Officially, the Ministry of National Education plans to publish details about wages at the beginning of next year. However, everything already indicates that pay raises for teachers will be at a level different from expectations.
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As Wprost.pl reminds, the government's current plans assume that teachers' salaries will increase by 3% in 2026, which is included in the draft budget act. This means that the base amount will be PLN 5,597.86, i.e. it will be higher by PLN 163.04 compared to the previous year.
The minimum basic salary for a beginner teacher (with a master's degree and pedagogical preparation) in 2025 is PLN 5,153 gross.for an appointed teacher – PLN 5,310, and for a certified teacher – PLN 6,211.
The draft budget for 2026 provides that the funds for raises will cover not only teachers, but also other employees of the state budget, including officers, soldiers, employees of ministries, central and provincial offices, as well as employees of ZUS and KRUS. After the planned increase, a beginner teacher will earn PLN 5,308 gross, an appointed teacher – PLN 5,469 gross, and a certified teacher – PLN 6,397 gross.
What about raises for teachers? “No one will volunteer”
Projected pay raises for teachers arouse resentment among public education sector employees. President of the Polish Teachers' Union, Sławomir Broniarz, called the proposal “a slap in the face to teachers” during the National Manifestation of Education and Science Workers of the Polish Teachers' Union.
Emotions are even greater because a citizen's draft amendment to the Teacher's Charter is pending in the Parliament from 2021. It assumes linking the amount of teachers' remuneration with the average remuneration in the economy.
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The Polish Teachers' Union submitted it to the Sejm in November 2021, but after the first reading the bill was stuck in committee. During the current term, the extraordinary subcommittee dedicated to him met three times, of which only once dealt with the project. Since March, the Sejm has not announced the date of the next session.
The chairman of the subcommittee, Adam Krzemiński (KO), told PAP that the Ministry of Education is working on a solution that – similarly to the ZNP project – is intended to “in principle make decisions regarding pay increases independent of political decisions.”
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The assurances from the government do not convince the president of the ZNP, who admitted that trying to convince the community that the state cannot currently afford the solutions included in the project and looking for an alternative proposal “results in far-reaching negative consequences.”
According to the president of the Polish Teachers' Union, it is also a clear signal to young teachers to “look for another job, because politicians responsible for the education budget have no idea for them.” “No one will volunteer” – he noted, adding that young university graduates claim that the amount of PLN 3,800 does not allow them to become independent.
