Referat Education in Poland

EDUCATION IN POLAND

I. The educational development of children In Poland.

The Polish educational system consists of:

• nursery schools (Kindergarten) – children at the age of 3-5

• nursery schools (Kindergarten) - 0 class – children at the age of 5/6

• elementary (primary, basic) schools

• gymnasiums (junior high schools)

• secondary schools

• colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education

In Poland there are three main types of secondary schools:

• 3-year high schools
• 4-year technical grammar schools
• 2- year vocational schools
II. Standards taught in elementary schools:

1. Reading

2. Writing

3. Looking for information

4. Using knowledge in practice

5. Comprehension

Elementary schools have to teach pupils those standards during six years of education because the education in primary schools lasts for 6 years.

III. Education in elementary schools.

Polish educational system was reformed in 1999. Primary school was shortened from 8 to 6 years. The reform involved profound changes in the school structure, curriculum, the grading system and requirements for students.

The 6-year period of school ends with an exam. The purpose of the exam is only to provide information on how much pupils have learned. The exam is at the end of 6th class and it is compulsory because in order to attend gymnasium students have to take it . However, the results will not determine to which gymnasium the students will be accepted.

This is a national exam, which means that every pupil in Poland attending 6th class takes it in the same day at the same time. This year it will be conducted on the 8th of April at 9 o’clock. The exam is the same for all students and it is created by Central Examination Committee. At the end of the school year, a person who has finished school obtains two documents:

• A Certificate of Completion of  Primary School Education (containing final grades)

• An Exam Certificate (containing number of scored points; maximum is 40 points)

IV. Foreign Languages in Primary Schools.

In primary schools children learn one compulsory foreign language. It is usually English or German. From 1st to 4th class, children have two lessons of foreign language per week while in 5th and 6th class they have three lessons per week. One lesson lasts 45 minutes. Children are taught mostly how to communicate on the basic level by developing all four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Teaching is based not only on vocabulary tasks, grammatical ...