1 September: Teachers go to Warsaw. The government refuses a 10% raise, what does education have?

dailyblitz.de 9 hours ago

The school year 2025/2026 will start in Warsaw in a way that can affect the future of Polish education. alternatively of the conventional first bell, 1 September at 11:00 before the Ministry of National Education will take place nationwide teacher demonstration. The Association of Polish Teachership (ZNP) implements its ultimatum as the government failed to meet the key demands until the set deadline on August 29. This is not just a protest for money, but for the dignity of a profession that has been struggling for years with under-financing and deficiency of prestige. What does this mean for millions of students, parents and the future of Polish school?

Great manifestation 1 September: Why are teachers taking the streets?

Tension in the educational environment has been expanding for months. As of 24 June, the protest ambulance announced by the General Board of the ZNP, which gave the government a hard deadline – August 29 – to fulfill the demands. The deadline expired and the key demands remained unanswered. According to the portal law.pl, ZNP spokesperson Magdalena Kaszulanis confirmed that the chances of agreement were small, hence the decision to demonstrate.

1 September at 11:00, just after the symbolic celebrations of the start of the school year, hundreds, and possibly thousands of teachers from all over Poland, together with representatives of higher education and educational staff, will meet in front of the MEN office at Szucha 25 avenue in Warsaw. Password protest "Education is our common cause" to be a clear signal to the government. The choice of date caused controversy among any educators who would like to be with their students that day. ZNP president Sławomir Bronier explains, however, that it is simply a symbolic date, referring to a akin protest 2 years ago.

Two key demands: Money and prestige of the profession

Teachers don't go out on the streets without concrete demands. Their demands are clear and concern 2 fundamental issues:

  • Postulate number one: 10% increase since September 2025. The SNP has been demanding an immediate increase in the basic wage of teachers by 10 percent since 1 September 2025. Now, after the last raise, the starting teacher earns only PLN 5153 gross (approx. PLN 3864 net). This amount contrasts blatantly with the average wage in the economy, which in March 2025 amounted to PLN 9056 gross. This imbalance is simply a key argument for trade unionists, emphasizing the dramatically low prestige of the profession.
  • Postulate number two: Linking wages to average national. The union wants to velocity up work on a citizen's draft amendment of the Teacher's Charter, which would permanently link teachers' salaries with average wage in the economy. fresh regulations would come into force from 1 January 2026providing teachers with decent and unchangeable salaries.

These demands are a direct consequence to the increasing shortages of staff in schools, which the Stone portal.info, among others, informs about. More and little young people decide to work in a profession, which, despite its social importance, is increasingly little attractive financially.

The government says no, but any of the demands have been met?

The government's consequence to the ZNP's demands was clear. Minister for Education Barbara Nowacka categorically refused to meet her demands. On RMF FM radio, she stated, "There will be no 10% increase requested by the ZNP". According to portal samorzadowy.pl, the minister explained her decision to explain the hard situation of the state budget, indicating very large expenditure on reinforcements.

However, the Ministry recalls that teachers have already received crucial increases – salaries increased by 30-33 percent since January 2024, o another 5 percent in 2025and an increase is planned for 2026 by 3 percent. What's more, On 21 August, president Karol Nawrocki signed the alleged major amendment of the Teacher's Charterwhich enters into force on September 1, 2025. As the gloss.pl portal informs, fresh regulations introduce, among others:

  • Elimination of “black hours” – teachers will no longer should be available an hr a week for consultations.
  • Higher Jubilee Awards – for 40 years of work increase from 250% to 300% of salary, as well as a fresh prize for 45 years of work of 400%.
  • Better pension payments – depending on the internship, up to six salaries.
  • Unification of wage – teachers of applicable profession will have 18 hours alternatively of 20.

Despite these changes, the president of ZNP Sławomir Bronisz emphasizes that this was only 1 of the demands, and the main demands concerning systemic increases stay unfulfilled.

What's next? Threat of strike and real consequences for Poles

The ZNP protest is only the beginning. According to the portal superbiz.se.pl, the National Education and Education Section of NSZZ “Solidarity” besides plans "large nationwide manifestation" for 13 September. Additionally, on October 14, National Education Day, peculiar environmental action is being prepared. The educational environment is determined, and president Bronisz, although it calms down on the strike for now (no, at this point there is no specified attitude" – PAP), announces that after the demonstration on 1 September the Chief Executive Board of the ZNP will meet at the end of September and decide on any further protest actions.

Practical consequences for Poles:

  • For students and parents: Manifestation at 11:00 should not straight disrupt the morning celebrations of starting the school year. However, the increasing conflict can affect the stableness of education in the long term.
  • Transport in Warsaw: Protest before MEN at al. Szucha may origin significant traffic difficulties in the centre of the capital 1 September. It is worth considering erstwhile planning a trip.
  • For future teachers: The wage dispute is simply a signal that the teacher's profession is inactive struggling with low social and financial prestige, which should be taken into account in career planning.
  • Impact on educational reforms: The protest may affect the pace of the planned changes in education, forcing the government to take environmental sentiment into account. Minister Nowacka signals that the citizens' draft to link salaries to the average national can only enter into force from 2027.

Thus, the 2025/2026 school year will begin under the sign of uncertainty and protests. Will the demonstrations on 1 September and in the following months lead the government to change its position? Are Polish education aimed at improving the working conditions of teachers or deepening the crisis? The next fewer weeks will be crucial to answering these questions.

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1 September: Teachers go to Warsaw. The government refuses a 10% raise, what does education have?

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