There is a claim that education funding saw a significant uptick, marking an unprecedented increase in subsidies. The government led by Donald Tusk, in contrast, had promised substantial boosts for teachers, but critics argue the actual results diverged from those promises. A PiS Member of Parliament and former State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Science, Marzena Machałek, expressed to wPolityce.pl that the present policy measures are clearly different from what was pledged and that teachers feel misled.
wPolityce.pl asked whether Donald Tusk’s government misled teachers about pay increases.
Machalek stated that teachers and unions have a right to feel cheated, and this sentiment is echoed by their public statements. High wage promises were made before and after elections, yet the currently proposed increases appear markedly different from those promises. She recalled that during the Law and Justice government, when she served as Deputy Minister of Education, teacher salaries rose by more than 60 percent, and starting teachers saw increases close to 100 percent over the years. Substantial investments in education were reported, including a near 90 percent rise in subsidies since 2016, along with record investment spending. She asserted that while Tusk promised mountains of gold for teachers, the actual outcomes diverged from those declarations.
The Minister of Education reportedly claimed that PiS had “cried,” and the proposals faced strong criticism from trade unions, who argued that the increases did not meet their expectations.
In an interview with Salon24, Sławomir Broniarz, the president of the ZNP, explained that the concern of the vice president of the ZNP was less about the absolute size of wage increases and more about gaps between the incomes of appointed teachers and those just starting out. He sought to reassure teachers that such large pay increases had not occurred in more than a decade.
Another ZNP representative expressed disappointment with the scale of the wage increases, according to Machałek. She emphasized that starting salaries for new teachers were raised to attract and retain young professionals in the teaching field.
According to the former deputy minister, teachers are not the only group discontented with the current government, which has been in power for a short period and is already revising or reversing some promises.
The government’s tenure has been brief, yet it is becoming clear how its pledges will be fulfilled. For instance, the promised increase in the tax-free allowance drew attention from voters who supported the ruling coalition. In education, the proposed reform to remove homework drew particular notice. While acknowledging that homework should not overburden students, Machałek argued that it can reinforce classroom learning and prepare students for the next day when thoughtfully assigned by teachers.
Many teachers warn that the complete abolition of homework could deprive students of opportunities to consolidate knowledge and develop skills acquired at school. This stance recognizes that assignments should be manageable and purposeful, helping students learn without becoming overwhelmed. Machałek described the homework abolition idea as populist during the campaign, noting that its practical, substantive evaluation was lacking.
Reflecting on her own school days, she recalled finding value in diligent study, but argued that eliminating homework outright is not a good idea. The critical question remains how far teachers can consider the appropriateness of homework, given reports that an April regulation may effectively ban it in practice.
She described the move as harmful, speaking not only as a former deputy minister of education but also as a long-time teacher, who believes well-planned assignments strengthen learning without imposing excessive burdens on students.
In closing, she thanked the interviewer for the conversation and emphasized the ongoing debate about education policy and teacher compensation under the current administration.