Editing EduVULCAN (section)

=== New eduVULCAN account system ===
Just before the start of the 2024/2025 school year, Vulcan announced the eduVULCAN platform and changes to their account system. There are now two types of accounts:

#'''Basic accounts''', which have no access to the mobile app, and
#'''''eduVULCAN'' accounts,''' which provide access to the mobile app but with new limitations.

Several previously free features in the VULCAN mobile app, such as push notifications, messaging teachers, and submitting absence notes, are now behind a paywall. The cost for the full school year is 32.99 PLN (around 8 USD) with tax per student.<ref>[https://dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl/kev/usluga-rozszerzona/#oferta dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl - "Usługa rozszerzona"]</ref> This fee is in addition to the costs schools pay for access to the service, which remains undisclosed.

Access to the website version of these features is still free, as required by law.<ref>[https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20240000050/O/D20240050.pdf isap.sejm.gov.pl - WDU20240000050/O/D20240050.pdf]</ref>

While you can quickly switch a basic account to an ''eduVULCAN'' one<ref>[https://dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl/kzw/#:~:text=czy%20moge%20zmienic%20zwyk%C5%82e%20konto%20na%20konto%20eduvulcan%3F dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl - "Konto zwykłe w Dzienniku VULCAN"]</ref>, you can't switch back an ''eduVULCAN'' account to a basic one without having to reset your entire account (this requires the school's secretary office to print a new one-time code).<ref>[https://dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl/kev/baza-wiedzy/#:~:text=czy%20moge%20zmienic%20konto%20eduvulcan%20na%20zwyk%C5%82e%20konto%3F dziennik.vulcan.edu.pl - "Baza wiedzy"]</ref>

====Public reception====
The changes were met with extreme criticism as students and parents opposed the new payment options, sparking discussion around the Polish parliament about a possible creation of a free state-owned e-journal system.<ref>[https://strefaedukacji.pl/oplaty-za-edzienniki-rodzice-narzekaja-a-firmy-sie-tlumacza-bedzie-nowa-platforma-dla-szkol/ar/c5-18803353#medukacja-zamiast-komercyjnych-firm-z-dziennikami strefaedukacji.pl - "Opłaty za e-dzienniki? Rodzice narzekają, a firmy się tłumaczą. Będzie nowa platforma dla szkół"]</ref>

Several Polish MPs submitted interpellations to the Minister of Education.<ref>[https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/InterpelacjaTresc.xsp?key=D93F9X sejm.gov.pl - "Interpelacja nr 4577"] 

[https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/InterpelacjaTresc.xsp?key=D93F9F sejm.gov.pl - "Interpelacja nr 4578"] 

[https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/InterpelacjaTresc.xsp?key=D93F9X sejm.gov.pl - "Interpelacja nr 4595"] 

[https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/InterpelacjaTresc.xsp?key=D93FEA sejm.gov.pl - "Interpelacja nr 4735"] </ref> However, the responses offered no substantial new information, as Vulcan complies with legal requirements by providing "at least one channel of free access to the electronic journal [...] whether on a stationary device or on a mobile device with Internet access (via a web browser)."<ref>[https://www.gov.pl/attachment/549af198-803b-4216-a5f2-088dc2fa9082 gov.pl - a_Zawiadomienie_z_sposobie_załatwienia_petycji_1_i_2_z_15_września_2024_r.pdf]</ref>