Poland is situated in the centre of Europe and covers 312 685
square kilometers. In the year 2004 Poland had a population
of 38.10 million, 61.5% of whom lived in 886 towns and urban
areas and 38.5% in rural ones. The country is divided into 16
voivodships (provinces), 379 districts and 2478 local government
communes.
In accordance with the Constitution, Poland is Parliamentary Republic
headed by the President of the Republic elected by direct popular vote
for five years. The bicameral Parliament consists of the 460 members
of the lower chamber and of the 100 members of the Senate. Members of
the lower chamber and the Senate are elected by General Election for
a four-year term. The overwhelming majority of the population are native
Poles. Poland is predominantly Roman Catholic (about 35.8 million baptized).
Other religions and denominations are represented by a large number
of relatively small communities (among them biggest are: Orthodox –
510 000, Protestant and related – 140 000, Jehovah witnesses – 126 000
and Old Catholic – 50 000).
Pre – school education
A child aged 3 to 5 may receive pre-primary education, which is not
compulsory, but all the six year-old children attend either kindergartens
or primary classes attached to primary schools, as the Ministry of National
Education and Sport has introduced an obligatory 0 grade starting the
school year 2004/2005 and therefore the age of beginning of the compulsory
schooling has been lowered from 7 to 6.
Compulsory education
Full-time compulsory education in Poland lasts 10 years and covers
education in the “0 grade” , in the 6-year primary schools (szkoły podstaowe)
and in the 3-year lower secondary schools (gimnazja). The “0 grade”
is a year of preparation for primary education, obligatory for all six-year-old
chidren from the 2004/05 schools year. The “0 grade” classes are attached
either to kindergartnes or to primary schools. At the level of priamry
school, full-time compulsory education starts during the calendar year
in which the child reacges 7 years of age. Full-time compulsory education
normally continues until the pupil is 16 years of age ( i.e the age
of the completion of the gymnasium), but in no case beyond the age of
18 years.
Part-time compulsory education, however, in the school or out-of-school
froms lasts until 18 yaers of age ( based on the Constitution of the
Republic of Poland adopted in 1997).
Compulsory education is free of charge all pupils.
Priamry education
From 1999/2000 children between the ages of 7 and 13 attend new priamry
achools (szkoła podstawowa) for a period of 6 years. Admission is based
on age. General objectives of the priamry school are formulated as follows:
to develop on children the ability of self-expresion, reading and writing,
the ability to solve arthmetic problems, the ability to use simple tools,
to develop habits of social life, to develop cognitive abilities enabling
mature understating of the world, to develop conscious motivation to
prepare for undertaking tasks reqiring systematic intellectual and physical
effort, to develop aesthetic and moral sensitivity of children and their
creative abilities, etc.
Organisation of the school
Lessons start at 8 a.m. and finish at 2 or 3 p.m. in the senior years
if a school works in one shift. Each lesson lasts 45 minutes. Breaks
are considered sufficient if they last at least 5-10 minutes, but no
longer than 25 minutes. Pupils attend priamry school five days a week,
from Monday to Friday.
Schools usally are used for one set of pupils per day – sometimes fot
two, working in shifts. The lenght of the school day is determined by
legislation (outline timeblates are prescribed for each age group).
The organization of the school year is defined by the ministry of education
in a separate regulation. The ministry issues th calendar for the school
year on an annual basis, specyfing the dates of the start and the end
of the school year and school holidays. The school year is divided into
two semesters: (1) from 1 September, until the end of January; (2) from
1 Febuary, until the end of school year.
Clases are organised:
- by age (1st level of division)
- by subject (foregin languages, computing, physical education –
classes are subdivided into smaller groups)
- by level of competence (more and more often FL teaching classes
are subdivided)
Principal teaching materials used are textbooks, audio aids, computers
and internet.
Teachers are free to choose teaching materials, depending on the finances
of the school. They also choose textbooks, but only from the list approved
by the minister of education.
Curriculum
The scope of priamry education is determind by three elements: the
core curriculum, outline timetables and requirement standards.
Core curricula have to be respected by each school.
Education in the 6-year priamry school is divided into 2 stages:
Stage I – grades 1 to 3, called integrated teaching;
Stage II – grades 4 to 6.
The teaching at Stage 1 is meant to provide a smooth transition from
pre-priamry to school education. Educational activities are conducted
according to a flexible timetable prepared by the teacher, in which
the duration of lessons and breaks is influenced by the pupil’s activity.
Stage 2 of the 6-year primary school covers grades 4,5 and 6. Teaching
at this stage is arranged by subjects listed in the outline timetable
(Polish language, Histroy and civics, Modern foreign language, Mathematics,
Natual science, Music, Art, Technology, Computer science, physical education,
Religion/Ethics).
In addition to subjects, the following cross-curricular
themes have been introduced at this stage:
- health education
- ecologial education
- reading and media education
- education for society
- education for family life
- cultural heritage of the region
- pstriotic and civic education
Compulsory secondary education (Gimnazjum)
In the school year 1999/2000 a new type of school, i.e gimnazjum, was
established. This school constitutes lower secondary level.
The only admission requirement is successful completion of the 6-year
priamry school (szkoła podstawowa) and the attainment of the priamry
school leaving certficate.
The main objectives are formulated as follows:
- to introduce the pupil in the world of science by means of teaching
the language, concepts, theories and methodologies characteristic
of a given discipline at the level enabling futher education;
- to arouse and develop individual interests;
- to introduce the pupil to the world of culture and arts;
- to develop in pupils social skills and abilities through creating
possibilities of experience in co-operation in peer groups.
Stage 3 (grades
1-3 of the gymnasium) |
| No. |
Compulsory educational activites |
Number of teaching hours per week in a period of
3 years |
| 1 |
Polish language |
14 |
| 2 |
Hisory |
6 |
| 3 |
Civic education |
3 |
| 4 |
Modern fereign language |
9 |
| 5 |
Mathematics |
12 |
| 6 |
Physics and astronomy |
4 |
| 7 |
Chemistry |
4 |
| 8 |
Biology |
4 |
| 9 |
Geography |
4 |
| 10 |
Fine art/ Music* |
3 |
| 11 |
Technology |
2 |
| 12 |
Computer science |
2 |
| 13 |
Physical education |
9+ 3** |
| 14 |
Lessons with Class Tutor |
3 |
| Toal |
82 |
| Religion/Ethics |
6 |
| Hours left to the school head’s discretion |
6 |
| Toal |
94 |
Post-compulsory education
The upper secondary education covers the age group 16-18 or 19/20.
In the reformed post-gymnasium education the following post-gymnaiusm
schools are operational strarting the school 2002/03:
- liceum ogólnokształcace (3-year general secondary school) offering
3 years of full-time general upper secondary education for students
aged 16 to 19. If ofers the Matura xamination necessry for admission
to higher education.
- Liceum profilowane (3-year specialised secondary school) – new
institution estabilished in 2002/03 offering 3 years of full-time
general and specialised upper secondary eduaction for students aged
16 to 19. If offers the Matura examination necessary foradmision to
hiher education.
- Technikum (4-year yechnical secondary school) – institution offering
4 years of full-time technical and vocational upper secondary education
for studens aged 16 to 20. It offers the Matura examination nessary
for admission to higher education.
- Zasadnicza szkoła zawodowa (2 to 3-year basic vocational school)
– institution offering 2 to 3 years of full-time upper secondary vocational
education for students aged 16 to 18. The leavers have acces to the
trade or occupation or to the liceum uzupełniające or technikum uzupełniające.
At the levels of upper secondary/post-secondary education in Poland
there are also the following types of intitutions:
- Uzupełniajace liceum ogólnokształcące (2-year supplementary general
seconady school) – new institution on 2004/05 offering 2 years of
full – or part-time general upper seconadry education for students
aged 18 to 20 in preparation for teh Matura examination. This school
in meant for the leaves of the 2/3-year vocational school.
- Technikum uzupełniające (3-years supplementary seconadry technical
school) – new institution intriduced in 2004/05 offering 3 years of
full- or part-time vocational upper seconadr education for students
aged 18 to 21 in preparation for the Matura examination. This school
is mant for the leavers of the 2/3-year vocational school.
- Szkoła policealna (maximum2.5-year post-seconadry school) – this
school institution enables pepople with seconadry education to a vocational
qualifications diploma uopn passing of an exam.
