Poland finances school kits for Polish youth in Lithuania

From September 1, 2016 first- and twelfth-formers in Polish schools in Lithuania will receive PLN 500 in school aid, deputy Foreign Minister Jan Dziedziczak informed Tuesday.

Fot. PAP/Wojciech Pacewicz / Willno, 19.10.2012 Gimnazjum im. Adama Mickiewicza w Wilnie (lit. Vilniaus Adomo Mickevičiaus gimnazija) - polska szkoła średnia w Wilnie. Fot. PAP/Wojciech Pacewicz

Dziedziczak told a press conference in the Sejm that the project was a response to an appeal in the matter by the Sejm (lower house) Committee on Liaison with Poles Abroad. In its appeal the committee also asked the ministry to step up talks on Lithuania's Polish minority with Lithuanian authorities.

"We want every Polish child in Polish schools to receive PLN 500 in school aid from Poland", Dziedziczak said.

The school aid programme is estimated at around PLN 1 million and will be supervised by the Polish Consulate in Vilnius and the Macierz Polska (Polish Motherland) organisation.

Dziedziczak said that the Polish government was very concerned about the situation of Polish schools in Lithuania and the aid scheme was a step towards helping Polish youth in the country.

A standing sub-committee for the Polish minority in Lithuania was formed in the Sejm.(PAP)
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