An interview with MP Marcin Józefaciuk, conducted by Gazeta Wyborcza, reveals a parliamentarian elected from the Civic Coalition roster speaking on education and his personal beliefs. He discusses his path into parliament, noting his role in the Łódź list and his ongoing leadership at the Craft School Complex in Jan Kiliński, Łódź, where he has served since 2022 as deputy director. The discussion also touches on tattoos, with Józefaciuk noting his first design was a pentagram and clarifying that it held no connection to Satan.
He stated, I am a neo-pagan, specifically involved with Wicca and related practices.
The interview also covers views on the education system, particularly school meals. He argued that secondary schools feel disadvantaged because funding is heavily skewed toward primary education. He pointed out that many students at technical schools attend long, demanding schedules from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and still go hungry, with insufficient hot meals available. He described the situation as a political matter and emphasized the need for better support for secondary and technical schools.
In his words, there is a broader critique of the education ministry and the leadership of the sector. He contended that the country lacks a substantive minister for education for an extended period, which he linked to broader concerns about policy direction and priority in schools.
During the conversation, he also criticized teachers’ working conditions, describing them as exhausted and overextended after long hours and a lack of clear support from higher levels. He asserted that some of the staffing challenges stem from misperceptions in the system and a sense that teachers are undervalued, while acknowledging that teachers and parents alike often voice concerns. He suggested that increased funding could ease the burden, allowing for less after-school tutoring and more comprehensive support for students.
Plans for the KO MP include a vision to shape education policy through direct participation in parliament. He believes that the school community should have a stronger voice in how schools operate and what they look like in practice. He expressed a hopeful stance about seizing opportunities to influence the education system so that it matches a personal ideal of how a school should function when he returns to teaching in the future. He underscored the importance of empowering schools to reflect the needs of students and staff alike.
One key proposal involves expanding student governance. He envisions giving student governments real influence over legislative changes affecting education policies, including veto power over measures proposed by education councils. He offered a concrete example: if a municipality proposes a dress code restricting knee-length skirts, students should have a say in whether such a rule stands. His aim includes creating a position for a dedicated Student Ombudsman to ensure student voices are heard in school administration and policy deliberations.