PiS to reverse law on compulsory education age

Spokeswoman of Law and Justice (PiS) Elżbieta Witek, who is rumored to become the new Minister of Education told Gazeta Wrocławska daily that the new government's priority is to reverse a law passed by Civic Platform, which lowered the compulsory education age to six from seven. "We have already prepared a draft of the bill and we want to proceed with it as quickly as possible, maybe even this year. Changes will be valid from the next school year, that is September 2016," Witek said. "Parents of six year olds will have a choice whether to enroll them in school or not. This change is in response to the million of voices of the citizens. We are fulfilling our promises, parents should have the right to decide about their children," Witek added. When asked whether first year classes will be created next year as pupils who will turn seven in 2016 have already started school, she said that there are still many children who have been deferred this year. Witek also said that the next step is to liquidate middle schools (gimnazjum), but this decision will be preceded by public consultations.