On the day of the start of the school year, teachers from all over Poland massed on the streets, gathering in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. Their protest, organized by the Association of Polish Teachership under the motto “Education is our common cause!” is simply a clear signal of discontent and a sense of deception by the rulers. The educators request immediate and concrete action that will effectively improve their working conditions and salaries. The main demands are 10% increase in basic salary and the adoption of a citizens' initiative of the NAC, which would combine teachers' salaries with average wage in the economy. These are key demands aimed at ending the problem of low earnings and forced work on respective jobs, which has been plagued by Polish education for years.
Why did the teachers go out on the streets? Main PNP postulates
The teachers' protest is not an act of opposition against individuals, but a conflict to improve working conditions and the prestige of the profession. As the president of the Association of Polish Teachership, Sławomir Bronisz, emphasizes, the aim is “to fight for improved working conditions and teachers' salaries.” The main postulates presented by the Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka are:
- Enhancing the prestige of the teaching profession through circumstantial strategy actions.
- 10% increase in basic salary for teachers and educational staff.
- Adopting a citizens' initiative of the CSF, which link teachers' salaries to average wage in the economyensuring a unchangeable wage growth.
Teachers clearly communicate: “The end of mediocre teachers and working for 2 or 3 jobs. No more proceeding about the increase a year ago." They stress that education is an investment in the future of Poland, and the current reality, full of low wages and excessive bureaucracy, makes the profession increasingly little attractive, leading to a drain of experienced staff and deficiency of interest among young graduates.
No time for a student and bureaucracy: the everyday life of a Polish educator
In addition to financial issues, teachers are alerting about the chronic problem of bureaucracy and reforms introduced “in isolation from school reality”. "We're inactive in the papers, alternatively of focusing on what's crucial – working with young people, dealing with parents. They keep giving us something," said RMF FM reporter participating in the protest of a teacher from Małopolska. Her short but eloquent message to the head of the MEN: “We invitation you to school” perfectly reflects the frustration of the environment.
As a clear example of detached from the realities of reform, teachers point to the elimination of housework. alternatively of correcting it, they felt that it made it worse for the students, depriving them of their ability to perpetuate their cognition and make their independence. Teachers feel overburdened with responsibilities not straight linked to teaching, and deficiency of support and excessive bureaucracy make their mission increasingly hard to carry out in a satisfactory and efficient way.
A rise a year ago isn't enough? Financial situation analysis
One of the key points of the dispute is the issue of last year's pay increase in education by 30 percent. president Bronisz clearly stated that “it is history”. As he explained, it was only “an effort to fill a colossal gap resulting in 8 years of government's efforts to depreciate the profession of teacher”. This means that this increase was only meant to prevent teachers from earning below the minimum rate, alternatively than actually improving their material position and prestige of the profession.
Current low wages are a major origin that leads to a mass outflow of experienced teachers by profession. Young graduates, seeing the deficiency of financial perspectives and the burden of work, are little and little likely to undertake this hard but highly crucial mission. The Association of Polish Teachers emphasises that without a systemic solution to the problem of wages, Polish education will face expanding staff and quality challenges.
Common issue of education: What's next with the postulates?
The petition signed on behalf of the protestors by Sławomir Bronisz to Minister Barbara Nowacka clearly states: "Only through motivated, well-paid and respected teachers, teachers and professional staff of administration and service is it possible to supply high-quality education and education to students and students". Protesters are convinced that education is simply a common substance for society as a full – teachers, educational workers, parents and guardians.
The current protest is not only an expression of opposition, but above all an appeal for dialog and concrete action. Teachers anticipate their demands to be taken seriously and the Ministry of Education will take real steps to improve working conditions and pay. Failure by the government may lead to further protest actions and a deepening of the crisis in the Polish education system, which will negatively affect the quality of training of future generations in the long term.
More here:
An urgent protest by teachers. They request a 10% rise and a change in wage law!
