Poland education reforms and school year 2026/2027 updates

The 2026/2027 school year in Poland will introduce several structural and regulatory changes. The Ministry of National Education (MEN) has issued new regulations regarding teacher qualifications. Starting September 1, teachers in fields such as biology, geography, physics, and chemistry will be permitted to teach nature studies, while historians and social studies teachers may lead civic education classes.

Regarding curriculum and religious instruction, the current policy remains in place: religion and ethics classes will be held for one hour per week, scheduled either immediately before or after mandatory lessons. This decision follows previous reforms intended to simplify school scheduling, despite protests from the Polish Episcopate Conference, which has advocated for a two-hour weekly requirement and a mandatory choice between religion and ethics.

Other administrative updates include the distribution of free textbooks, with new sets primarily designated for grades I, IV, and VII due to new curriculum requirements and replacement cycles. Additionally, the official academic calendar has been set, outlining winter and spring breaks, as well as the regionalized winter holiday schedule. Various local institutions are also finalizing preparations for the new term, including dormitory housing, school canteen services, and scholarship application windows.