Higher education sees falling numbers of students and teachers

Over the last year the number of academic teachers has fallen by 2,200 and over the last four years is down 5,000. These are figures from a report prepared by professor Jerzy Wilkin on behalf of the Conference of Academic Rectors of Polish Schools (KRASP).

"The fall in the number of students in colleges of higher education should be a chance to increase the role of active forms of teaching and lowering class sizes, and on the other hand enabling academic teachers to become more engaged in undertaking academic research”, Wilkin said.

The report notes, however, that faced with financial difficulties, many departments and colleges tend to cut staff.

If this outflow trend from higher education continues, for amongst other reasons ageing staff, Poland will experience a generational gap, the report notes. (jh)

Source: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna