During the current school year in Poland, the grade point average of a student participating in religion classes will include the grade from this subject. About 10% (according to the Roman Catholic Church 90% of all students from above elementary school level attend these classes) of students, e.g. grammar school students, will not have the opportunity to change (improve) their grade point average due to the lack of an alternative (e.g. ethics classes). (31-AUG-07)    

Written by Agnieszka Chmielecka/ HRH Warsaw
Source “Gazeta Prawna”
 
Grade point average
The grade scale at Polish schools is 1 through 6. 1 is a failing mark (the student does not pass the subject) and 6 means that a student has shown above-average knowledge or skills. The grade point average is calculated by adding up grades from all subjects and dividing this sum by the number of subjects. A student, who has an average of at least 4.78, receives a report card with honors and this is usually linked with receiving a scholarship or being awarded additional points during the recruitment process for high school.
    
For and against
According to the Church, the inclusion of the grade from religion classes in the grade point average will significantly raise the prestige of this subject and the effort put into teaching the additional subject of religion will be as highly appreciated as in the case of mandatory subjects. 

Students who do not attend religion (around 5%-10%) may have difficulties in obtaining an equally high average as the participants of religion classes. This may in turn lead to inequality of opportunities during recruitment for schools of above grammar school level. Moreover, if religion teachers give many very good grades (5), the percentage of students receiving report cards with honors may increase. However, in actuality this will not be associated with an improvement of the level of education.      
   
Grzelak versus Poland
The case of Grzelak versus Poland is currently being held before the European Court of Human Rights. The complainants emphasize that their son, who decided not to participate in religion classes in elementary school, was not given an opportunity to attend any alternative classes, as they were not organized by any of the schools which the boy attended. If the European Court rules in favor of the Grzelak family, Poland will have to provide all students, who do not attend religion classes, with an opportunity to participate in alternative classes. The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights Precedential Cases Department has joined the case and has prepared an amicus curiae opinion (3rd party opinion).