'25 years ago our aspiration was to revive a national school, which would be based on Polish language as well as national culture and traditions. We had also taken basic steps in the right direction to develop Polish schools in Lithuania. Unfortunately, at the beginning we had understood that our idea would come to nothing because of the decision made by education authorities. The decision was that the educational system should be uniform, but it could be carried out in minorities' native languages,' - said Juzef Kvetkovskij, chairman of 'Macierz Szkolna' and member of the Lithuanian Seimas. He also asserted that the most important thing was that they could save Polish schools (from grade 1 to 12).

The Association of Polish Schools Teachers in Lithuania 'Macierz Szkolna' was formed on 11th November 1990. Vaclav Baranovskij, the then principal of the Vilnius Joachimo Lelevelio Secondary School, was elected as a Chairman of the Association at the very first conference. Juzef Kvetkovskij became a chair of the organization in 1993 and he occupies this position until today.

'The Association helps and encourages municipalities in their efforts to save Polish schools. It offers suggestions and looks at ways of providing technical measures to schools, tries to find sponsors, organizes school events. It can meet Lithuanian authorities and protect Polish schools' interests as a social organization as well as. We support Polish education in Lithuania,' stated the chairman.

A competitive Polish school

'An attractive, modern and competitive school is our goal,' said Kvetkovskij. As he mentioned, this aim have been achieved thanks to raising the level of education.

In order to create a positive image of Polish schools in the Vilnius Region, from the beginning of its functioning the Association had been emphasizing the meaning of being active in contests and teacher trainings as well as the meaning of the newest teaching equipment and didactic aids.

'We got 8 tons of computers from Canada in as early as 1994, so almost all schools could have their computer rooms,' said Kvetkovskij. Moreover, schools were equipped with satellite installations to receive Polish programmes and also with copy machines.

Another step was an aspiration to restore school buildings that were in a pitiful state in 1990s. 'Thanks to funds granted by Poland and to municipalities' efforts we had carried out extensive repairs of Polish schools in Lithuania. So today, if we are talking about the equipment and the condition of buildings, I would say Polish schools are in better condition than other ones,' stated Kvetkovskij.
Teacher trainings - it was the next step which had to be made in order to raise an educational standard in Polish schools. 'Thanks to 'Macierz Szkolna', about 200 teachers were attending trainings in Poland every year during the first years of our activity,' said Kvetkovskij. Moreover, Polish schools in Lithuania received academic support from Poland. Also trips to Poland have played a crucial role in Polish education.

Activation through competitions

'Macierz Szkolna' normally organizes about 20 contests, which became traditional and school communities wait for them every year. 'Best school - best teacher' is one of the main contests. It was organized for 21st time this year. 'We organize such events not only to encourage and attract school societies, but also in order to promote Polish schools. We want to show the local society and parents that their children are engaged in various activities and that they achieve successes,' claimed Kvetkovskij.

He also pointed out that actions that have been taken to promote Polish schools are effective. 'We can see also good graduates' results. This year about 70-80 percent of students entered higher studies, whereas in 1990s - only 30-35 percent,' stressed the chairman. He also added that many Polish schools in the Vilnius Region take high positions in Lithuanian rankings.

Fight for the preservation

'Apart from activating teachers' and children's communities, technical school equipment and repairs of schools' buildings as well as events' organisations, also enforcing rights on education in the mother tongue was a time and resource consuming activity,' said the chairman. As he also indicated, the attempts to diminish the right to be taught in the mother tongue have been made since 1990s.

'Already in 1994 the Ministry of Education and Science ordered not to translate books for older pupils to Polish. 'Macierz Szkolna' decided to do something and thanks to financial support from Poland we used to translate and publish 2-3 books per year. So we have been able to minimise this problem,' described Kvetkovskij.

In the same year, modern municipal schools with the Lithuanian language of instruction were opened in Vilnius and Šalčininkai districts. It was a new attempt to draw Polish pupils away from Polish to Lithuanian schools. In 2002 the Ministry of Education and Science liquidated mandatory status of the native language (Polish) examination, a few years later it also introduced some subjects in minorities' schools that were to be taught in Lithuanian. Then other revisions of the Law on Education had been made.

'This process was getting more and more intense and reached its peak in 2011, when the new Law on Education entered into force and thereby the condition of minority education got worse,' said Kvetkovskij.

The most important challenge

As Kvetkovskij stressed, the continuation of the confusion about Polish schools in Lithuania which had been lasting for many years, made parents, especially the ones of mixed Polish-Lithuanian families, worried and they started to let their children to Lithuanian schools. He also noted that the smaller number of children in Polish schools was more influenced by the demographic decline and an intensified emigration after Lithuania joined the European Union.

The most important challenge which Polish education is facing now is an aspiration to receive accreditation for about 10 Polish secondary schools. 'Seimas has prolonged accreditation period to 2017. Not all Polish schools in the Vilnius Region have received their accreditation. These are: Vilnius Joachimo Lelevelio Secondary School, Simono Konarskio Secondary School, Vilnius Vladislovo Sirokomlės Secondary School, Vilnius Lazdynų Secondary School and some schools in Vilnius and Trakai districts,' said Juzef Kvetkovskij. He also added that they have spent many years on ensuring a better standard and quality of education as well as improving technical conditions and multiplying achieved successes.

Reflections before the anniversary

What are the reflections that the Chairman might have on the 25th anniversary of 'Macierz Szkolna'? 'I am concerned that these are times in our country, when the authorities adopt resolutions that complicate our schools' work. While on the other hand, I am sure that there is no possibility to worsen Polish school conditions,' said Kvetkovskij. He highlighted that the situation of Polish education has begun to stabilize and the number of children in their first grades has been stable for 4-5 years.

As he mentioned, Polish schools are prospective, because children can not only acquire knowledge there, but they can be raised as honest men and good citizens who understand the importance of traditions and sense of national identity. It should be an institution providing scope for further development.