Will there be more Polish language courses for Belarusians?

In recent years Poland has seen a significant rise in the number of immigrants from Belarus - according to the Polish Office for Foreigners, over 30,000 Belarusians have been granted residence status in Poland as of 2021 (meaning an increase of nearly 50 per cent over the last two years). At the same time, over 600 Belarusian nationals have applied for international protection in Poland due to the political unrest following the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus.

As observed by Poland’s Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection, the situation has created an urgent and growing need for more Polish language courses to be offered to foreigners from Belarus. A need that cannot be met by non-governmental organisations because the number of incoming migrants is simply too high. The issue was recently addressed by the Deputy Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection, Stanisław Trociuk, in a letter sent to The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and universities supervised by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Trociuk argues that “Such language courses would help foreigners find their way in a new country, especially when it comes to finding a job, and integrate into Polish society”.The Commissioner believes that the idea aligns well with the mission of higher education institutions, which is to educate, promote good citizenship and contribute to social development.

The full letter can be read (in Polish) at: rpo.gov.pl

If you are planning on learning Polish, you may want to check out our list of places offering free Polish language courses.