Czerwone paski znikną ze szkół? Spór o „lody za pasek”. Nowacka: "Źle rozumiana równość"

Barbara Nowacka, head of the Ministry of National Education and deputy chairwoman of the Civic Coalition (KO), was a guest of Bogdan Rymanowski on Radio ZET today. The Minister of National Education addressed, among other things, the high-profile intervention by the Children's Rights Ombudsman at an ice cream shop in Pszczyna, which for years had been serving free ice cream to students with a red stripe on their report card. Asked about her reaction to Monika Horna-Cieślak's letter, the politician openly admitted that her initial reaction was a gesture known online as a "facepalm," adding: "Let's deal with serious matters. [...] This is a misunderstood concept of equality. Schools provide equal rights and equal opportunities, but not every child has the same abilities." The Minister of National Education declared that "I have no plans to make changes regarding red stripes" at the ministry, as they are a well-deserved reward for ambitious students, and consistency in school work should always be promoted. One of the key topics of discussion was homework in primary schools and the concerns of parents and educators about it. Barbara Nowacka categorically denied that the previously introduced restrictions would be lifted from September 1st. She also pointed to the inevitable technological progress and the dynamic development of artificial intelligence. "In the age of AI, what kind of essay is this, written by artificial intelligence? What are we supposed to grade? A teacher should grade AI?" She argued that schools must prioritize truly assessing students' knowledge through independent work in the classroom, rather than assessing algorithms. In the context of the upcoming school year, the issue of the smartphone ban in primary schools was also raised, along with the potential penalties for students violating the new rules. Asked about the specifics of the regulations, the Minister explained that the Ministry is introducing a top-down ban on cell phone use during lessons and breaks, but leaves the technical enforcement of these rules to the discretion of principals. "We cannot overregulate the state. [...] Let's leave these social contracts to schools, because we are, after all, deregulating greatly," the Minister of National Education emphasized, adding that a list of potential consequences (from warnings to discussions with parents) will be included in the currently drafted Act on Student Rights and Obligations. Barbara Nowacka also addressed the criticism leveled by the Polish Episcopate against the new subject of health education. Refuting the Church's accusations, the Minister of Education stated that "the Episcopate has been creating a terrible confusion and causing terrible harm around health education from the very beginning." She also explained the structure of the subject, reassuring parents that issues related to sexual health will be covered as part of the optional component, while hygiene, preventive care, and a healthy lifestyle will be mandatory for all children. The head of the ministry emphasized that the Volhynian Massacre and the truth about the Volhynian genocide will remain in the core curriculum, and Ukrainian children attending Polish schools will receive the only true version of these tragic events. Referring to the controversy surrounding the Order of the White Eagle for the Ukrainian president, Nowacka assessed that diplomacy in Kyiv had made a mistake: "Ukrainians already know they overreacted. [...] I believe they should talk, because we also have too many other major challenges and we are too much of a source of joy to the Kremlin with this kind of fuss." The minister also declared that her priority remains a raise for teachers and linking their salaries to the average wage in the economy, something she intends to continually fight for at Council of Ministers meetings.