The education system

in Poland

Structure of the education system

Legal basis for the school education

The main legal basis

for the school education and higher education systems is provided

by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

Every person has the right to education. Education is compulsory until the age of 18.

Education in public schools is free of charge. Parents are free to choose schools other than public

for their children.

Compulsory education

Compulsory education is divided into:

one-year pre-school preparation;full-time education in school settings that lasts until

the completion of lower secondary school (typically 16 years of age);

part-time education until the age of 18 in school or non-school settings.

Pre-school education

Pre-school education is treated as the first level of the education system, is compulsory for children of five years old and may be completed in kindergartens (przedszkole) or in pre-school classes in primary schools (oddziały przedszkolne).

This education stimulates the general development and gives the primary reading skill and basic mathematics.

Primary school

Pupils of 6-12 attend primary school, which is compulsory. Primary education is divided into two cycles:

the first cycle (grades 1-3) at which beginning learning is offered,

the second cycle (grades 4-6) at whichsystematic learning is provided.

Subjects

The main components taught at the lower level of the primary school (grades 1-3) are: Polish language, social and natural environment, mathematics, crafts and technology, art and music, physical education.

In the lower grades one teacher teaches all subjects, while in the higher grades each subject has a different teacher.

At the end of the 6-year primary school, pupils take an external compulsory test (set by the Regional Examination Boards and assessed by examiners selected by these boards).

This test is designed to provide information and is not an examination.

Lower secondary school

As from 1999/2000, all primary school leavers continue their education in the 3-year

general lower secondary school (gimnazjum).

At the end of lower secondary education,pupils take a compulsory external examination

organised by Regional Examination Boards.

Upper secondary education

Lower secondary school graduates can continue their education in the following types of schools:

- 3-year general upper secondary school (liceum ogólnokształcące) leading to the receipt of the matriculation certificate (świadectwo maturalne) upon passing of the external matriculation exam (Matura);

- 4-year technical upper secondary school (technikum) leading to the receipt of a diploma confi rming vocational qualifications upon passing of an examination,

- 3-year basic vocational school (zasadnicza szkoła zawodowa) that leads to the receipt of a diploma confirming vocational qualifications upon passing of an exam.

The grading system

The grading system is as follows:

1 (niedostateczna, insufficient) 2 (dopuszczajaca, passing) 3 (dostateczna, sufficient) 4 (dobra, good) 5 (bardzo dobra, very good) 6 (celujaca, excellent)

1 is the failing grade, 2 to 5 are normal passing gradesand 6 means that the student has exceeded expectations.

Higher education

Graduates of upper secondary schools in Poland

who hold the matriculation certificate have a wide variety of educational possibilities.

Those who have passed the final examination called „matura"

may apply to universities. Those who do not want to study at university and those who have not taken the „matura"

examination may continue their education in post - secondary vocational schools.