Poland's patriotic education bill criticised by Ordo Iuris for centralisation and hidden costs

A draft law on patriotic education, introduced by a group of Polish People's Party MPs in August 2024, was finally scheduled for its first reading on 30 July 2026. The law would amend five existing statutes, create a new National Education Commission appointed and dismissed by the prime minister, mandate compulsory school trips, and expand state control over curricula.

The legal institute Ordo Iuris, citing analysis by Dr Artur Górecki, argues that the proposal goes far beyond patriotic teaching, centralises decision‑making, limits parental influence, and contains serious legislative errors, such as references to a repealed local‑government income law and incorrect listings of Nobel laureates. Ordo Iuris also says the financial impact is vastly underestimated – the bill’s justification mentions only 15 million zł, while the institute estimates potential annual costs could reach hundreds of millions of złoty. The institute calls for the bill’s rejection, stating that love of country cannot be imposed by law.