lithuania.

‘Polish students in Lithuania are entitled to take advantage of all the rights that belong to the national minorities in the EU’ – the Minister of Education of Poland Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska wrote on Tuesday (3rd September) in the letter to parents of Polish schools’ students in Lithuania.

The leader of Ministry of Education shares the anxiety of parents related to the situation of their children and the steadily worsening atmosphere of Polish schools in Lithuania.

The solutions considering i.e. standardization of the Lithuanian language exam with the Lithuanian and non-Lithuanian language teaching program, accreditation of junior high schools and those that enable the elimination of schools with Polish language teaching introduced by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania cause the fears of Poles.

60 thousands persons put their signatures against the bylaws introducing these changes.

‘The Information about the destination of Vilnius schools reached me: Sz. Konarski, J. Lelewel, Wł. Syrokomla schools as well as those in Lazdynai and in Jerozolimka – as Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska writes. ‘The situation departs greatly from the standards imposed by the EU and the Council of Europe’ – she adds.

The leader of Ministry of Education reminds that on Tuesday, 2nd September, she issued a document to the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania – Audronė Pitrėnienė with a request of renewed consideration of postulates of parents of Polish schools’ students.

‘My representative is ready to pay a visit in Vilnius and to meet you soon’ – writes the Minister of Education.

Ministry of Education