On November 14, 2025, the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University hosted the 2nd Meeting of the National Stakeholder Group for the STRIDE project. The gathering brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from public institutions, non-governmental organisations, and researchers, all united by a commitment to educational equality.
Attendees included key organisations such as the Educational Research Institute, the State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (PFRON), primary schools, the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Rural Youth Association.
The initial part of the meeting focused on presenting selected findings from the STRIDE project’s ongoing research:
- Preschool Education Access: Magdalena Ślusarczyk and Dorota Szpakowicz shared a comparative analysis of actions taken over the past 25 years across the project’s partner countries aimed at increasing access to preschool education and their significance for educational equality.
- European Reforms for Equality: Maria Świątkiewicz-Mośny and Julia Michcik detailed current reforms designed to enhance educational equality across Europe.
These presentations underscored the impact of educational reforms in Poland and other European nations on equalizing opportunities, and highlighted the critical need for shared knowledge and collaborative efforts among various stakeholder groups to shape future policies effectively.
The second half of the meeting, moderated by Ewa Krzaklewska, transitioned into an in-depth discussion. Stakeholders debated the optimal use of data, research findings, and international perspectives within education policies, alongside the development of practical tools—the Toolbox—to support decision-making.
Participants pinpointed several critical challenges and needs within the Polish education system:
- Data and Implementation Gaps: A key concern was the fragmented use of data in Poland and the significant discrepancies observed between the design and actual implementation of educational reforms.
- Need for Consultation: Participants strongly emphasized the necessity for reliable consultations and a far greater involvement of schools and teaching staff in the policy-creation process.
- Resource Constraints: Difficulties were highlighted, stemming from a lack of necessary infrastructure, insufficient financial resources, and the excessive administrative burden currently placed on schools.
- Long-Term Strategy: The importance of using pilots and evaluations was stressed as crucial steps for implementing solutions that are both lasting and effective in education policy.
- Local Challenges: Demographic shifts were identified as an increasing challenge, particularly affecting the functioning and sustainability of smaller local schools.
- Communicating Research: There was a consensus on the necessity of communicating research findings to policymakers in a transparent and straightforward manner, advocating for the creation of practical, understandable online resources to support equality-oriented policies tailored to the needs of different stakeholders.
The 2nd National Stakeholder Group Meeting marked a crucial step in the STRIDE project’s mission, consolidating research findings and stakeholder insights to lay the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive future for education in democratic Europe.
