Homework Controversy

The Polish government has banned homework for students in grades 1-3, making many students and parents happy, but many are worried that they will neglect their studies.

Ola Kozak, 11, loves music and art. He may have more time for these hobbies when the government requires homework restrictions for primary and secondary school students from April 2024.

“I’m so happy,” said the fifth-grader, showing off her purple walls covered in drawings. She said homework was meaningless because most of her classmates copied each other’s work or copied answers from the internet.

Pawel Kozak, Ola's father, agrees, seeing this as a way to make students love school more.

Ola (right) and her brother Julian Kozak, 9, sit at the table where they usually do their homework. Photo: AP

The homework reduction law was pushed forward during Poland’s parliamentary elections last year. Maciek Matuszewski, a 14-year-old boy, said children “have no time to relax” during a campaign rally for current president Tusk. He said too much homework on weekends and back-to-back tests on Mondays violated children’s rights.

In addition, many opinions say that Polish education is heavy on rote learning and homework, not focusing on critical thinking and creativity.

The law prohibits homework for students in grades 1-3, and limits and does not count homework for students in grades 4-8. Homework is still assigned at the high school level, but may be eliminated in the next few years.

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka, who is interested in child psychology, said homework pressure is "the pressure that can be solved the fastest".

However, not everyone is happy with this change, including Ola's mother. According to her, homework helps students consolidate knowledge, and parents can closely monitor their children's learning situation at school. According to experts, this can create study habits and develop academic concepts.

Poland’s education system has undergone a series of controversial reforms in recent years, leaving teachers and parents frustrated and confused. Sławomir Broniarz, head of the Polish Teachers’ Union, understands the need to ease the pressure on students. However, he says the new regulations are imposed from above without adequate consultation with educators.

“In general, teachers find this to be too rushed,” he said.

According to Mr. Sławomir, eliminating homework could widen the educational gap between better-off and poorer students. Therefore, he called for more comprehensive changes to the curriculum.

Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert, believes that children should understand that mastering something usually requires a lot of practice. The value of homework depends on how it is defined and how it relates to learning in general.

“To understand what is best for children, we need to trust teachers,” he said.

History class in a fifth grade class at Primary School No. 223 in Warsaw, Poland, April 2024. Photo: AP

Some countries have policies to reduce homework at lower levels. In the United States, teachers and parents decide how much homework children are given. Some elementary schools have eliminated homework altogether so that students have more time to play, do extracurricular activities, or spend time with their families. According to guidelines from American teachers associations, first graders should spend 10 minutes on homework, second graders should spend 20 minutes, and so on by grade level.

South Korea has also reduced homework for elementary school students since 2017. However, in reality, students often have to study late at night, at home or at tutoring centers, to meet the strict requirements of the school, as well as to pass the university entrance exam.

Phuong Anh (According to AP, NFP )

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