Scotland's Poles split over plan to set up their own schools

Published on Friday 2 January 2009 21:57

POLISH parents are planning to set up their own schools in Scotland because they fear their children are losing their native language, disadvantaging them when they go home.

Piotr Leszczynski, the Polish vice-consul in Scotland, told The Scotsman discussions are under way with the Ministry of Education in Poland to fund the schools.

The schools, based in premises which are currently empty, would be run by Polish teachers, living in Scotland but mostly working in other jobs.

However, the move has divided the Polish community, many of whom have been in Scotland since the Second World War, who say they favour integration with Scots pupils.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government revealed there are 3,347 school pupils whose first language is Polish.

At present a small number of children attend Polska Szkola (Polish Saturday school) but some parents say these are understaffed and fail to meet the needs of children of different age groups.

Mr Leszczynski said parents began making inquires about Polish schools two years ago.

"I was really astonished the first time I was asked by a parent where they could find a Polish school for their child.

"They were intending staying five or six years and didn't want to create a situation where they returned to Poland with their child not being able to speak the language."

One parent involved in the plan and who is currently working a teacher, said: "The language is the most basic issue. Being able to communicate in Polish is one thing but the children need to be able to write it, understand the grammar and read it to be a good native speaker."

Wioleta Browarczyk, from Edinburgh, who has two children, Natalia, and Krzysio, opposes the idea of Polish schools. "I don't think it is a good idea to keep children separated. We don't want a closed community. Scottish people welcomed us here. I want my children to be able to communicate and play with Scottish children, " Mrs Browarczyk said.

"You can work with your child at home, speak Polish at home and have Polish books you can teach them yourself and keep Polish traditions alive."

Marek Straczynski, president of the Polish ex-Combatants' Association, Edinburgh, whose premises are used for a Polish Saturday school, said: "Some people who have come from Poland in recent years are opportunists, they come to make some money, start a business. They don't intend staying long."

Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the EIS, Scotland's largest teaching union, said: "There are very big issues for public authorities if they become drawn into specialist Polish funding because we are then on to questions of equity. I don't think there could be an open-ended commitment. There are other immigrant communities."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "Scotland's schools have an increasing number of Polish pupils and the Scottish Government encourages all schools to do as much as they can to be inclusive of pupils from different cultures and of different nationalities."

FACT BOX

&#149 SCOTS traded with Poland from the mid-15th century.

&#149 During the 17th century there were more than 40,000 Scots in Poland, attracted by commercial opportunities and religious freedom.

&#149 Alexander Chalmers of Aberdeen served four terms as mayor of Warsaw before he died in 1703.

&#149 Robert Gordon (1665-1731) made his fortune as merchant in Gdansk before establishing an institution which later became Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

&#149 Bonnie Prince Charlie was half-Polish, being the son of James Edward Stewart and Clemantina Sobieska, granddaughter of Jan Sobieska, king of Poland.

&#149 The Second World War brought around 50,000 Polish servicemen to Scotland after they were evacuated from France in 1940.