Polish education reform sparks protest over child holiday homes and new childcare rules

The County Council of Nowy Sącz (Nowosądecki) issued a unanimous protest to the Polish Ministry of Education demanding the withdrawal of a draft regulation that would delete Child Holiday Houses (Domy Wczasów Dziecięcych) from the public education system. The plan threatens the closure of the historic facility in Piwniczna‑Zdrój, which was modernised at a cost of over 9 million złoty and is set to celebrate its 80‑year anniversary.

Council members argue the proposal wastes public funds, breaches constitutional principles of proportionality and local self‑government, and endangers health‑focused education. They have called for dialogue with the ministry and a revision of the draft.

At the same time, the government is advancing a separate amendment to the law on care for children up to three years (draft bill 2698). The bill creates “daily care points”, establishes a new register of care institutions, raises qualifications and training requirements for staff, mandates unlimited water access, nutrition standards, playgrounds, and bans public use of children’s images by facilities even with parental consent. It also introduces a professional licence for caregivers and a commemorative Day of the Small Child Caregiver.