Politics in brief: Non-public education; Podkarpacki; Health service

An amendment to the education bill accepted last week stated that teachers of non-public schools would be forced to teach the same curriculum as state schools. Representatives of the schools were outraged. Education Minister Krystyna Lybacka said, "I never planned to interfere with teaching programs". (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 4) ... Yesterday five councillors from Self-Defense in the Podkarpacki local government voted against the annual budget. "This is the end of the coalition. I will not work with my deputies who prepared the document and now vote against it," said voivodship head Leszek Deptula from SLD. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 5) ... During a debate on health yesterday, Health Minister Marek Balicki presented three political conditions for improving the situation of the health service. Firstly, the Minister must have influence on creating health policy and choosing the right people. Secondly, he must have the full backing of the coalition and finally all the changes should be discussed with local representatives. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 5) M.M.