Law and Justice proposes increasing teacher workload for salary raises

During a Law and Justice (PiS) economic convention, Professor Mariusz Andrzejewski proposed a method to increase teacher salaries without additional costs to the state budget. The proposal suggests voluntarily increasing the teaching workload (pensum) from 18 to 22 hours per week in exchange for higher gross pay.

Under this plan, the proposed gross salaries would be approximately 6,100 PLN for beginning teachers, 6,700 PLN for appointed teachers, and 8,000 PLN for diploma teachers. However, critics and former school directors note that current regulations already allow teachers to apply for an increased workload of up to 27 hours under specific conditions, with some existing rates potentially exceeding the new proposal.

Teacher unions have historically opposed such measures, arguing they are unfavorable to the profession. Critics also suggest the proposal may serve to create friction between the teaching community and the government.