Andżelika Borys: Belarusian authorities want to close Polish schools

The Poles fear the Russification of Polish schools in Belarus.

The Ministry of Education of Belarus wants schools of ethnic minorities to teach such subjects as History of Belarus, World History, Geography, Social Studies only in Russia or Belarusian. The Poles fear it is the beginning of the Russification of two Polish schools in Belarus, Polish media write.

Polish schools with Polish work in Hrodna and Vaukavysk. Local authorities wanted to open Russian-language classes in the Hrodna school, but gave up the idea after protests of the Poles.

Lawmakers are expected to take the final decision on whether some subjects will be taught in Belarusian or Russian in schools for ethnic minorities. In accordance with the bill proposed by the Belarusian Ministry of Education, the number of subjects in Belarusian or Russian can be extended on request of local authorities.

“It means that the authorities of Vaukavysk and Hrodna can turn Polish schools into Belarusian- or Russian-language schools at any moment,” Andżelika Borys says. “Our experience of 2012, when the Hrodna authorities wanted to open Russian-language classes in the Polish school but protests of the Union of Poles and parents managed to prevent it, allows us to suggest that authorities prepare a legal ground to close Polish schools in Belarus.

We will begin to collect signatures under a letter to the minister of education of Belarus calling on him no to amend the law on education that can violate the right of the Polish ethnic minority in Belarus to receive education in their native language,” Borys says.