The constant connection of teachers 'wages with the average salary, statutory regulation of payroll allowances for teachers and securing catechists' jobs – these are some of the demands of the national section of the education and upbringing of NSZZ “Solidarność” and the Association of Secular Catechists who protested before the Sejm.
The protest, which took place on Tuesday in front of the Sejm building, began with a happening, which had the form of a “symbolic educational lesson – a sign of opposition to the deteriorating working conditions of teachers and chaos at the Polish school.”
Then, the chairman of the National Education and Education of the Independent Solidarity Trade Union “Solidarity” Waldemar Jakubowski, who explained that the protesters demand, among others regulating teaching wages, i.e. a constant connection of basic wages of teachers with the average in the enterprise sector.
We would like it to be 150 percent. For the highest degree of professional promotion – he said.
He added that the next postulate concerns the statutory regulation of all payroll allowances so as to prevent local governments and school heads to manipulate allowances, as well as a return to the state's obligation to issue a certain amount on education. – Unfortunately, at the moment it is regulated by the so -called base amount, i.e. the annual dance around the budget act and scuffles. You have to end it with it. The more that it was once regulated – it was 12.3 percent. budget. Unfortunately, the state authorities left this and it was a big mistake – he assessed.
Jakubowski pointed out that the protesters also oppose the government spokesman announced by the government. – In our opinion, this is an unnecessary institution. There are educators, there are psychologists and other institutions at school. If they work incorrectly, then you need to think about how to improve them and not set up a new institution that will cost at least PLN 30 million a year – he said.
He reminded that among the protesters are members of the Secular Catechist Association, which the government “showed the door” day by day. – If the ministry insisted that this religion be in one hour, then give a proposal for those people who have been teachers for 30 years and at the moment they will lose their jobs or have a restriction of employment, i.e. automatically lack of livelihood – he emphasized.
Hanna Dobrowolska from the coalition to save the Polish school reminded that from September two new subjects have to enter schools – health education and civic education. According to Dobrowolska, these are “anti -citizen and anti -healthy items”.
She reminded that health education is an optional subject and therefore appealed to her parents to write their children from these lessons by September 25. – Let's be together and protect the remains of a Polish school to build real Polish education, which aims to the good of our children and our youth – she said.
Tomasz Schpniewski from the Association of Secular Catechists reminded that in accordance with the Regulation of the Ministry of National Education of January 17 this year. From September 1, the number of religion lessons in schools will decrease from two to one week. According to Schpniewski, this will cause that Over 11,000 secular catechists with families “will remain without bread”. “Catechists are currently the largest group among teachers who will go to the pavement,” he said.
He reminded that the Association of Secular Catechists collected half a million signatures under the civic bill “Yes for religion and ethics at school”, which assumes two mandatory hours of religion or ethics lessons per week. The project was submitted in the Sejm on June 26 this year.
– In addition to keeping the work of our colleagues from all over Poland, we also want to secure upbringing to the values of all students throughout Poland. That is why we ask everyone to support this project – he appealed.
For the adoption of a citizens' draft of the Teachers' Card in November 2021, according to which the amount of teachers' remuneration was associated with the amount of average remuneration in the economy, ZNP has been demanding for several months. The other two other trade unions operating in education also in favor of connecting the amount of teachers' salaries with the average salary: the National Section of Education and Education of NSZZ “Solidarity” and the free trade union of the “Forum-World”.
The first reading of the project was carried out in February 2022. Then it went to the commission, where further work was not carried out. The first reading of the project took place in the Sejm on January 25, 2024, after which the project went to the Sejm subcommittee. So far, three meetings have been held.
In June, the Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka appealed from the Sejm to the efficient procedure of this project. – I am convinced that from 2027, when the civic project will be able to come into force, teachers' earnings will grow, “she assured on June 26.
“The Ministry (National Education – PAP) believes that teachers should earn as much as possible, hence I asked the Minister of Finance to take into account teaching demands,” she added. She reminded that from January 1, 2024, teachers received increases by 30 or 33 percent (PAP)
Iżu/ Agz/
