An interesting discovery in the Ministry of National Education. These are findings from the time of Minister Przemysław Czarnek's term in office, namely a cabinet full of grant applications that no one dealt with, and a list of foundations and associations that received millions, although they had a negative opinion from the ministerial commission.
The Ministry of National Education found applications for subsidies submitted in 2022 under the “Investments in Education” program. – There are barcodes there, which prove that it was received, but it was not assessed – informed Joanna Mucha, deputy minister of national education from Poland 2050-Trzechiej Droga, while showing these applications.
This means that the ministry during Przemysław Czarnek's term did not even consider them. It did not forward them to the competition committees and did not take them into account when distributing subsidies. There were over 2.2 thousand such offers in total.
– One application, which is described in great detail with all plans and documents – showed Marek Lewiński, director of the Department of Structural Funds in the Ministry of National Education. – No one verified this application, it was not subjected to formal and substantive assessment – he added.
This did not prevent the minister from Law and Justice from deciding on the competition. The program concerned the construction, renovation and equipment of school and educational facilities. The total amount of subsidies in this program amounted to PLN 100 million.
The total number of applications submitted to the ministry is over three thousand. – It was impossible to consider all the applications. This is completely obvious in this type of procedure – commented Przemysław Czarnek.
Former Minister of Education Przemysław Czarnek explained today in an interview with “Fakty” TVN that the large number of applications and the short time for their implementation made it impossible to review all the offers.
Mucha: I think the NEC members did exactly what they should have doneTVN24
The applications that received negative opinions were awarded funding.
Applications could be submitted from July to the end of October, and some applications were approved before the end of the competition.
There were 36 such organizations that applied for subsidies and, despite the negative opinion of the ministry's competition committee, received them. The total amount of their subsidies amounted to over PLN 51 million. The highest, as many as two, were awarded by Czarnek's ministry to the Siedlce diocese, PLN 5 and 7 million each, and to the Gliwice diocese – PLN 5 million.
The former minister confirmed today that he was the one who ultimately decided on the grant. He admitted that the money was given to non-public and non-municipal schools – mainly Catholic ones.
– Simplified procedure with very limited funds. I have not heard of any irregularities, nor have I heard from the Supreme Audit Office. However, we know that Mrs. Mucha, Mrs. Lubnauer and Mrs. Nowacka somehow have an aversion to Catholic and non-government schools – said Przemysław Czarnek.
– In my opinion, this competition was rigged for specific individuals. Today, the CBA is checking the connections between ministry officials and the ministry management – said Joanna Mucha.
Przemysław Czarnek maintains that he acted in accordance with the law on behalf of educational organizations and that he has nothing to reproach himself for.
– We received information from the prosecutor's office that they are dealing with this case – informed Joanna Mucha. – I hope that (the proceedings – ed.) will be resolved quickly – she added