Even politicians affiliated with the governing coalition are sparing no criticism of the leadership of the education ministry. The press conference held by Barbara Nowacka and Katarzyna Lubnauer was assessed unequivocally negatively. “A political performance devoid of maturity,” said Marcin Józefaciuk, a representative of the parliamentary governing majority (until recently affiliated with the Civic Coalition).
President Karol Nawrocki announced on Thursday that he had vetoed an amendment to the Education Law. The amendment was intended, among other things, to enable the phased introduction in schools of the curriculum reform titled “Reform 26. Compass of Tomorrow.” During Friday’s press conference, Barbara Nowacka acknowledged that the veto would “cause certain legislative complications,” but would not stop the ministry’s plans. She emphasized that “Reform 26. Compass of Tomorrow” would go into effect and would be implemented through regulations. During the conference—also attended by Deputy Minister Katarzyna Lubnauer—many statements were made that, publicly, should not be made by ministers.
Even an MP associated with the Civic Coalition from the very beginning of the current term admitted that this was already going too far.
“Hate is a phenomenon consisting of ridiculing or humiliating individuals or social groups. It is difficult to describe the Ministry of Education’s press conference on the President’s veto in any other way. Statements such as ‘there has probably never been a dumber veto,’ ‘gibberish,’ and ‘pathetic argumentation’ were uttered by the Minister of Education right at the outset—rather than engaging in a substantive, merit-based discussion,” Marcin Józefaciuk wrote on the X platform.
Marcin Józefaciuk (until recently of the Civic Coalition) did not spare criticism of Nowacka and Lubnauer, stating that in order to achieve the main objective of the bill, the ministry is prepared to block other solutions.
A minister who declares openness to dialogue described the consultative meeting at the President’s office as “bizarre,” while simultaneously discrediting its participants by labeling some of them “anti-vaxxers,” “quasi-experts,” or “ultra-right-wing organizations acting against pro-freedom communities,” Józefaciuk listed.
“This conference was above all a political performance, lacking the maturity appropriate to the office of Minister of Education. Instead of substance, emotions, ridicule, and divisions prevailed—directed at teachers, schools, local governments, and the President of the Republic of Poland,” the MP concluded.