Experts from the Educational Research Institute – a state research institution – have prepared, at the request of the Ministry of National Education, a draft curriculum for the subject Education for Safety. In earlier proposals, they had called for its “slimming down” and for removing the mandatory firearms training component, citing, among other reasons, the “emotional immaturity of students.” “Moreover, shooting practice does not directly translate into everyday civic safety, which should be the priority of this subject,” the experts wrote. The ministry does not plan to increase the number of hours devoted to safety education.
Since September 2024, eighth-grade primary school students and first-year secondary school students have been subject to firearms training as part of the Education for Safety course. This was the result of changes introduced in 2022 by then-Minister of Education Przemysław Czarnek, which allowed a two-year transition period to prepare classes on weapon handling. Some Polish schools managed to organize various classes on the topic.
“Slimming down the curriculum”
In August this year, the Institute published proposals to amend the curriculum for eighth graders, outlining the key sections, descriptions, and direction of the most important changes.
The starting point was survey results filled out by teachers and “an analysis of available empirical studies, which showed that the current curriculum was too extensive and that certain outcomes were difficult to achieve within the 30 hours allocated for the subject.”
Among the directions for change were: teaching knowledge and skills needed to respond to “hybrid threats below the threshold of war”; “slimming down the curriculum by removing content covered in other subjects”; and “adjusting requirements to the capabilities of primary school students – including removing parts of the current curriculum not suited to eighth graders’ level of perception and moving them to secondary schools (including parts of Section I: State Security, Section II: Actions in Extraordinary Threat Situations, and Section IV.3: Preparation for Firearms Training).”
The new draft assumes around 22 learning outcomes achieved during 30 lessons.
“This is intended to give teachers enough time to implement these outcomes and support students in practically acquiring skills and attitudes,” the document states.
Experts pointed out that the previous curriculum for Education for Safety (one lesson per week in grade VIII) contained more than 60 specific requirements.
“This meant that teachers had to cover about two requirements per lesson, leaving little time for deeper learning, the use of active methods, or practical exercises,” the proposals noted.
No knowledge of Armed Forces structure or firearms
“Compared with the previous curriculum, the scope of theoretical content and definitions has been significantly reduced. Students are no longer required to memorize the organizational structure and armaments of the Polish Armed Forces, definitions of fractures, sprains, or dislocations, or the essence of cybersecurity in the military dimension. Instead, the draft includes skills such as explaining evacuation principles, preparing for evacuation, participating in first aid exercises, and making simple march-distance measurements. At this stage, firearms-related content has been dropped for several reasons, including the lack of facilities and qualified staff in most schools, and the emotional immaturity of students of this age. Moreover, shooting practice does not directly translate into everyday civic safety, which should be the subject’s priority. Instead, the focus should be on practical skills such as first aid and crisis response. At the same time, firearms-related content is recommended for the next stage of education,” the draft states.
In September, the IBE expert team, working under the Ministry’s task “Support for the Development of Education”, presented the draft curriculum. Among the subject’s objectives are “building and strengthening pro-defense attitudes, i.e., readiness to defend the country, both in the military and civil dimensions.”
However, no firearms handling classes are included. The proposed learning outcomes are divided into three thematic areas: safety and civil protection against extraordinary threats, basics of first aid, and fostering pro-defense attitudes.
Curriculum under consultation
The portal niezalezna.pl asked the Ministry of Education about the new curriculum. The ministry replied that the document is still in the public consultation stage.
“It should be noted that this is a draft prepared by the Educational Research Institute, and the Ministry of Education has not yet formally received the final version,” the ministry’s press office wrote.
“As part of the consultations, a public hearing is planned, allowing stakeholders to submit comments and opinions – an important stage in creating the curriculum. Implementation of the new curriculum is planned for September 1, 2026. Undoubtedly, the curriculum must be revised. Students must learn how to act in life- and health-threatening situations, how to provide first aid, and gain knowledge of state security and defense education,” the ministry added.
No extra hours
Recently, Minister Barbara Nowacka spoke with the Polish Press Agency (PAP) about the need for changes in Education for Safety toward a more practical approach. However, when asked whether the ministry was considering adding more hours for this subject, she explained:
“Adding new hours would mean extra burden for students, which we don’t really want to introduce, knowing how overloaded children already are. I would rather see part of these crisis-preparedness, ad hoc, and preventive classes carried out within homeroom hours, using the time that becomes available there,” she said.