Activists in Poland seeking a cut in funding for religious education have collected the 100,000 signatures necessary to bring a so-called citizens' bill to parliament.

Organisers of the 'Secular School' initiative claim that religious education in schools costs taxpayers over PLN 1 billion, and that the money could be channelled towards other ends.

The group suggests that the money could be spent on supplementary lessons in foreign languages, or on upgrading IT departments.

“People have nothing against religion,” argued Leszek Jażdżewski, one of the initiators of the action.

“It's only important for them that it's not financed from the budget,” he added.

“Rather than being a compulsory subject,” argued fellow activist Bożena Przyłuska, “we want it [religious education] to become an additional subject.”

The verification of the 100,000 signatures is now underway. Activists began collecting the signatures in August, with the initiative backed by figures including Janusz Palikot, leader of the liberal Your Movement party. (nh/rk)

Source: PAP