Warsaw City Council Votes to Shut Down Six Public Kindergartens

Warsaw city councilors approved the liquidation of six public kindergartens on Thursday, despite opposition from PiS, the Left, and local activist groups who argue the closures ignore parental concerns.

Heated Debate Over Facility Closures

Warsaw’s municipal session saw intense debate regarding the future of local preschools. Damian Kowalczyk of the PiS faction argued that the city failed to engage in genuine dialogue with parents, merely informing them of the decisions. He emphasized that forcing young children to change environments will be a traumatic shock and cited Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski’s previous promise not to close facilities while children were still enrolled.

Jan Mencwel, representing the Left, Miasto Jest Nasze, and Wspólne Jutro, rejected the demographic decline argument, labeling it a manipulation. He noted that while central districts like Śródmieście face a population drop, surrounding areas are experiencing a boom. He criticized the city’s policies for effectively pushing young families out to the suburbs.

City Officials Defend the Liquidation

Jarosław Szostakowski, head of the KO councilors, maintained that discussions were held with both parents and staff. He stated that the city’s priority is ensuring all affected children find places in other local facilities and that staff are transitioned to new employment. He noted the absence of protests during the session as evidence that the transition plan is well-managed.

Deputy Mayor Renata Kaznowska reported that the targeted facilities currently serve very few children; for example, the center on Emilii Plater has only 10 students. She assured the council that all affected families have secured spots in nearby institutions that still have vacancies.

Impacted Facilities and Implementation

The city will close four kindergartens in Śródmieście—specifically “Zielona Łódeczka” on Rozbrat 10/14, the facility at Nowogrodzka 17, “Odkrywcy Nowego Świata” on Nowy Świat 41A, and the center at Emilii Plater 25. Additionally, facility No. 142 on Dąbrowskiego 25 in Mokotów and “Wróbelek Elemelek” on Broniewskiego 93 in Bielany will be shut down.

These resolutions will take effect 14 days after their publication in the Masovian Voivodeship Official Journal. According to April data from the PAP Local Government Service, Warsaw currently operates 362 public kindergartens, with many individual units operating well below standard capacity.