Decline in Polish Language Enrollment in Brandenburg Schools

Recent data indicates a significant decrease in the number of students enrolling in Polish language courses within schools across Brandenburg. After witnessing a consistent rise in interest over the last decade, the current academic year has seen a drop in enrollment numbers, causing concern among educators and policymakers.

For the 2024-2025 school year, only 2,884 students have registered for Polish classes, representing a decline of 110 from the previous year. Additionally, the number of schools offering Polish language instruction has decreased from 39 to 34.

The decline in enrollment was anticipated, as preliminary figures for the 2023-2024 academic year suggested a downward trend. However, the slight decrease of only six students at that time did not raise alarms. Polish language education is currently available at twelve secondary schools, nine high schools, six comprehensive schools, five primary schools, and two vocational schools in the region. Schools often provide this instruction as a compulsory subject, elective course, in extracurricular activities, or as a language of interaction.

Polish is primarily taught to children from families where Polish is spoken at home. The ongoing influx of Polish immigrants has established them as the largest foreign demographic in Brandenburg, a trend that remains unchanged despite the recent influx of Ukrainian refugees due to the Russian invasion.

As of late 2023, around 25,853 Polish nationals were registered as residents in Brandenburg, an increase of nearly 1,400 compared to the previous year. The number of Polish children under the age of 15 also rose by over 100, totaling 3,279.

Officials from the Brandenburg Ministry of Education have not definitively identified the reasons behind the decline in Polish language enrollment. A spokesperson suggested that the inability of some schools to maintain their language offerings due to the lack of available teachers might be a contributing factor.

The state continues to implement a multilingualism strategy developed during the last legislative period. This plan includes various short- and long-term recommendations for promoting Polish language acquisition, such as partnerships between kindergartens and primary schools, school exchanges, and student exchange programs with Poland.

Another perspective on the decreasing enrollment comes from the director of the Polish Language Competence and Coordination Center (KoKoPol), Gunnar Hille. He notes that Brandenburg's approach to Polish language instruction has not differentiated between students of Polish descent and those without a Polish language background. As a result, many students of Polish heritage have reportedly lost interest and sought alternative Polish language programs outside of school, leading to a notable increase in attendance at organizations such as Polonika and local adult education centers. KoKoPol, which receives funding from both the federal government and the state of Saxony, promotes extracurricular Polish language education across all federal states.