Olekas Urges Trakai Municipality to Rethink Restructuring of Two Polish-Language Schools

J. Olekas, a member of the Lithuanian Seimas, has called on the Trakai municipality to reconsider its decision to restructure two Polish-language schools. Olekas expressed that negotiations with the Trakai mayor and the municipal council majority have thus far been unsuccessful in persuading them to alter their stance.

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We have not yet managed to reach an agreement with the mayor of Trakai municipality, primarily, and the majority in the council, for them to take it into account.

The restructuring decision has led to the Paluknis Longin Komolowski Gymnasium losing its independent status. The Polish Embassy in Vilnius had previously voiced concerns on Facebook about the school's situation, noting that its director, Renata Krasowska, was leaving her position due to the restructuring.

Olekas believes the Trakai municipality's current position is inappropriate and could negatively impact Lithuania's relationship with neighboring Poland. He argued that reconsidering this decision would not only benefit bilateral relations but also provide a stronger basis for advocating for the rights and addressing the issues faced by Lithuanian schools in Poland.

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I believe the municipality could resolve the issue of that school, as all legal grounds for it exist.

Mayor of Trakai District Municipality, Andrius Šatevičius, had previously dismissed concerns regarding the elimination of branches from the Old Trakai Andrzej Stelmachowski Primary School and the Paluknis Longin Komolowski Gymnasium. However, Olekas maintains that the municipality has the legal grounds to resolve the school's issues and urges them to rethink the implications of their decision.

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This is not entirely appropriate position of the mayor of Trakai municipality and their majority. I would certainly call to rethink this issue, as it would help both our relations with neighbors and our Lithuanian schools in Poland, arguing for the resolution of their problems.