Teachers across Poland strike to protest education overhaul
WARSAW, Poland — Teachers across Poland went on strike Friday to protest a sweeping educational overhaul by the populist government that will eliminate middle schools this fall. Many fear the change is a pretext for introducing a more nationalistic curriculum that will leave children less prepared for the modern world.
The education overhaul has become a flashpoint between the conservative ruling Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and liberal opponents who accuse the party chief of moving the country in an authoritarian direction.
The key change involves eliminating middle schools and returning to a pre-1999 system of eight years of primary school followed by either high school or vocational school.
Many parents kept their children home in solidarity with the teachers and to show their disapproval of the changes.