Statement considering the Polish school in Jerozolimka

Strike committees of Polish Schools in Lithuania, Parents’ Forum of Polish Schools in Lithuania and Schools’ Defense Committees wrote an open letter to the president Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, the  Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania Audronė Pitrėnienė and the mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius regarding the Polish middle school in Jerozolimka. Last school year this Lithuanian school had a Polish department. Polish classes weren’t numerous; therefore, they were combined during lessons. In the new school year, the Polish department in the middle school in Jerozolimka was liquidated.

Statement

Considering the destruction of Polish elementary school in Jerozolimka

We protest against harming and closing down the historic school in the Vilnius county Jerozolimka as of 1st September 2015. The psychological pressure was put on parents, so that they write statements to take their children away the school in Jerozolimka.

The next Polish, historic school in the Vilnius city is eliminated by the liberal-conservative coalition basing on the administrative actions through intimidating and manipulating parents.

We demand the punishment of the guilty, so that they deal with the consequences of unlawful actions. Closing down the school in Jerozolimka causes the lack of possibility of learning in Polish in this part of Vilnius: in Verkiai, Santaryszki, Bałtupie and Jerozolimka.

We demand the opening of the new elementary school in the separate room and with the separate administration. The existence of the elementary school in Jerozolimka is justified which is based on the petitions of parents and the fact that 20% of Poles live in this part of the city. The necessity of immediate rebuilding of the Polish elementary school in this Vilnius’ part is evident.

We strongly oppose the discrimination of polish children in the Jerozolimka County as well as in Verkiai, Santaryszki and Bałtupie.

Strike committees of Polish Schools in Lithuania

Parents’ Forum of Polish Schools in Lithuania

Schools’ Defense Committees