Poles are highly critical of the condition of Polish schools. The latest poll shows that more than 70 percent of respondents believe the education system does not prepare students for adult life, while a majority are convinced that schools are heading in the wrong direction. This is another warning sign for the Ministry of National Education, headed by Barbara Nowacka.
According to an IBRiS poll conducted for PAP (Polish Press Agency), as many as 72.1 percent of respondents believe that the Polish education system does not prepare students for adult life. Only 21.5 percent of those surveyed hold the opposite view, while 6.4 percent were unable to give a clear answer.
Opinions on the direction in which Polish schools are heading are equally critical. In the view of 58.3 percent of respondents, schools are moving in the wrong direction, while only one in four respondents assessed the changes taking place positively. Among people raising children, negative assessments are even higher, reaching 65.6 percent.
Politics and the lack of practical education seen as the biggest problems
Respondents also indicated what, in their opinion, places the greatest burden on the current education system. As many as 81.8 percent of those surveyed believe that politics has too much influence on how schools function.
Slightly fewer, 80.7 percent of respondents, said that schools do not teach skills useful in adult life. Only 13 percent expressed the opposite view.
Poles also assessed specific changes
The survey also covered opinions on reforms introduced in schools. More than half of respondents viewed the introduction of health education positively, at 53.7 percent, as well as civic education, at 52.9 percent.
The reduction in the number of religion classes sparked divided opinions. The change was supported by 49.7 percent of respondents, while 41 percent assessed it negatively.
The decision to limit homework was rated much worse. As many as 68.2 percent of respondents opposed the move, while only 25.2 percent supported it.
Grades still play too large a role
A majority of respondents also pointed to the way students are assessed. According to 55.4 percent of those surveyed, grades play too large a role in Polish schools. The opposite view was held by 34.9 percent of respondents.
At the same time, as many as 66.5 percent of poll participants believe that teachers should receive higher salaries. Among people with children, support for pay rises was even higher, at 71.8 percent.
The IBRiS poll for PAP was conducted on June 21-24, 2026, using the CATI method on a representative sample of 1,000 adult Poles.
