Educational system in Poland
The educational system in Poland includes
nursery schools
vocational colleges
Primary school
post-secondary schools
Secondary school
• In Poland a higher education system is under the separate department of the government administration. It isn't ranked among the educational system and it has the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy.
• In accordance with records of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland everyone has right to learn. Education is compulsory at the age of 7 to 18, but the status of compulsory institutions have only the primary school and the secondary school. The learning in public schools is free of charge .
• Activity and the organization of the system are specified in the act from 7 September 1991 about the educational system . In 1999 a new structure of the education was introduced.
Nursery schools • Children are attending the nursery school at the age of 3 to 6. A "reception class" is compulsory for children at the age of 6. "Reception classes" are being established in nursery schools, but also schools have the right to create such a ward.
Primary schools •
The six-year school is divided into two three-year stages . The first stage includes classes from I to III; the main part is the block called „integrated education ” – these classes are being conducted by one teacher acting also as the class tutor. The teacher does not have to obey the class working time, i.e. to divide the working time of pupils into 45 minutes classes as it is in upper classes.
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Pupils also participate in religion or ethics classes (which as a result of the small take-up practically are not-accomplished at Polish schools). Parents decide about their children involvement in the religion classes. At this educational stage extra subjects can be provided into the school plan, like foreign language. Some part of pupils is also participating in the teaching-compensatory classes and classes of physiotherapy exercises. Also possible is implementing other extra activities for everyone or groups of pupils. A headmaster is making a decision about it, allocating hours for this purpose so-called the director's disposal.
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In IV-VI classes there are different teachers , out of them one (class tutor) is responsible for his class. Subjects are: Polish Foreign language Maths Biology History and Society Music Art Technology Information Technology (IT) Physical Education (PE) Religion (parents decide about their children involvement into the class) or ethics (practically not carried out in Polish schools)
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In these classes also headmaster, have the limit of so-called director's disposal hours, headmaster can implement an educational extra activities for everyone or for the group of pupils, for example an additional foreign language and teachingcompensatory classes. From the class V pupils behind the parental consent take part in classes of "living in the family".
• In the class VI pupils are taking the test of the level of the knowledge and the ability which is equal for all pupils. Pupils with special educational needs receive adapted sheets. They can also sit an examination in individually adapted conditions. The test is being organised by the Central Examination Board. This test does not have an affect on children when they leave the primary school as well as when thay enroll to the secondary school.
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The reform of the educational system from 1999 led the secondary school. Pupils attending the secondary school are young people at the age of 13 - 16. Education at this stage has general character, there are the following subjects: Polish History Knowledge about society Art Music Foreign language Maths Physics and Astronomy Chemistry Biology Geography Information Technology Technology Physical Education
• If parents express such a will, pupils don’t have to attent the religion classes. For pupils who don’t attend these classes, the headmaster of the secondary school should organize classes of ethics. Pupils also attend the classes of "living in the family" however they aren't obligatory.
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The learning in the secondary school is ends with the examination, written by pupils of the class III in April. Every year a director of the Central Examination Board sets the date of the test. The examination paper consists of two written parts: humanistic and mathematical-natural (and from school year 2008 / 2009 also from a foreign language). Exam results don't affect on leaving in the secondary school, but they are significant during the recruitment to the postsecondary schools (the comprehensive secondary school, profiled secondary school, the technical vocational school and a vocational school).
Post-secondary education a)
fundamental vocational schools,
b) three-year comprehensive secondary schools, c) three-year profiled secondary schools, d) four-year technical vocational schools, e) two-year supplementing comprehensive secondary schools, f) three-year supplementing technical vocational schools, g) vocational colleges, h) three-year special schools.
Grading •
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Annual (semester) classification evaluations from educational classes, starting from the class of the IV primary education, is settling in steps according to the following scale: perfect – 6 (A) very good – 5 (B) good – 4 (C) satisfactory- 3 (D) allowing – 2 (E) Insufficient (fail) – 1 (F)
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Annual classification evaluations of the behaviour: perfect very good good correct Inappropriate reprehensible
In classes I-III of the primary school a descriptive evaluation is applied. Current graduation during the year and the interim evaluation is determined by schools.