Educational reforms and political polarization: competing visions of citizenship education and youth engagement in Poland

Purpose: This study examines how political and ideological shifts shape citizenship education by analysing how school curricula reflect broader political agendas and influence young people’s civic engagement and activism. Method: We conduct a content analysis comparing two Polish curricula: Historia i Teraźniejszość (HiT), introduced by a right-wing government in 2022, and Edukacja Obywatelska (EO), introduced by a centre-left government in 2025. Findings: HiT promotes nationalist and conservative values through a fixed-knowledge model that restricts pupil agency. By contrast, EO emphasises participatory, transparent and activist-oriented approaches. However, its optional status and uneven implementation limit its effectiveness, particularly in politically polarised regions. Implications: Situating these reforms within broader socio-political and educational contexts, this study demonstrates that curriculum change is not ideologically neutral but deeply embedded in political struggles over the role of youth in democracy.