Polish MP Marcin Józefaciuk directed to social media instead of receiving documents during Education Ministry inspection.
Control Request Denied
During his inspection, MP Józefaciuk requested access to various documents related to homework policy changes, but no materials were provided, according to his account.
Instead of documentation, the ministry directed him to social media, recommended reading a newsletter called “Kompas Jutra,” and suggested reviewing the website of the Supreme Audit Office (NIK).
Parliamentary Control Function
Józefaciuk emphasized that parliamentary control inspections are established by Article 20 of the law on the performance of the mandate of a deputy and senator, as well as by the constitutional control function of the Sejm specified in Article 95, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
“An interpellation is one thing. A parliamentary control is another. These procedures cannot be combined, replaced or ignored,” he stressed.
Possible Scenarios
In his assessment, the situation presents two possible scenarios. First, that documents exist but were not shown, which could mean a violation of obligations towards the deputy performing the control function.
Second, that documents do not exist at all, which would be, as he stated, “a serious problem of the quality of law-making.”
Education System Changes
The matter concerns changes affecting the entire education system. According to the MP, if these were introduced without full analysis, proper documentation, and risk assessment, it undermines the standards of the legislative process.
He was particularly critical of the suggestion to seek information on social media. “Attempting to replace official documentation with marketing communication is not only unserious—it is dangerous for the standards of a state based on the rule of law,” he assessed.
Background on Homework Policy
According to a MEN regulation from April 2024, homework should not exceed specified daily limits and should not be assigned during holidays or vacations.
An earlier, withdrawn version of recommendations by the Educational Research Institute (IBE) proposed replacing traditional homework with so-called “student’s own work”—also non-compulsory and ungraded, but subject to time limits set by teachers.
These recommendations were withdrawn after one of the indicated experts—Danuta Kozakiewicz, director of Primary School No. 103 in Warsaw—denied having co-created the document in its presented form, and emphasized that she disagrees with most of the proposals contained in it.
New recommendations are to be presented within two weeks. The Ministry of National Education (MEN) bases possible changes to the current rules for assigning exercises to students on these opinions.
