Illustration by Maqué Studio
Ensuring education for all is crucial, as it empowers individuals, promotes social equality, and fosters career advancement.
Michael, a long-term resident of the EU in Poland and an aspiring pilot, sought the Commissioner for Human Rights questioning the need for an explicit authorisation by the President of the Civil Aviation Office to enter pilot training, despite the same requirement not applying to Polish citizens.
The Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland started an investigation and issued a recommendation arguing that both national and European Union laws allow for long-term EU residents to be exempt from this requirement. They have the right to equal treatment with citizens of the host EU Member State with regard to access to vocational training, such as the pilot training program.
The Minister of Infrastructure and the President of the Civil Aviation Office embraced the Commissioner’s interpretation: foreign citizens with EU long-term residence permits can now pursue aviation training at the same conditions as Polish citizens, ensuring fair and equal opportunities for everyone.
Are you interested in knowing more about how Equinet and Equality Bodies ensure equality in education?
- Equinet published a Policy Paper on Equality Bodies’ Interventions for Equality in the Field of Education, which summarises discrimination issues in education as encountered by Equality Bodies and effective responses. The Policy Paper resulted from discussions within the Equinet Policy Formation Working Group and a survey completed by 26 Equality Bodies across 23 jurisdictions. Most Equality Bodies emphasised the significance of education policy and provision in their work.