EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN POLAND Monika Brodowicz Olsztyn 2019

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN POLAND Monika Brodowicz Olsztyn, 2019

�There are two separate ministries of education in Poland: Ministry of National Education and Ministry of Science and Higher Education. �Schools in Poland are of two types: public and non-public. Public education is basically free of charge. Other important differences between public and non-public systems are exposed in the diagram.

Compulsory education Compulsory school education lasts from the age of 6 until the age of 18, however children have to attend one year preschool education at the age of 5. Parents can also register their child for nursery school where they remain under care of nursery teachers.

The homeschooling system in Poland is permitted by the law although not advisible. Children undergoing this system have to pass assesement exams every year.

The early years education � Children have no regular lessons � They are learning mostly through fun activities � Activities usually take place in one classroom with only one teacher � Exception are some specialized activities e. g. in sports or foreign languages. � They are being prepared to maintain school discipline, learn different subjects, get marks and undergo the achievement control.

The 2 nd stage of primary school �Pupils take part in regular lesson units lead by specialized teachers �Lessons take place in a special adequately equipped classroom �They have common timetable for each day of a week during the whole school year. �Parents decide whether their children attend religion or ethics courses as well as the course of 'family life education'.

Grading �From the 2 nd stage of primary school onwards students have to sit different kind of assessments at each subject. The grade scale is as follows: � 6 = excellent � 5 = very good � 4 = good � 3 = sufficient � 2 = poor pass � 1 = insufficient.

8 th Grade Exams � At the end of the primary school, children will be obliged to take an exam which will test their knowledge acquired throughout the 8 years. � The subjects that were obligatory include Polish, Foreign Language and Math. � From 2020/21 child will need to choose one more from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History. � The exams will be the basis for acceptance to the next educational level.

After secondary education Student has to make a choice of a high school: - general studies, - technical studies, - general and vocational studies, - vocational studies

High School Takes 4 years to complete. It is designed for people who would like to take the so-called Matura exam (A-levels) and want to continue studies at the university.

Vocational school Takes 3 years to complete. It is not finishing with a Matura examination. It is designed for people who would like to start working immediately after finishing the school.

Professional technical school Takes 4 years to complete. It can end with a Matura exam. Graduates who complete this type of school receive a qualification to start working as Engineering Technician. Some examples of technical Schools include Technical School for Construction, For Electrical Science, For Hairdressing, for Hotel Administration etc!

The diagram below shows the percentage of types of high schools chosen by Polish students.

Matura Exam This exam qualifies for university. There are two levels you can take the exam – the basic and extended one. Some of the subjects need to be taken both in a written and oral form. Different universities require different subjects and levels of subjects in order to get in.

Obligatory Matura Exam Subjects �Polish – oral �Foreign language – oral �Polish – written (basic level) �Maths – written (basic level) �Foreign language – written (basic level) �An additional subject of choice – written (extended level).

How to become a teacher? � For nursery and early years stage a teacher has to complete the first cycle of studies in general education. � For middle years of primary school teacher it is enough to graduate from the first cycle of studies (with a bachelor degree) in the specyfic teaching subject (e. g. maths) � It is possible to attain certificate to teach two different subjects. � These studies can be completed at universities, pedagogical academies, vacational high schools or teacher training colleges

How to become a teacher? To be able to teach at the high school a teacher has to complete master studies in a secific discipline and obtain a master degree. These studies can be completed only at universities or pedagogical academies.

How to become a teacher? During studies the future teachers have to: �receive education in specific field, �receive methodological education about the given subject, �attend pedagogical and psychological courses, �complete the teacher apprenticeship at a school of the given stage.

How to become a teacher? Moreover teachers should know a foreign language at least at the level B 2 according to the Common European Framework of References for Languages and be computer literate.