A/HRC/43/50/Add.3
schools it worth to specify that the current organizational and legal solution consisting in free
choice (made by parents or adult students) concerning the student's participation in religious
and/or ethical education is - in the opinion of the government - optimal. This solution does
not imply a choice between the study of religion or ethics. Pupils may take part in both
classes, one of them or neither. The allegation of stigmatization of students for this reason is
not confirmed in reality.
Ad. Paragraph 59 and 60
74.
It should be mentioned that the right to learn a language and in a minority language is
one of the fundamental rights of persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities. In Polish
legislation, this right is guaranteed by constitutional provisions. The Polish Constitution
provides for the legal protection of national and ethnic minorities and the obligations of the
state in this area. It contains Article 35 directly dedicated to the protection of minorities. The
development of constitutional principles for the protection of national and ethnic minorities,
including the law on language protection, was reflected in the Act of 6 January 2005 on
National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Language (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 823).
75.
The provisions of the above mentioned Act set out in detail the law on the protection
of the language, Article 8 states that: Persons belonging to a minority shall in particular have
the right to:
(1)
free use of the minority language in private and public life;
(2)
dissemination and exchange of information in a minority language;
(3)
to place information of a private nature in a minority language;
(4)
learning a minority language or in a minority language.
76.
As regards the issue of closing the Kashubian studies course at the University of
Gdańsk, it should be noted that the condition for its launch was the registration of a minimum
of 25 students.
77.
Due to the fact that in 2018, 10 people applied for the first recruitment, the University
decided to make an additional recruitment, which ended in early September this year.
Eventually, 21 people registered, which resulted in the decision of the university authorities
to close the course due to the insufficient number of applicants.
78.
It should be mentioned that from the very beginning of the course's establishment, the
university faced a problem of lack of interest, and yet each time - after additional recruitment
- the university authorities decided to launch the course.
79.
Additionally, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration in order to maintain
the above mentioned direction supports financially the implementation of the task of ensuring
the functioning of this major with financial means. It should be stressed that despite the lack
of a clear increase in interest in the possibility of studying at Kashubian studies faculty in the
following years, it is still available in the teaching offer of the University of Gdańsk.
The cultural rights of women
Ad. Paragraph 65 and 57
80.
Key documents for the functioning of Polish education system, which content is
determined by the minister of education, take sufficient account the issue of providing
students with appropriate and adequate level of knowledge about human rights and their
protection, openness, toleration and anti-discrimination as well as with skills and attitudes in
this area.
81.
In accordance with the Act of 14 December 2016 – Education Law, Minister of
Education determines the core curriculum for preschool education and for general education
for particular types of schools which specifies the obligatory learning objectives and teaching
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