On 14 October, teachers celebrate National Education Day in Poland.
The date marks the establishment of the National Education Commission at the initiative of Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, the last king of Poland, in 1773.
The Commission was the first equivalent of a public education ministry in Poland and the first such institution in Europe.
Today, PM Donald Tusk is meeting a group of the most merited teachers from all over the country to present them with state distinctions in appreciation for their work in educating the youngest generations of Poles.
There are presently 630,000 teachers employed in Polish primary and secondary schools. Their average age is 41 with women constituting a large majority; 81 per cent of the teaching staff. (ss/jb)
Source: IAR