On November 26, 2025, the Gromadka Municipality councilors adopted a resolution on the transformation of the Primary School in Gromadka. This involves closing the kindergarten unit as of August 31, 2026. The Lower Silesian Education Superintendent issued a positive opinion on the matter. Parents are being informed about the change. However, not all residents are pleased with it.

“Gromadka Municipality Mayor Ryszard Kawka made a lot of promises to people before the elections,” says a resident of the municipality. “He promised residents of Różaniec, Osła and Krzyżowa a nursery and kindergarten at the school in Osła. In his first year, he closed the school in Osła, and the children commute to Gromadka. But that is not all, because from September he is closing the kindergarten and reception class at the school in Gromadka. In return, he provided the children with a reception class in Modła, but he does not think about parents who work. He claims there is a bus. There is a bus, but at 8:00 a.m.—what about parents who work and have to take their children there before work? This year, parents fought with the mayor so that children from Różaniec, Osła and Krzyżowa could return home earlier by bus. The return bus is late, and the children do not get home until 3:30 p.m. What is more, parents have to pay for every additional hour that a child spends in kindergarten after 1:00 p.m. It was not like that under the previous mayor. Our municipality could afford to maintain the schools, rather than close everything. Why did he invest in a cafeteria at the school if he is closing the kindergarten? The reception-class children use it the most. He has grandchildren himself, but he does not think about our children,” the resident adds.

Maintaining small kindergarten units involves unnecessary costs. The current unit at the school has only 17 children: 16 six-year-olds and one five-year-old. In the 2026/27 school year, sixteen children will start first grade. One preschool child will remain.

“In terms of preschool education, Gromadka Municipality also has the Gromadka Municipal Kindergarten (85 places and 4 units) and Municipal Kindergarten No. 2 in Modła (60 places and 3 units); they will fully meet residents’ needs in preschool education,” informs Tomasz Matyjewicz, the municipality secretary.

The municipality also presents demographic forecasts showing a clear decline in the number of preschool-aged children. While there were 201 of them in the 2024/2025 school year, forecasts for 2027/2028 predict a decrease to 158 children. It also guarantees continued employment for the current teaching staff at the school in Gromadka.

Adapting the educational offering to the municipality’s actual demographic needs is its obligation. The local government must use public funds rationally and reduce expenditure wherever possible. Although such a reorganization may seem troublesome for an individual parent, its purpose is to provide children with the best possible conditions for learning, upbringing and care while maintaining the high standard of services provided by the municipality. Despite the closure of the unit, the municipality also guarantees free transportation for all children to the institutions.