Pay increases for teachers
The new Education Secretary, Barbara Nowacka, outlined several immediate moves in Warsaw, focusing on boosting teachers’ pay, restructuring education boards, lightening the curriculum, reducing homework, limiting religious instruction hours, and reviewing the role of the HiT program within the current framework.
Speaking at a press conference, Nowacka detailed the ministry’s near-term agenda and stressed that changes would prioritize both fairness and efficiency in schooling. She signaled that a comprehensive audit would accompany the reforms, signaling a pause for careful assessment before implementation.
The plan includes a 30 percent raise for teachers, including those in kindergarten, with the adjustments scheduled to begin on January 1. Because the final budget would be approved later, the actual pay uplifts are expected to appear in teachers’ paychecks in February. Nowacka emphasized that the process would be orderly and equitable across the system.
Additionally, Nowacka said she would scrutinize curricula to identify areas for downsizing or simplification. She called for collaboration with department specialists who oversee teaching programs to achieve reductions in a fair and timely manner, ensuring costs align with the new priorities.
Homework
On the homework front, Nowacka indicated that the administration would address domestic assignments as part of a broader shift in school routines. While she cautioned against dramatic overnight changes, she urged teachers, particularly in primary schools, to consider giving students a holiday break from homework during the Christmas period. The aim, she suggested, is to preserve student well-being while maintaining steady learning progress.
Nowacka also reaffirmed that schools should remain apolitical spaces. She acknowledged that students will naturally discuss political topics, but asserted that party officials should not dictate classroom operations or curriculum directions.
Changes in trustees
She announced that urgent changes would be made to education boards in the near term, with quick action anticipated in the coming days. A planned meeting with representatives from the Polish Teachers’ Union was tentatively scheduled for the following Wednesday, and she expressed openness to engaging with other non-governmental organizations as well.
The future of HiT
Asked about the HiT topic and its relevance to the current curriculum, Nowacka stated that the HiT component could not continue in its present form with the present textbook. Yet she underscored the importance of teaching Polish history and the functioning of the constitution, as well as civic processes like local elections, suggesting that an approach incorporating successful ideas from HiT could be integrated into future reforms.
She noted that understanding recent history is essential for students and that the curriculum should also illuminate the purpose of the constitution and citizen rights. While she did not promise a direct reintroduction of HiT as-is, she indicated that related learning elements would be considered in a revised framework.
Religion lesson
Regarding religious education, Nowacka indicated that any changes would involve consultation with the episcopate. She argued that in light of the heavy workload facing students, one hour of state-funded religious instruction seemed reasonable and compatible with the broader educational goals. She framed this as a personal stance rather than a rigid policy guarantee and suggested placing the religion class in the timetable so it does not burden students at peak moments of the day.
Nowacka stressed that the ministry would not overhaul schools abruptly. She recalled the disruptions caused by sudden closures or the introduction of new subjects without proper discussion with teachers and practitioners, urging a collaborative, phased approach to any evolution in the curriculum.
She anticipated that initial curriculum tweaks would occur relatively quickly, while a larger reform would extend over several years, reflecting a measured, long-term plan for Poland’s education system.
Who goes to the ministry?
Nowacka named the deputy ministers of education: MPs Katarzyna Lubnauer and Joanna Mucha, MP Henryk Kiepura, Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz, and Izabela Zietka. She also announced the new minister’s intended priorities during a Wednesday briefing at the Ministry of Education following President Andrzej Duda’s appointment of Donald Tusk as prime minister and the formation of a new Council of Ministers.
Nowacka outlined that an audit would examine all expenditures, their validity, and reasonableness, aiming to ensure prudent management of resources. She even offered a lighthearted remark about future collaborations, hinting at the involvement of a well-known figure within the education sphere as part of the ministry team, though she did not enumerate all names publicly at that moment.
When pressed about additional appointments, she indicated that several positions had already been agreed upon, including roles for Henryk Kiepura and Joanna Mucha, with further names to be confirmed as arrangements progressed. She also touched on the ongoing decision to separate the Ministries of Education and Science in order to better serve research and higher education, noting that this division would be accelerated to support Poland’s scientific and educational ecosystems.
In closing, the minister underscored a practical, stepwise approach to reform: quick initial adjustments, followed by a broader, multi-year modernization plan that involved ongoing dialogue with teachers, unions, and researchers to ensure buy-in and practical, lasting impact. The remarks reflected a careful balance between ambitious reforms and the realities of the classroom, aimed at safeguarding the integrity and stability of Polish education for the years ahead. (Source: wPolityce)