It could be a rather difficult start of the upcoming school year. ZNP has announced a protest picket in front of the Ministry of Education building in Warsaw. The reasons for the action are multifaceted. It is not only about low teachers' salaries, but also about the state of the education system, which, according to the organisers of the protest, is deteriorating under Przemyslaw Czarnek's term of office.

The protest will take place on 1 September at 12 p.m. Participants of the picket will meet in front of the building of the Ministry of Education and Science at 25 Szucha Avenue in Warsaw. Representatives of parents and educational organisations as well as educational leaders will also take part.

Teachers' protest on 1 September

ZNP argues that the profession of teachers and education workers is being degraded and that Polish education is in need of changes and funding. The main problem is low salaries in the sector negatively impacted by record-high inflation. A teacher taking his or her first steps in the profession can only expect a gross salary of PLN 3690 (€833). The salary of a beginning teacher is only 90 zlotys (€20) higher than the minimum wage in Poland.

The union also lists further challenges the education system faces. These include worsening working conditions, staff shortages, bad reforms and their negative effects.

Teachers' protest. What are the demands?

What proposals for change are being put forward by ZNP?

• "We want education like it’s 21st and not the 19th century with a slimmed-down core curriculum, classes of 20 pupils max and specialist support;
• We want education that is well and rationally funded, including a real improvement in the financial situation of teachers and staff; education with professional and valued staff;
• We want education focused on key competences rather than detailed knowledge; education based on autonomy and independence of schools rather than them being centrally controlled; education of equal opportunities."

According to a chemistry teacher Miroslaw Kozik quoted by "Gazeta Wyborcza", the timing of the protest is deliberate. The picket does not clash with the start of the school year, which this year begins on 4 September. This will give teachers and activists a chance to express their indignation in front of the building of the Ministry of Education.

Crisis in education

The crisis in education is a problem not only for Poland, but for the whole of Europe as well. Over the past year, teachers in Hungary have regularly taken to the streets to demand pay rises and better working conditions. In February, they were joined by their colleagues in the UK who also demanded higher salaries in a nationwide protest.