Warsaw. Over 280 thousand students return to schools in the capital

– There is nothing more important for the future of our children than a good education. In Warsaw, we do everything to provide students with the best possible conditions for development, and teachers with stable, decent working conditions. That is why teachers in the capital can count on some of the highest basic salaries in the country, motivational benefits and a wide range of training. In the new school year, we will support people who have to face many challenges every day – said Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw during last week's conference at the downtown Primary School No. 203 named after Antonina and Jan Żabiński at ul. ks. I. Skorupki 8.

On Thursday, August 29, the Warsaw Council unanimously adopted a resolution on pay increases, thanks to which, among others, directors and deputy directors have the opportunity to receive an average of PLN 1,000 and more as part of a functional allowance, managers of school workshops, laboratories, workrooms and dormitories – PLN 500, and managers of school recreation rooms an additional PLN 200.

Warsaw city officials emphasize that the Warsaw local government also pays the highest motivational bonuses for teachers (on average PLN 600 per full-time position, and in special cases PLN 1,200), bonuses for educators, bonuses for working conditions, as well as annual awards for the best teachers.

READ: Up to PLN 1,000 for school supplies.

“All teachers in the capital's institutions also have their basic salary increased by PLN 100, and from September 1, 2023, nearly five thousand teachers from municipal kindergartens will receive an increased allowance for kindergarten teachers in the amount of PLN 380. The Warsaw local government also provides the educational staff with free training, workshops, methodological and networking support for teachers at WCIES (Warsaw Center for Educational and Social Innovation) – a municipal teacher training facility,” they add.

This year, Warsaw will allocate nearly PLN 100 million for current education-related expenses. nine billion zlotystwo more than in 2023.

READ: In some the bell will never ring again, for others it is a new beginning. 10 schools in Mazovia to be closed down.

Rafał Trzaskowski emphasises that in recent years, local government expenditure on education has been growing rapidly, noting that a preliminary agreement has been adopted to change the method of financing education, i.e. to eliminate subsidies and replace them with increased local government revenues in order to make local government finances independent of government decisions.

– With Warsaw families in mind, we systematically invest in new educational facilities. In just a few years, we have built 17 schools and 28 new kindergartens, thus creating over 15 thousand new places to learn. Currently, we have three more schools and three kindergartens under construction, and there are plans for more – emphasizes President Rafał Trzaskowski.

SEE: 17,000 free places in the capital's nurseries.

In Warsaw schools, children and teenagers are provided with care by a psychologist or pedagogue. – The number of children with special educational needs is growing – we already have about 15 thousand students with certificates in our institutions. That is why we are investing in the expansion of special schools, creating special and integration departments in public schools and developing inclusive education – added Trzaskowski.

The city’s offer also includes a network of nearly 30 psychological and pedagogical counselling centres and specialist support.

Before the start of the school year, an important topic is the inclusion of foreign students in the Polish education system. Over 27,000 foreigners from 120 countries are already studying in the capital's schools, including almost 13,000 students from Ukraine, who came to Poland after the outbreak of war in their country.

READ: Compulsory Education for Ukrainian Children. “I Don't Feel Like Anyone Has Thought About It Comprehensively.”

– From September we can expect an influx of pupils to municipal educational institutions, which means a lot of new tasks for us. It will certainly be a huge challenge, organizational and financial – said Renata Kaznowska, deputy mayor of Warsaw, responsible for, among other things, municipal education. She added that the scale of this year's interest in joining the Polish education system by foreigners is not yet known.

The beginning of the school year is not only a time of students returning to schools, but also a time of increased traffic on the streets.

In recent days, traffic police have been checking the correctness of road markings in the area of ​​educational institutions. One of the goals of the campaign was to check the validity of the existing markings, taking into account traffic intensity, terrain, road geometry, as well as the correctness of the positioning and technical condition of road signs, traffic safety devices and their visibility.

In the first days of school, there will be more police patrols around schools. Officers will pay special attention to improper behavior of road users, both drivers and pedestrians. They will remind drivers of the need to exercise special caution and reduce speed before crossings so as not to endanger people in the area. They will also pay attention to the way children are transported.

SEE: Eight-year-old “disappeared” at school. Mother alerted city guards, who called the police.

As part of the “Safe Way to School” campaign, municipal guards have selected places where they will help students get to school safely during the first two weeks of the school year. The guards will supervise critical intersections and pedestrian crossings at educational facilities.

“They will discipline drivers and pedestrians, while reminding the youngest of the basic rules of safe movement around the city. The activities will be carried out not only at the schools themselves, but also on the roads leading to them. Officers from school departments will strengthen the activities of permanent posts located in the vicinity of educational institutions,” the release stated.