Katarzyna Lubnauer, then Deputy Minister of Education, announced on TOK FM that schools will adopt a slimmer core curriculum starting September 1. She also defended a ban on mandatory homework in primary grades, suggesting students could handle assignments with the help of artificial intelligence if they choose.
A more concise core curriculum will take effect from September 1. This is described as a substantial reform, though the total number of hours in the school day across all subjects remains the same, while the content and scope of what is taught will be streamlined.
Lubnauer noted that as many as 17 teams are actively working on these revisions.
The aim is for students to encounter the same textbooks but with less material to cover, while teachers gain more time to work with students on the essential topics.
She added that a school system in transition may yield the question: is the goal a future where students absorb less knowledge, or a future where they learn more deeply with guided practice?
“We do not prohibit domestic work”
What about the restriction on mandatory homework?
The current plan is under consultation and will undergo minor adjustments. It is stated that homework for groups 4 through 8 should be optional and not graded. The overall principle is to avoid singling out children through homework alone. Reliable evaluation should reflect work students have completed on their own.
Lubnauer emphasized that there are moments when students may complete an essay quickly by using online chat tools that employ artificial intelligence, which could deliver solutions rapidly. She noted that tests might face similar scrutiny, as some students may rely on devices or methods that blur the line between independent work and external help.
Several observers agree that the coalition led by Donald Tusk is reshaping Poland’s schools. If implemented, students could gain more free time, though it is unlikely that most will invest that time in school-related pursuits.
tkwl/TOK FM
READ ALSO:
— Petition to Nowacka on rescinding changes regarding school homework! ‘We find this solution inappropriate’
– Nowacka’s sensations: Housework is oppression and a cause of family conflict. After being eliminated, children will be wiser and rest
Source attribution: wPolityce