Broniarz: The school needs young teachers. The average age is already 47 years

The school needs young teachers like a rain kite. But to attract them to the profession, we need to improve working conditions and pay, said the president of the Polish Teachers' Union, Sławomir Broniarz, in Krakow, where the 120th anniversary of the Polish Teachers' Union was celebrated.

– The biggest challenge is still working and pay conditions. I know that politicians will definitely return to 2024 and this 30% increase, but this is history, the past. We want to talk about young teachers, whom we need like a rain kite at school, so that when entering this profession they have a clear financial perspective (…) – the president of the ZNP told PAP at a press briefing preceding the scientific conference organized at the AGH University of Science and Technology on the occasion of the association's anniversary.

According to data from the Educational Research Institute the average age of teachers in Poland is increasing. It is currently 47 years old. The largest group (38%) are people aged 45–55. This year, the base amount of teachers' remuneration was set at PLN 5,434.82. This means that the average remuneration of a beginner teacher should be PLN 6,672.31 gross, of an appointed teacher – PLN 7,826.14 gross, and of a certified teacher – PLN 10,000.07 gross.. This year, the increase in teachers' salaries was 5%, and in 2026 – according to the draft budget – it is to be 3%. The Polish Teachers' Union demands a 10% raise and, ultimately, a link between teachers' pay and the average salary in the economy.

Broniarz: Eeducation must be modern and free for all

As Broniarz emphasized, the ZNP's goals have remained unchanged since 1905. – We would like to draw your attention to the fact that today's situation of education teachers, as one of the most important areas of social life, requires not only an occasional, accidental response resulting from the complexity of political activities, but also constant monitoring and constant concern for what is happening to Polish students and teachers – said the president of the union, adding that in addition to decent working conditions and pay, education must be modern and free for all.

According to Broniarz, “too much politics enters the area of ​​education” and politicians' actions “sometimes even destroy the educational process.” According to the president of the Polish Teachers' Union, the best recent example of this is health education. This subject, in Broniarz's opinion, is needed, if only due to the demographic situation in the country.

Health education is a subject that this school year replaced education for family life – in primary schools in grades IV-VIII (one hour a week in each of these classes, with classes in grade VIII to be carried out only in the first semester) and in secondary schools (one hour a week for two years). Contrary to previous announcements, it is not obligatory. The Ministry of National Education announced on Thursday that approximately 30% of students are participating in health education classes this school year. all eligible students.

The origins of the Polish Teachers' Union are related to teachers' fight for the right to teach in Polish. The nucleus of the ZNP was the Union of Folk Teachers, established on October 1, 1905 in Pilaszków near Łowicz in the Russian partition, and the National Union of Folk Teachers in Galicia in the Austrian partition, established on December 28, 1905 in Kraków. (PAP)

bko/mark/