The Problem of Justifying Student Absences and the Validation of Absence Excuse Letters under Polish Law

Abstract

The article aims to examine the issue of justifying absences from compulsory classes by both parents of minor students and adult students themselves. The issue was brought forward in light of the lack of definitive legislative direction on the matter. It frequently gives rise to incorrect interpretations and non-compliant practices within the field of education. Given the foregoing, the main thesis of the article calls for clear and unambiguous legal solutions, in particular addressing the following questions: Who is authorised to justify a student’s absence and in what form? Can submitted excuse letters be validated? Who, and based on what criteria, can conduct such validation? What tools should be used to make it happen? The article is a scientific and research work. The research on this subject is original, which permits the assumption that the text may offer substantial contributions to both scholarly discourse and educational practice. Although the impact of the findings is chiefly national in scope, the absence of legal mechanisms for validating students’ excuse letters is a widespread issue across numerous EU member states. As such, the solutions proposed in the article may be of value within European educational contexts.