Since January 2025 teachers in Poland will receive 5% wage increaseswhich will be paid with an equalisation from the beginning of the year. Although teachers hoped for more crucial wage increases, the government accepted a more modest proposal that covers the full budget sector. What will be the fresh teachers' salaries and what changes are planned by the Ministry of National Education? Here are the details.
What will be the basic salaries for teachers in 2025? The fresh basic salaries for teachers with a master's degree and pedagogical preparation will be: beginners teacher: PLN 5 153.40 gross, teacher appointed: PLN 5 309.85, teacher certified: PLN 6 210.75 gross. In the case of teachers without pedagogical preparation or with a lower level of education, salaries will be somewhat lower: beginners teacher: PLN 5,027.40 gross, teacher appointed: PLN 5,155.550 gross, teacher certified: PLN 5,405.40 gross. Although salaries will increase on average by about PLN 250 gross per month, many educators believe that growth is insufficient, given inflation and rising costs of living.
The increases do not importantly change the position of Polish teachers compared to their colleagues from another countries of the European Union. According to the study Eurydice, the average wage of a teacher in Poland remains 1 of the lowest in the EU. For comparison, in Germany, teachers gain on average Okay. 20 000 PLN gross per monthIn the Czech Republic, teachers with a master's degree gain money approx. PLN 8,000 gross per month.
Teachers hope that in 2025 additional increases will be negotiated, especially as this year will be crucial from a political position – presidential elections will be held in the spring. Sławomir Wittkowicz, president of the Free Trade Union “Forum – Education”, points out that negotiations can take place at the turn of March and April. "The chances for further increases are estimated at 30-40%, especially as the full budget sector is fighting for them" – said Wittkowicz in an interview with the Local Government Portal.
The Ministry of National Education besides announced a number of changes to improve the situation of teachers in Poland. The proposed benefits included higher pension payments: after 20 years of work the severance allowance will be equivalent to six monthly salaries, fresh Jubilee awards: after 40 years of work – 300% of the monthly salary, and after 45 years of work – 400% of the monthly wage (new benefit).
For respective years, Poland has been struggling with the problem of outflow of teachers. According to the Polish Teachers Association data, only in 2023 she resigned over 9,000 teachers, which was an increase of 25% compared to the erstwhile year. The main causes are low wages, over-administrative responsibilities and instability in education regulations. According to experts, in order to curb this trend, it is essential to wage increases of at least 20% and greater support for teachers in their regular work.
Increases in 2025 are a step in the right direction, but not adequate to improve the financial situation of teachers and attract young people to the profession. Without systemic changes, specified as greater investment in education and a long-term strategy for improving wages, the crisis in Polish education can deepen.
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New increases for teachers in 2025 – what can they expect?
