Trade unionist want to whittle down academic titles starting with professor

The education section of the trade unions organization NSZZ Solidarnosc put forward a controversial draft of a bill to eliminate all academic titles above the current doctor (Ph.D), such as professor in order to lift the Polish education system out of the doldrums. However, removing the titles would mean eradicating one of the most highly esteemed groups of Polish society. Janusz Sobieszczanski, one of the people behind the idea says many young people today give up on an academic career, put off by the long and painstaking process they must face before becoming independent academics. Most academics believe the draft is the beginning of downgrading the status of the profession. The idea will now be considered by the new Education Minister Edmund Wittbrodt, himself a professor. (Zycie, page 1) P.S.