Polish teacher shortages persist despite pay raises, contrasting with better conditions in Spain and Austria.
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The article compares the salaries and problems faced by teachers in Poland and Spain, noting that both countries have similar populations. In Poland, the Polish Teachers’ Union estimates a shortage of 20 to 25 thousand teachers, a problem exacerbated by the 2017 education reform which led to job losses or reduced hours for many educators. While the Ministry of Education mandated a 30% average salary increase, the union argues this has not sufficiently attracted young people due to difficult working conditions, including increased burdens from teaching large numbers of Ukrainian students. This staffing shortage affects both public and private schools in Poland. In contrast, Spain experiences less acute staff shortages because average teacher salaries are comparable to general economic wages; new teachers earn around 2,000 euros net in public schools. While Spanish salaries are higher than Polish ones, dissatisfaction remains, particularly in preschool education where unions have called strikes over job security during holidays. Austria is presented as having the best pay conditions among the three countries, with starting salaries for new teachers ranging from approximately 2,362 to 2,740 euros net depending on the school level. In Poland, basic starting salaries are lower, and the Teachers’ Union demands further raises.
