We were asked to intervene in this matter by Agata Kozicka, Krzysztof’s mother. The official scholarship ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 17, in the Councilors’ Hall. Financial assistance for academic performance and outstanding achievements in science, art or sport was awarded to sixth-grade primary school students and third-year middle school students. However, Krzysztof Kozicki was absent from the group of honored sixth-graders – he was a winner at the national stage of the “Poznajemy Ojcowiznę” competition and the only student from Bolesławiec to reach the final of the regional “zDolny Ślązaczek” competition.
The former student of Primary School No. 1 did not receive the scholarship because he lives in Kruszyn, and under a resolution of the City Council, the mayor’s awards are granted only to students registered as residents of Bolesławiec. “It’s not about the money,” explains the gifted student’s mother. “For six years, my son was recognized as a representative of a city school. When he went to Włocławek for the awards ceremony, he was not a student of a rural school,” she adds sadly. What is more, when he was asked to prepare a multimedia presentation about the city he came from, Krzysztof prepared a presentation about... Bolesławiec.
The boy learned about the scholarship ceremony from his classmates. “He was disappointed,” says Agata Kozicka. He wanted to spend the money on buying a new computer. However, his application for the scholarship was rejected.
As we established, this year two students from city schools did not receive scholarships solely because they live outside Bolesławiec. In a conversation with the IstotneInformacje.pl portal, Krystyna Boratyńska, head of the city office’s social affairs department, said that she could not comment on matters decided by the City Council. In her opinion, however, the boy’s parents should contact the head of the rural municipality.
The problem may grow. Agata Kozicka knows a girl who will not receive a scholarship next year, even though she meets all but one criterion – she does not live in Bolesławiec. More and more people who work in Bolesławiec are moving to nearby towns. So how can controversies related to awarding scholarships be prevented?
There is a solution
“Our initial proposals were aimed at rewarding students who attend city schools,” says Cezariusz Rudyk, director of the District Center for Education and Staff Training and one of the co-authors of the scholarship scheme. – “We discussed this many times.”
The proposal of the team of directors of educational institutions was submitted to the city office. It was modified. In Rudyk’s opinion, however, city officials cannot be blamed for the situation: “The city cannot fund scholarships for people who are not its residents.” According to him, the rural municipality should establish similar scholarship-awarding rules. “Children must not be divided,” the director adds.
(ii report)