Educational Policy in a Medium-Sized Town – Dilemmas and Directions of Changes

The Education System Act specifies the governing bodies responsible for ensuring safe, hygienic conditions for care, education, and learning. Local government has many responsibilities, and one of the most important from a societal perspective is education. The aim of this research is to describe and analyze the role of municipal education policy in the perception of educational institutions amidst current changes and emerging educational dilemmas. This article is a case study of the functioning and performance of the local education system in a medium-sized city on the border of cultural and ethnic differences. The research findings indicate that the main problems affecting the Racibórz local government include: demographic decline, limited funding from the central government, and high social expectations. The demographic decline necessitates the creation of a new network of educational institutions. Domestic funding is supported externally through competitions, grants, and EU projects, among other sources. The analysis highlighted the role of municipal government in addressing local educational issues and its role in ensuring the quality of education in the city.