An alarming report by the GrowSPACE Foundation outlined staffing shortages in full-time school psychologists across Poland. The document, released on 24 July, revealed that students in the Podkarpackie voivodship are in the worst situation, with as many as 46% of vacancies unfilled.

Mateusz Trzaska of GrowSPACE has sent an official intervention letter to the Regional Education Authority in Rzeszów containing a series of questions about the situation. The foundation inquires whether the board of education was aware of the shortage and what measures were taken to counteract it.

The deputy education superintendent in Rzeszów, Stanisław Fundakowski, in his statement for "Gazeta Wyborcza" did not confirm the data provided by the foundation. Just to remind you, it was compiled on the basis of information received by GrowSPACE from 91% of local government units in Poland, i.e. bodies that actually employ psychologists.

The foundation's report shows that in Podkarpackie voivodship as many as 40 municipalities have not employed any psychologists. In the previous school year, some municipalities in the Podkarpacie region hired an "itinerant psychologist" who appeared at different schools for a few hours a week.

The basis for the effectiveness of psychological support in schools is building a relationship of trust with students, parents and teaching staff. The "itinerant" mode certainly makes it significantly more difficult.

The Rzeszów deputy education superintendent explained in a statement for "Gazeta Wyborcza" that the requirement for schools to employ psychologists and guidance counsellors was introduced only last year. He admitted that finding 1,500 specialists who hadn’t been trained in the region in a short period of time is a real challenge.

"Psychological support is essential in schools. Pupils are still dealing with the effects of pandemic-related isolation. There were 96 suicide attempts by children and adolescents in the Podkarpackie voivodeship alone. Six ended in death," Mateusz Trzaska, a representative of the GrowSPACE Foundation, told "Gazeta Wyborcza".

The role of school psychologists is not only to try to prevent tragic events. They also monitor pupils for learning difficulties, which can allow specialist support to be provided early enough. They can prevent bullying and support teachers in making schools psychologically safe places.