Pay increases for teachers, changes in education boards, ‘slimming’ the curriculum, giving up homework, limiting the number of hours of religious lessons in schools and eliminating HiT in the current formula will be among the first decisions – said the new Education Secretary Barbara Nowacka on Wednesday.
At a press conference in Warsaw, Barbara Nowacka presented the ministry’s plans for the near future.
READ MORE: What awaits Polish schools? Nowacka: Two hours of religious classes are too much; An exchange of education inspectors will take place. ‘There will be a thorough audit’
Pay increases for teachers
She said that teacher pay increases of 30% are planned, including for kindergarten teachers.
The increases will take effect from January 1, but will not end up in the pockets of teachers on January 1. Because the budget will be adopted with some delay, sometime in February, we assume. But of course there will be equality
– she said.
She announced that she would look closely at curricula that “require downsizing.”
I am therefore counting on cooperation with employees of departments that deal with teaching programs, so that we can reduce the costs of teaching programs fairly quickly (…)
– she said.
Homework
She added that she would also address the issue of housework.
As a citizen coalition, we declared that we would stop doing domestic work. Of course, a revolution is also impossible and I assure teachers that this will not happen overnight, but using this space I would like to appeal to all teachers, especially in primary schools, to the upcoming holidays (Christmas) gave the children time off from homework
– she appealed.
She assured that the school would be an “apolitical place.”
Of course, young people have discussions that can border on politics, but party officials do not tell them how the school should function.
– she said.
Changes in trustees
She said there would be “urgent changes in education boards”.
This change will happen very quickly – in the coming days
– she made a reservation.
She announced that she had tentatively arranged a meeting with representatives of the Polish Teachers’ Union for next Wednesday.
I hope to meet all non-governmental organizations soon
– she said.
The future of HiT
When asked about the future of the history and current subject, the new Minister of Education stated that “she cannot imagine the functioning of the HiT subject in this formula, with this textbook.”
However, I believe that Polish young people should learn about history, the most recent history, for which there is often simply no time in the curriculum, and secondly, they should also learn what the constitution is for, how local elections work, what power belongs to the citizens (…) . So an item that refers to WOS but also uses some good solutions that were proposed as the idea behind the unsubmitted HiT, I think we will take it into account
– she noted.
Religion lesson
When asked about religion classes in schools, Nowacka assured that she “cannot imagine making changes without contact with the episcopate.”
If you consider how burdened young people are today, how many tasks await them, how many hardships, how much work they often do, one hour of religious education financed from the state budget – this is my personal opinion – is completely sufficient.
– she assessed.
This is the model I will propose
– she added. According to Nowacka, the grade for religion should not be included in the grade point average. She noted that she would ask for the religion class to be moved to the first or last class.
Nowacka assured that she would not revolutionize the school.
You can’t change anything at school right now. We have seen the damage caused by the sudden, undiscussed closure of secondary schools or the introduction of a subject such as HiT. If we do not discuss with teachers, teachers and practitioners how this evolution should take place, they will reject it.
– she assessed.
She announced that while the “first corrections in the curricula” would take place quickly, the “major reform” would take several years.
Who goes to the ministry?
The deputy ministers of education will be: MPs Katarzyna Lubnauer (KO) and Joanna Mucha (Polska 2050-TD), MP Henryk Kiepura (PSL-TD) and Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz and Izabela Zietka – the new Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka announced on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning at the Presidential Palace, Andrzej Duda appointed Donald Tusk as the new Prime Minister and appointed new members of the Council of Ministers. After arriving at the Ministry of Education, the new Minister Barbara Nowacka presented the ministry’s plans for the near future at a press conference.
We conduct an audit and check all expenses, their validity and reasonableness
– Nowacka informed.
Maybe I’ll tell you a secret: among the people I will enjoy working with, one of the people who knows the most about +Willa plus+ – the State Secretary at the Ministry will be Mrs. Katarzyna Lubnauer (KO). )
– she said.
When asked if she could provide the names of other state secretaries in the ministry she heads, the minister noted:
I wonder if I can give you these names, but they have already been agreed upon.
There will be MP Henryk Kiepura (PSL-TD), there will be MP Joanna Mucha (Polska2050-TD), Ms Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz and Ms Izabela Zietka
– she said.
Nowacka was also asked whether the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science are already two separate ministries.
Minister (of Science Dariusz) Wieczorek and I were appointed to two separate positions. This administrative separation is still ongoing (…). This is one of the more expedited actions that we need to undertake because the research community and the higher education community have been asking for this chapter. And it seems to me, Minister Wieczorek, and especially Prime Minister Donald Tusk, that this is necessary and as soon as possible for the good of Polish science, for the good of Polish higher education and for the good of Polish education.
– she answered.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.