Education in Poland

Education in Poland is very important and follows a clear path for every child. It is compulsory for children to start school when they are 7 years old and continue until they are 18. Before starting school, most children attend a year of kindergarten, which helps prepare them for primary school.

Primary school in Poland lasts eight years, covering grades 1 through 8. At the end of eighth grade, students take a final exam. After primary school, students usually move on to secondary school, which can last either 4 or 5 years depending on the type of school they choose.

Poland has a rich history in education. The Commission of National Education, created in 1773 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski, was the world's first ministry of education. Today, Polish students are praised internationally for their progress in subjects like mathematics, science, and reading. After finishing secondary school and passing the final exam called the matura, students can go on to higher education at universities or colleges.

Compulsory education

Children in Poland must go to school from the age of 7 until they are 18. Before starting primary school, children usually attend kindergarten for one year. Some children may start primary school a bit earlier, at age six, if they have attended kindergarten or have support from a special counseling center.

Primary school in Poland usually lasts eight years, covering grades 1 through 8. Before 2017, primary school was shorter, and students would then attend a middle school for three years. This changed with a new law in 2016, and since September 2017, the system has been updated to the longer primary school program.

Upper secondary education

After finishing compulsory school, students can choose different paths for upper secondary education. General secondary schools, called liceum, take four years and end with an exam called the "Matura," which allows students to go to college.

Other options include technical schools, which last five years and also lead to the Matura. These schools focus on teaching skills like accounting, mechanics, and electronics. There are also shorter vocational schools that last three years and prepare students for jobs such as cooking, gardening, or hair styling. Students from these schools can later take extra classes to earn the Matura and continue their education. Special schools are available for students with mental or physical challenges, helping them prepare for the Matura in three years.

Tertiary education

Main article: Higher education in Poland

In Poland, higher education follows a special plan called the Bologna scheme. Most university programs have two parts: a three-year bachelor’s degree and a two-year master’s degree. Some master’s degrees take longer, between four and six years, like medicine or pharmacy. Doctoral programs usually take about three years. To become a primary school teacher, you need three years of study at a special teacher training college. After high school, students can also go to post-secondary schools for vocational training that lasts two and a half years.

Universities use numbers to give grades, from 2 to 5. A grade of 2 means you did not pass, while 3 is the lowest passing grade. The grades go up to 5, which is the highest. Some universities may give a special top grade above 5, but this depends on the school. Grades are given every semester, twice a year. Sometimes the final grade depends on just one big test, but other times it’s based on all the work done during the semester. If a student fails a class, they usually get another chance to take the test again.

Foreign languages

Students in Polish schools usually learn one or two foreign languages. In 2005/06, many students studied English, with about 67.9% choosing it. Other popular languages included German, French, Spanish, Russian, Italian, and Latin.

Because of changes in the education system, students in lower secondary schools had to learn two different foreign languages. The first language, often English, was taught three times a week, and the second language was taught twice a week. There were also different levels of exams depending on when the student started learning the language.

History

Education in Poland has been important since the 1100s. One of the oldest universities in Europe, the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, was started in 1364. For many years, schools taught reading, writing, and Latin.

In 1919, Poland made school required for children aged 7 to 14. After World War II, the country worked hard to teach everyone to read and write. By 1978, almost no one in Poland could not read or write.

In 1999, Poland changed its school system. It went from 8 years of primary school plus 4 years of high school, to 6 years of primary school, then 3 years of junior high, and finally 3 years of senior high school. This helped students spend more time on important subjects.

In 2017, Poland changed its schools again. The system went back to 8 years of primary school and then 4 or 5 years of high school. Some teachers thought this change put too much focus on leaders and noble people, and not enough on everyday people or lower classes.

Violence

In 2006, after a sad event where a girl was hurt at school, the Polish Minister of Education started a new plan to keep schools safer. This plan gives teachers special protection, so people who hurt them can face serious consequences. Under this plan, school leaders can ask students who act out to help the community, and parents might be fined too. Teachers must tell authorities if they see any violence at school, or they could be in trouble themselves.