New regulations concerning jubilee awards for teachers in Poland, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026, introduce a new reward for 45 years of service and increase the benefit for 40 years of employment. However, it has become apparent that some teachers have been completely overlooked. Specifically, educators who achieved their 45 years of service in December 2025 will not receive any award, while those who reach this milestone just a few days later in January 2026 will receive a benefit equivalent to four times their monthly salary.

This discrepancy has been brought to light by MP Joanna Frydrych, who has submitted an inquiry to the Ministry of National Education. She highlights the fact that the awarding of the jubilee prize is determined more by the calendar date than by actual years of service. This situation has led to feelings of injustice among teachers with many years of experience, who worked the same number of years as their colleagues but are being left empty-handed due to the arbitrary cut-off date.

Teachers expressing their frustration argue that the system inadequately recognizes long-term dedication to education. This issue raises broader concerns about how policies are developed and implemented, particularly in a sector that significantly impacts society through the education of future generations. Many advocates are calling for a reconsideration of this policy to ensure that it equitably rewards all educators for their service, regardless of arbitrary dates on a calendar.