The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has taken note with concern of the recent reduction of the subsidy for regional or minority language education in Poland and the subsequent decrease of the number of hours for minority language teaching targeting German. The teaching of German as a minority language has thus been restricted to one hour per week.
As a State Party to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Poland has committed itself to protect and promote regional or minority languages, to take resolute action in order to safeguard them and to encourage their use in public and private life. Moreover, Poland has undertaken to provide education in German, i.e., with German as the language of instruction.
This commitment remains unfulfilled and is subject of a renewed recommendation of the Committee of Experts in its most recent evaluation report. In this context, the recent developments weaken German as a minority language in education even further, and are a step back compared to the situation at the time of the on-the-spot visit in June 2021 and go against the objectives and principles of the Charter.
The Committee of Experts has asked the Polish authorities for further information concerning these measures.
