Polish teachers warn of more protests against planned reforms
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
18.10.2016 15:12
The Polish Teachers' Union has announced more protests in mid-November against planned reforms to the education system.
Sławomir Broniarz, the head of the Polish Teaching Union. Photo: ZNP
The union wants two proposed bills, which would see significant changes to the education system in Poland, to be withdrawn, and has announced the protest will be held on 19 November.
In an earlier strike on 10 October, Polish teachers took to the streets in a string of cities across Poland.
Education Minister Anna Zalewska had earlier said that the government would not backtrack on its proposals, adding that the reforms were “thought-out, responsible and also the costs have been calculated.”
Zalewska also said that there will be no layoffs of teachers as a result of the reforms, but this issue remains a concern for unionists.
The government intends to do away with the current model of a six-year primary school system, a three-year middle school and three-year high school, and return to the older system of eight-year primary school and four-year high school/five-year vocational school, starting from 2017.
Teachers are also pressing for salary increases and more spending on education. (tf/rg)