The 11th cohort of students began their teacher training at the PAFF and University of Warsaw School of Education. The official opening of the academic year took place on September 7.
The School of Education is a joint initiative of Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the University of Warsaw. As part of the program, students can earn teaching license in Polish, mathematics, history and social studies, and biology and natural sciences — all free of charge. On September 7, the 11th cohort of students began their studies and as is the case every year, the first week of classes is a residential Summer School. This is the first opportunity for students to get to know one another and realize that the School of Education is much more than just a degree program. It is also a community of people united by the belief that a good education can be one of the most important drivers of social change.
Marianna Hajdukiewicz, Program Director of Polish-American Freedom Foundation, spoke about this very approach during the inauguration. She pointed out that among the most important goals of PAFF is building civil society, and that education remains a key area where this change can take place. “For over twenty five years, the Foundation has been collaborating with institutions and civil society organizations, developing solutions together — in a participatory and partnership-based manner. The School of Education was established out of the conviction that changes in education cannot be achieved solely by supporting those already working in the profession. We also need to support those who are just beginning their teaching careers,” emphasized Marianna Hajdukiewicz.
The topic of the inaugural lecture by Prof. Jolanta Sujecka-Zając, director of the PAFF and University of Warsaw School of Education, was subjective theories — the beliefs and assumptions that each of us constructs based on our own experiences. “Teachers are no exception to this. That is why one of the important tasks in the coming months will be learning how to recognize such beliefs, how to deconstruct them, examine their origins, assess their credibility, and reflect on the consequences they have for a teacher’s daily work. This approach accurately reflects the way we work at the School of Education,” said Prof. Sujecka-Zając. She concluded with a sailing metaphor: “We’re filling your sails; you’re sailing, and in 10 months, we’ll meet you in the port.”
In the coming months, students will combine classes at the School of Education with regular teaching practicums in schools, develop their teaching and pedagogical skills, and learn from their own mistakes.
It’s still possible to join the student body for the 2026/27 academic year. Students can apply for a scholarship of 2,500 PLN per month, which was awarded to over 90% of students last year. Students from outside Warsaw can also apply for free dormitory housing.
The School of Education is a model teacher-training program. Over the past 10 years, it has trained 415 teachers, as well as dozens of tutors and mentors who support the development of other educators. In addition, over 12,000 teachers and educators have been trained, and outreach activities have reached nearly 25,000 people, demonstrating the broad scale and scope of the initiatives undertaken.
