Representatives from the Polish Orthodox Church and the Ministry of National Education recently met to discuss the future of Orthodox religious education in schools amid changes to the country’s educational policies. The meeting, held in Warsaw, was reported by the official website of the Polish Orthodox Church.

The discussions took place during the 19th National Conference of Methodologists and Inspectors on Teaching Orthodox Christian Doctrine. The participants addressed how the new educational reforms by the Ministry of Education are impacting religious education, the current state of Orthodox teaching in public schools, and the role of specialized catechetical centers.

These changes are of particular significance to the Polish Orthodox Church, whose followers make up a minority in the country. Unlike Catholic religious classes, which are widely available in most schools, Orthodox religion lessons are often organized in inter-school groups or at parishes, requiring more complex logistical arrangements. The Church has expressed concern that a reduction in teaching hours could lead to the closure of these groups and a decline in the number of Orthodox religious educators.

The meeting was attended by the head of the Polish Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw and All Poland, as well as Ministry of Education representatives, including State Secretary Katarzyna Lubnauer and advisor Małgorzata Krasuska. A key focus was on current and upcoming changes in the rules for religious education and how they can be adapted to meet the needs of Orthodox communities.

In the second part of the conference, inspectors and methodologists from all dioceses of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church shared practical experiences regarding the organization of lessons under the new regulations and discussed possible ways to implement the updated curricula.

Despite the ongoing reforms, Orthodox religious education in Poland continues to function. For example, in the 2025–2026 academic year, the 27th nationwide Orthodox religious education Olympiad will be held, accredited by the Ministry of Education. This event involves high school students who attend relevant lessons in schools and catechetical centers.

The Church has emphasized that it does not advocate for mandatory religious education but insists on preserving the current model, which allows children from Orthodox families to receive systematic religious education within the public school system. Dialogue with the authorities is seen as a key tool in finding a balanced and compromise-based solution.