Last year's educational reforms reaping rewards in the learning of English

The number of elementary-school first-graders learning English at school has increased tenfold since the last academic year.The Education Ministry says this is the first clear positive effect of the educational reforms introduced last year. The ministry would like to introduce a requirement to learn two foreign languages in border regions: English and the language of the neighboring country. Unfortunately, the number of junior highschools not having their own buildings (so-called "virtual schools"), which is now 576, will not change. The ministry will continue discussing secondary education until the end of July. One of the most controversial points is the idea of cancelling computer studies in highschool. (Rzeczpospolita, page A2; Gazeta Wyborcza, page 8) J.K.