The school year has begun. Many adult students or parents whose underage children attend school may be wondering how to withdraw from religion classes.

It is very simple. Everything is regulated by the Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 14 April 1992 on the conditions and procedure for organizing religious education in public preschools and schools.

§ 1
1. In public preschools and preschool departments in public primary schools, hereinafter referred to as “preschools,” religious education is organized at the request of the parents. In public primary schools and post-primary schools, hereinafter referred to as “schools,” religious education and ethics are organized:
    1) in primary schools – at the request of the parents;
    2) in post-primary schools – at the request of either the parents or the students themselves; once they reach adulthood, students decide whether to attend religious education and ethics.
2. The request referred to in paragraph 1 is expressed in the form of a written declaration. The declaration does not need to be renewed in the following school year, but it may be changed.

(...)

§ 3
3. During religion or ethics classes, the school is required to provide supervision or educational activities for students who do not attend religion or ethics classes at the school

These regulations clearly establish that:

  1. Any adult may withdraw from religion classes at any time.
  2. Parents may withdraw their child from religion classes at any time.
  3. The school is required to provide supervision for people who do not attend religion classes.
  4. The school may not require the parents of children who have never attended religion classes to submit a declaration stating that they will not attend these classes. A declaration is submitted only by parents who want their child to study religion. Naturally, if they later want to withdraw the child, they must submit a new declaration.

Declaration templates

For parents

As of (date), I withdraw my child (first and last name) from participation in religion classes.

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For adults

As of (date), I withdraw from religion classes.

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