The challenges facing the military education of young people were the subject of the National School Forum "Youth Defence Education" in Bydgoszcz. It was attended by directors and teachers of schools with military classes and representatives of the Polish Army and the Ministry of National Education. The schools were besides distinguished, the most of which are the ones that power the ranks of the army.
– The Forum, held annually in various cities of Poland, is addressed to representatives of schools that participate in educational projects of the Ministry of Defence – directors, teachers, class coordinators in Military Preparation Divisions, Military Branches is Cyber.ML with Class. It is besides attended by representatives of the Ministry of National Education and Educational Curators, representatives of non-governmental organizations and patronageal military units, cooperating with schools," explains Major. Renata Mycio, Press Secretary Central Military Recruitment Center.
This year's forum (17-18 October) was attended by representatives of 198 secondary schools from all over Poland. They discussed military curricula operating in advanced schools, pointed out the request to adapt them to the current requirements of the geopolitical situation, and stressed the tremendous value of applicable training in the patronageal military units, in a form attractive to students – utilizing military simulators and trainers, so that they would later make the decision to tie their professional career with the military. “Our goal is to encourage students to join the army and learn in schools with military activities, which allows to make skills and increase the military awareness of young people. And this is especially valuable present – says Major Mycio.
The representatives of the schools stressed that in times of demographic crisis it is essential to adjust and correct the number of Military Preparation Divisions to the actual capacity of schools to organize specified branches. The subject of the discussion was besides to increase MON's backing of specialist equipment and to dress students in military classes.
During the meeting, 18 institutions from all over Poland were besides awarded, whose students, after graduating from advanced school, decide to join the army. The first place was taken by Technicium No. 1 at the Tadeusz Kościuszko advanced School Complex in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, the second – Technicum No. 2 at the 5th Zasławski advanced School Complex in Ostrołęka, and the 3rd – 9th advanced School in the Sybiraków advanced School Complex in Nowy Sącz.
Military classes have been operating in the Tadeusz Kościuszko Secondary School Complex No. 1 in Tomaszów Mazowiecki since 2014. Currently, at 1,100 school students, 252 learn in 8 specified classes. – For 3 years, the advanced Basic School squad has been ranked first in the country for achieving the highest recruitment rate of cadets to the Polish Army. We are arrogant of the attitude of our students, and our shared success is an even greater motivation for further work and action in this direction – comments Jolanta Nicodemska, Deputy manager of the Polish Academy of Fine Arts No. 1 in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.
Currently, students of secondary schools in Poland have a choice of respective possible education options with elements of military preparation and cognition of the army. “There are military preparation troops, manufacture troops or Cyber.MIL with Klasa, which are commonly referred to as military classes. In the Polish educational system, in addition to MON projects, there are besides classes with a uniform profile (military, police, firefighting, etc.) called uniform classes, but the creation and functioning of them are decided solely by the bodies leading outside of MEN, MON and the curators of education – explains Major Mycio.
In military training units that operate in general schools and techniques, students usage additional classes covering specified thematic blocks as the basis of military education (rules, drills, cognition about the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland), combat training (including tiny arms training, tactics, reconnaissance or fitness classes), logistical training and selected laws. In addition to the explanation taught in schools, classes besides have their applicable part in the patronage military units. The military education held throughout all years of learning ends a five-day training camp. Pupils who undergo training under the RDP can number on, among others, additional points for recruitment to military universities.
In turn, the military branches are run by selected manufacture schools in the first degree. The implementation of the training programme in BOW is complementary to the applicable learning of the profession (e.g. cook, mechanic or car metallurgist). In this way, the Ministry of Defence would like to prepare candidates for soldiers in the area of widely understood military logistics.
The last form of military education of advanced school youth signed by MON are Cyber.MIL troops with Klasa. They prepare the most capable advanced school students (qualification is based on the results obtained in recruitment to school) to undertake studies in cybersecurity-related fields. In specified classes, students undergo basic military training, while their education focuses mainly on acquiring theoretical and applicable cognition in the area of modern digital threats or hazard management. advanced school students learn in small, 10–15 individual classes that let individual courses of education in disciplines specified as mathematics, computer discipline and physics, utilized in cybersecurity.
Currently, in the framework of MON educational projects, 28 1000 Polish advanced school students receive education. Their interest, despite the demographic problems of our country, has remained unchangeable for years. – Estimatedly, based on data from fresh years, we can say that military service takes from 32 to 39% of advanced school graduates with specified a mode of education. The aim of the Central Military Recruitment Center is to increase this percent to 45%, says Major Mycio.
