The expectations were huge. What has changed in schools since Barbara Nowacka has been in charge of the ministry?

Friday marks exactly one year since Barbara Nowacka joined the Ministry of National Education. We asked students, teachers, activists and principals to rate the ministry.

– These changes are going in the right direction. The subject of history and the present is becoming a thing of the past – says Wojciech Ulatowski, principal of the XLVII Secondary School in Łódź. – We feel more respect for our profession – adds Anna Dzięgielewska, a Polish language teacher at Primary School No. 37 in Białystok. – There is a different atmosphere at school and it's “phew” – says Aleksandra Dulas, a psychotherapist from the SPUNK Foundation for Modern Education.

And how does the minister rate herself? “A lot of things have been achieved in education,” Barbara Nowacka boasts in the anniversary recording, mentioning the partisanization of schools and school boards as well as the reduction of the core curriculum. The minister also talks about pay raises for teachers and emphasizes that they are not final and that it will be even better.

It's not much better – we hear from the Polish Teachers' Union, because the 5% raise from next year is not satisfactory. – Our remuneration will continue to be approximately at the level of the minimum wage, I am talking about teachers starting work in the profession – points out Sławomir Broniarz, president Polish Teachers' Union.

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Within 12 months, work has already started on new subjects: health and civic education. It was also decided that the grade in religion and ethics would not be included in the average. Housework was also limited, but this idea, according to our interlocutors, was simply ineffective.

– This has a demotivating effect on students because they do not feel obliged to do their homework – says Wiktoria Maliszewska, president of the student government. at Primary School No. 37 in Białystok.

However, there is no doubt that the long-awaited, substantive discussion about the school has begun over the last year. Under the previous government, the tone of the narrative was set by successive “fires” caused by controversial statements by Minister Czarnek or his associates. They discussed subsequent versions of the laws called lex Czarnek, the “villa plus” scandal and the HiT manual.

– A big advantage is the possibility of entering into dialogue with the ministry – notes Gabriel Wołosewicz, Teacher of the Year 2024 from the District School Complex in Reda.

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Now the dialogue takes place, for example, at student round tables. A team was also established to cooperate with non-governmental organizations. We want more – we hear.

– There is no idea for the school that was promised, but on the other hand, there is still very little time (since there is a new government – editor's note) – emphasizes Aleksandra Dulas. – We lack even greater openness to teachers and experts who work in schools every day – says Karolina Prus-Wirzbicka from the “SOS for Education” organization.

This will be especially useful during a major reform of the core curriculum, the first changes of which will enter schools in September 2026. – We want practicing teachers to constantly participate in this process of preparing the final version – assures Katarzyna Lubnauer, deputy minister of national education.

The management of the Ministry of National Education must take into account that expectations will become greater each year, because it is no longer enough just not to be Minister Czarnek.