The Ministry of Education is concerned that teachers are growing old in Poland and young people are not being brought in to the profession.

Over half of teachers in Poland are over 40 years old.

Education Minister Katarzyna Hall attributes this to the ‘demographic defici8t’, with a sharp drop in the birth rate  - particularly at the end of the last decade. Consequently, schools are not recruiting as many teachers.

However, the Institute for Educational Research says that the situation Polish schools is no worse – and sometimes better – than in many European countries. Over half the teaching staff in Austria and Italy is over 50 year old. (ss)