Absurdity in Greater Poland. There are no students at the school, but the principal still receives her salary

Although there are no students or teachers at the Primary School in Drożki, the principal receives a monthly salary. The reason was the lack of consent from the Greater Poland education superintendent in Poznań to close the facility.

In February 2025, the mayor of Rychtal in the Kępno poviat, Adam Staszczyk, submitted a request to the Greater Poland education superintendent in Poznań for an opinion on the intention to liquidate the Primary School in Drożki on August 31. The reason – as he indicated – was the construction of a modern seat of the Primary School in Rychtal at ul., 7 km away. Housing estate 11.

The Wielkopolska education superintendent expressed a negative opinion on the intention to close the school, and the bishop stated that the new facility had not been put into use at the time the decision was issued.

– It was difficult to determine at the time of issuing the opinion what the learning, upbringing and care conditions would be for students from the closed school in Drożki after a possible transfer to the Primary School in Rychtal – Karolina Adamska, director of the Education Support Department of the Education Office in Poznań, told PAP.

The mayor did not agree with the superintendent's decision and filed a complaint to the Minister of Education. The Ministry repealed the contested decision in its entirety and referred the case for reconsideration. According to the Ministry of Education, the superintendent omitted to assess the conditions of learning, upbringing and care, as well as the housing and living conditions of children in schools in Drożki and Rychtal.

Since September 1, 2025, the school in Drożki has been empty. The facility was deserted because the parents, despite the superintendent's decision, decided to transfer their children to a new school.

The teachers received notice, severance pay and found employment in other educational institutions. The facility and the director were maintained by the commune.

– The director had to stay on because the facility operates under the legal system – said the mayor.

The annual cost of maintaining the facility is PLN 400,000. zloty. This amount – as explained by the commune mayor – includes the director's salary of over PLN 8,000. PLN gross and thirteenth salaries for the dismissed teaching staff.

The school's principal, Izabela Usarek, told PAP that “in some way” she was “trapped at school.”

– Right now I'm working as a secretary and a cleaner. The school needs to be looked after. I work my teaching hours at the common room in Rychtal, she said.

On December 22, 2025, the councilors of the Rychtal Commune adopted another resolution on the intention to close the school in Drożki, this time on August 31, 2026. A letter on this matter – as Staszczyk said – will be addressed to the Wielkopolska education superintendent by the end of February.

Ewa Bąkowska (PAP)

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