What are the lessons at school in Poland. School education in Poland. Job prospects after training

Schools in Poland are divided into types:

1. State. These schools are maintained by the state. Education in public schools is free.

2.Private. The management and maintenance of this type of school is at the expense of a private person. You have to pay for education in schools of this type.

3. Public. Supported by parents' associations. Families take part in the solution of all issues that relate to the educational institution. Tuition is paid.

Private and public schools are giving away scholarships that enable talented children to study for free.

School education for children in Poland begins in the kindergarten. In these classes, children are prepared for the beginning of their first grade. Poles send their children to the first grade at the age of 6. These classes are organized in kindergartens or in schools. Usually, completing kindergarten at school is not paid by the parents. Payment is charged only for meals for children. Children are in class almost until the evening.

After the zero grade, children begin their education in primary (basic) school. If parents decide that their child will go to a public school, they can only send him to a school that is located in the area where the family lives. V primary school children study for 6 years. The training is divided into 2 stages. For the first three grades, all lessons are taught by one teacher who is also the homeroom teacher. Exceptions are lessons physical education, visual arts, foreign languages. From the first grade, children are taught foreign languages. Mainly English... Until the third grade, children can be at school until 17.00 or 18.00. For this purpose, extended day groups are specially organized.

From the fourth grade, a separate teacher begins to teach each subject. Also, a class teacher is allocated for each class. He is responsible for educational work... Usually, from the fourth grade, the second is introduced foreign language... Most often it is German. At the end of the sixth grade, children must be tested. All schools in Poland test on the same day.
After passing the exam, the child begins his studies at the gymnasium. The training lasts three years. Gymnasiums can specialize in foreign languages, mathematics, sports, etc. After three years of study, the children take a written exam.

After graduating from high school, the child continues his education in secondary school. They can be of three types:

1. General education lyceum. The training lasts three years.
2. Technical school. Children study for four years.
3. Basic vocational school. The training lasts three years.

After graduating from a lyceum or technical school, a child can enter a university. To do this, all graduates take a matriculation exam. It is held for all students at the same time. The exam consists of two parts: mandatory and optional. As part of the compulsory part, children take Polish and foreign languages ​​in writing and speaking, as well as mathematics. To pass the additional part of the exam, the child chooses up to six subjects.
You can also choose two levels of passing the exam: basic or advanced. After passing this exam, children can continue to study at universities.

When moving to Poland, families with children ask themselves questions: how to enroll a child in school, as well as what documents are needed for registration at school.

Where to attach a school-age child is one of the first questions that all family emigrants have. Moreover, often you will not receive an entry permit for a child if there is no certificate from educational institution ready to accept it. So it is worth considering in detail what a Polish school is and how to live with it.

The rules for admitting children to kindergarten and primary school are the same for foreign citizens and citizens of the Republic of Poland.

It does not matter whether the foreigner has a residence permit in Poland or, for example, a national visa with a Pole's card, or is staying in Poland on a different legal basis.

School in Poland

Polish school system is divided into the following stages:

• kindergarten (for children 3-5 / 6 years old);
• primary school (6 years old, for children 6/7 - 11/12 years old)
• gymnasium - secondary school (3 years old, for children 12/13 - 15/16 years old)
• high school (different types, education lasts 3 or 4 years depending on the type of school).

At each level, there are both state institutions(run by state structures and largely owned by state funds) and private (run by private owners and fully supported by private funds). The third possible type is the so-called "schools of association", which are managed by the parents' associations and supported by their resources. They differ from private schools in that the parents of students and / or former students, grouped in an official association, are co-owners of the school and decide on its issues.

Education in public schools in Poland is free, in private schools and schools of associations - paid (with the exception of students enrolled in scholarship programs). On the other hand, a child's stay in public kindergarten Partially Paid - Rules vary by location as they are set by local governments. Exceptions are some sections of kindergarten, which are held in primary schools only for older children who will start attending primary school from the next school year (the so-called “0” form, “year zero”) - the child's stay in the “zero” grade is free.

What documents are required to enroll a child in a Polish school?

Foreign children are admitted on the same basis and in the same way as Polish children in kindergarten and primary school. The main document is an application for enrollment in a kindergarten or school, which must be completed in a special form or in electronic form (in some cities, an electronic registration system for children in kindergartens or primary schools is used. detailed information contact the school or local government departments of education or municipal (city) offices competent for the place of residence of the foreigner during his stay in Poland).

It is also necessary to provide a rental agreement (or property rights), indicating your residence in the area, in the competence of this school.

The enrollment of older children in primary school, upper secondary school or high school is based on:

• a certificate of completion of so many classes of school or another document confirming the completion of a school abroad, or the completion of the next stage of study abroad, recognized in accordance with separate provisions, equal to the Polish certificate of completion of the relevant school or certificate of graduation from school;
• certificate, attestation or other document issued educational institution abroad, confirming the enrollment of a foreigner to a school abroad and indicating the class, year or stage of study completed by the foreigner abroad, and a document confirming the number of years of study at that school.

If the number of years of study cannot be clearly determined based on the submitted documents, parents or guardians foreign child or an adult foreign student in this case, submit a written statement on this matter.

If the student (his parents) cannot provide documents confirming the period of study in foreign educational institutions, the foreigner is enrolled in the corresponding class of the school on the basis of an interview conducted by either the head or the deputy head of the educational institution. In case of insufficient knowledge of the Polish language, the interview is conducted in Russian (if required, with the participation of an interpreter). In the event that for admission to an educational institution for Polish students it is required to pass individual assessment criteria (tests, sections) of the student's knowledge or abilities (sports, artistic, etc.), the foreigner must pass them on a general basis.

In conclusion, the headmaster asks, but does not have the right to demand from the foreigner a certificate of recognition of the child's school certificate. If a foreigner does not have a nostrified certificate, the basis for admission to a Polish state school is a certificate, attestation or any other document issued by foreign school, and a document certifying the number of years of study, and in the absence of such documents - an interview. The headmaster may, however, require parents to provide a certified translation of documents issued by foreign schools.

However, if a foreign child is looking for a school, where additional registration criteria apply to Polish citizens (for example, a test for artistic skills, a test for language or sports ability, medical report about the opportunity to play sports, etc.), the foreign child must also meet the same criteria.

Polish for foreign children at the Polish School

Every child who is not a citizen of Poland has the right to additional free Polish language classes, which are held at the school they attend during the first 12 months, at least 2 lessons per week (in Poland, the lesson is 45 minutes). The weekly schedule and number of hours is set by the school principal.

These classes can take the form of individual or group lessons, depending on the situation at school.

The total amount of additional free lessons in Polish and correctional courses in other subjects cannot exceed five hours per week per student.

The same goes for getting support at school in other subjects that he has not yet studied, or for which training program differs from the one that operates in Polish schools.

Tuition fees at a Polish school

Education is free for foreign children in public elementary schools, gymnasiums and secondary schools until the child turns 18 or graduates from the school in which he was enrolled before the age of 18 (for example, in a general education school).

The exceptions are listed below:

• post-secondary schools;
• post-secondary education institutions for adults;
• art schools;
• schools for teachers.

Foreigners studying in such schools pay the equivalent of 1,500 euros for each year of study. In arts and music schools the fee is the equivalent of 3,000 euros, and in ballet schools, circus art schools and colleges for librarians and cultural organizers - 4,500 euros per year of study. For the first year of study, all of the above fees are increased by 200 euros.

For some good reason, the school management may agree to pay for tuition later than the day before the start of classes or pay in installments. In rare, exceptional cases, at the request of parents experiencing financial difficulties, the school management can exempt from part of the tuition fees or completely cancel this payment.

In each case, the fee is paid to the current account - a sub-account for the school authority in PLN, calculated using the average EUR / PLN exchange rate of the National Bank of Poland announced on the day of the bank transfer.

Other school expenses

Although education in most schools for children who are not Polish citizens is free, parents should expect other costs associated with the child's attendance at school. The most significant are:

Expenses for school books. In Poland, children own the textbooks they use, for which their parents have to pay. The school principal sets the list of required textbooks. Their purchase is a one-time cost of about PLN 200-600 per academic year, depending on the form and school. Much cheaper textbooks can sometimes be purchased, but this is not always possible.

Price school supplies such as notebooks, writing and art supplies, rulers and other geometric tools, etc. Full list the necessary school supplies can be obtained from the teacher. The cost is about PLN 50 for 1 academic year.

School uniform cost... In most Polish schools, children must have appropriate replacement soft shoes when at school (for example, slippers or trainers) that remain at school overnight, and special sportswear (for physical education). Some schools also require a school uniform or vest with the school logo. The cost is about 50 zł.

School lunch fees... Most Polish schools offer lunches, which are served to children in the canteen, which cost between 80 and 110 zlotys per month. In addition, the child is expected to bring breakfast with him (otherwise he will be hungry until lunchtime), which consists of a small snack and something to drink (for example, a sandwich and a small bottle of mineral water).

Insurance fee... Every child attending a Polish school must be insured against accidents. Schools buy insurance in packages, insuring all students. The insurance covers all students in the school, the cost of which usually does not exceed PLN 50 per year. Keep in mind that your child is guaranteed coverage not only at school, but outside the school as well.

Attention! This is not the same as health insurance, which entitles your child to free health care. This insurance gives you the right to receive a certain amount of compensation if your child has an accident at school or elsewhere.

Voluntary fees for various school activities... In most Polish schools, parents voluntarily pay contributions for various additional expenses for their children while they are in school. These contributions fund things like the purchase of prizes for contests, activities during school holidays and holidays, etc.

Voluntary payment for class expenses... In most Polish schools, the parents of students in each class agree on a certain amount, which will be spent per month on additional costs associated with school life class, purchase of additional teaching aids, art objects, sports equipment, etc. Usually it is within the power of everyone, a small monthly expense.

Funding school travel... In Polish schools, it is customary that several times a year, students together with their teacher go to the theater, cinema, museum, and at least once a year they leave for the so-called "green school" (a few days spent outside the city, where children conduct lessons in the open air, are engaged in sporting events, and can also explore the sights in a particular area, etc.).

Parents are responsible for the costs of participating in these activities. They can vary from a few dozen to several hundred PLN or even over a thousand PLN in the case of travel abroad. Participation in school trips is optional - if the parents do not have the funds to pay for their child's participation, or simply do not want him or her to travel, the child does not need to register to participate in the trip. In such a situation, during a school trip, the child can spend time in the school club room.

Finding and choosing a school in Poland

Information about school districts and zones is easiest to obtain from the school itself, from your local municipal government education department, or from a school superintendent with expertise in the area.

Every Polish citizen is registered with a census bureau at a specific address. This address is entered in official documents. People who rent apartments may have their place of residence registered as temporary or - sometimes - not register at all.

The principal of an elementary school or upper secondary school obtains a list of children enrolled in the school district from the local census office. If foreigners are not registered at the place of residence with the landlord, they must - just like Polish citizens in similar situations - contact the director of the district school and ask that their child be added to the list of children living in the area. The principal must agree to this request. The director may be satisfied with a written statement from the parents on this issue or may ask them to provide documents confirming this fact, for example, a rental agreement.

Remember, although the school director is obliged to admit all children from the district to the school, it would be better if you still do not postpone this issue until the last, but notify the school as soon as possible about the need to include your child in the list of potential students of this educational institution.

When moving to Poland, parents, of course, are interested in how they learn in Polish schools. It is interesting to compare the education system in Russia (Ukraine, Belarus) and in Poland. Most of the parents I know are satisfied with Polish education.

Polish schools

In June, the children were enrolled in schools. A son in the beginning - szkoła podstawowa, a daughter in a gymnasium. Previously, there was training according to the Western system: cycles of 3 years. The beginner is 6 years old (the first 3 years without grades), then a gymnasium for 3 years, then a choice: a lyceum (for those wishing to go to a university) or a technical school.

But from 2017 in Poland began educational reform, want to return to the "Soviet" system - 8 years in secondary school and then 4 years of lyceum or 5 years of technical school. Therefore, children in the 7th grade were left in primary schools. Of course, this is more convenient for children than going to new school to new teachers and classmates. Those who are now in grades 2 and 3 of the gymnasium will finish their studies according to the old curriculum, and in two years the gymnasium will be liquidated.

Schooling in Poland is compulsory, everyone must be accepted at the place of residence. We decided not to bother and go to the nearest one to the house. We have a sleeping area, low-rise, so there are not many schools. Initial - 10-15 minutes on foot. But the middle one is already further, at a quick step for half an hour, probably on the bike for about 20 minutes. Rather, we have two schools at an equal distance from the house, but one is completely on the road, and in the same building, besides the gymnasium, there is also a technical school. Another - a little in the yards, they chose her.

First impressions

Outwardly, it is difficult to judge, of course, schools as schools, clean:

Svetlitsa is an extension

Primary school canteen:

Every Monday, a menu is posted, which indicates which dishes contain possible allergens:

There is a small but comfortable playground, bicycle parking near the school building. Many children ride bicycles and scooters to school. there are usually bike paths along the big streets.

School stadium:

There are no common wardrobes like in our schools. Each child has his own locker with a key, where you can leave personal belongings. True, the locks on the lockers are very simple, so it is better not to leave valuables and money in them.

Both schools were provided with the documents:

• a copy of a notarized translation of the birth certificate,
• uncertified translation of grades from school records,
• a copy of the child's passport with a visa,
• a copy of my father's "card of residence",
• a copy of the registration at the place of residence.

In both schools, having heard Russian, they asked routinely "Are you from Ukraine?" ...

Holidays- wakacje - in Poland only summer ones are called (and this is at first confusing), they start from June 23 and last until September. The winter holidays are called "Ferie zimowe", they last two weeks, in different voivodeships, their dates. Somewhere from mid-January, somewhere in February and even in March. As we were explained, this is done to ensure that there are enough places for children in winter camps.

Plus, children have a few days of rest at Christmas and Easter and on single public holidays. In gymnasiums, 2 foreign languages ​​are taught, usually English and German (I would like, of course, Russian, but they did not find such an option).

Learning programs

For visitors, the school provides free Polish classes few times a week. The subject "Religion" is optional, at the request of the parents.

Tutorials either given out at school, or parents buy new or used ones. Usually they write on the school's website who needs to buy and who doesn't. We were lucky this time.

My daughter will have a difficult academic year ... Here is a list of textbooks for the seventh grade (according to the old curriculum, this is the 1st grade of the gymnasium).

This is a photo from an elementary school where three seventh grades were created according to the new system. Children will study in two shifts, while we have the first - from 7-30 :(, after NG there will be the second.

Just in case, I photographed the textbooks of other beginner classes:

In general, each school has its own website, where you can find a lot of useful information.

For example, the website of the daughter's gymnasium has a complete The charter(about 50 pages) and its shortened version (nine) with attachments ... Fascinating reading, I must say, I translated for half an hour (Yandex translator), then got acquainted even longer). Now I’m even wondering how true it will be.

I was surprised that the charters of schools (where I expected to read about the system of teaching school subjects) emphasize more on overall development schoolchildren, on discipline, the development of tolerance, resistance to smoking, alcohol and drugs.

Start of the school year

The school year this year began on Monday, September 4th. In advance, we were relieved to learn that it is not customary for teachers to wear bouquets here and there are no strict requirements for the dress code. True, just in case, the children were dressed "white top, blue bottom." Most of the parents also chose ceremonial outfits.

My husband and I were divided: I was with the youngest at the beginning, he and his daughter went to the gymnasium. Here and there rulers took place in gyms (here, it seems, assembly halls do not exist as such). In the gymnasium, the schoolchildren were lined up along the walls, the director greeted, and pretty quickly everyone went to their classes.

In elementary school, an auditorium with chairs was made. The first rows are preparatory zero grades, then the first, and our two thirds (the rest of the classes were later). The parents were in the back rows. The whole event took about 20 minutes: the presenters were a boy and a girl, there were poems and a song about school in the "samba" rhythm, then the director congratulated everyone on the beginning of the school year and rang a big bell herself. After that, the children and their parents went to their classes.

There was a small class meeting. They introduced three new students (they did not take them to the blackboard, they just asked to wave a pen from their place). One boy goes to another class, treated everyone with sweets and gave the teachers a rose.

Textbooks will be issued on the second day. They asked me to buy plasticine, colored paper, etc. for creativity lessons. Children will take the bus to the pool once a week for the last lesson, asking non-working parents to help accompany.

What else from the organizational ... We got the key to the locker, now we need to pay for meals (3.5 zlotys per day).

Primary school has "Extended" - Svetlitsa, it is free, but each school has its own conditions, depending on the workload: they can take all children, or they can only after providing a certificate from the parents' work.

Went to parenting meetings , according to the plan, they take place every two months, there is also a consultation between them if desired. In general, the meetings are similar to ours. They collect different signatures - parental consent (for attending or not attending religion lessons, swimming pools, etc.), announced the list of events for the year, reminded about the covers for textbooks, gave the newcomers logins and passwords to the electronic diary.

At a meeting in the beginning, I was amused when some parents began to complain that children in grade 3 were asked a lot: in mathematics, 3-4 exercises and sometimes in Polish! To which the teacher for 15 minutes made excuses that it was necessary to prepare children for the middle grades, there they would also be asked in other subjects))).

Well, and what you will not surprise us with:

School fees

• The Parents' Committee collects contributions, or rather, they need to be transferred to a bank account, we got 140 zlotys: 20 for gifts for children (at the end of September there will be “lad's day”, and in winter “maiden's day”), 10 for paper for printers, 2, 5 for dental treatment with fluoride (?), 20 for going to the cinema, 15 for teacher's day, and another 75 - an annual contribution to something like a mutual aid fund (from where you can ask anonymously to pay, for example, dinners for a child if the money is very bad ).
• Child accident insurance. PLN 45 to 60 for a year.
• To the pool PLN 60 per month.
• Lunches - 3.50 per day.

Lack of seats

Due to the fact that, according to the old education system, primary schools were designed for 6 years, and now they are turning into eight years, in many schools they are forced to introduce training in two shifts, to re-equip them for study rooms former optional and auxiliary premises (extension, libraries). This, of course, is not encouraging. Moreover, the gymnasiums are accordingly emptying: in 2017/18 there are 2 and 3 grades, in 2018/19 only the third will remain, and then they will be completely closed. Most likely, they will still have to transfer part of the lower grades from overcrowded secondary schools.

The complexes are in a better position, where there were buildings of sham schools and gymnasiums nearby, often connected by passages.

To be continued…

The Polish education system is not much different from the Russian one, but still, there are some differences. For example, in order to get a secondary education, you need to study for at least twelve years. Therefore, they enter a higher educational institution later. In addition, in all schools, children are taught religion, but unlike the rest of these lessons, you can refuse, but almost no one does it.

Teaching preschoolers (three to six years old)

In Poland, kindergartens are called przedszkola, where children from three to six years old can be assigned. If necessary, the child can be sent to a nursery group (żłobek) - children are accepted there from the age of six months. Gardens are municipal, with a subsidy from the city and private. In the first, you only need to pay for food, which is 5-10 zlotys per day, and additional classes... Visiting the second part is paid by the city, and in private gardens, of course, you have to pay for everything. Children of foreigners are accepted into kindergartens without any problems, so families from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus can easily enroll their children there.

It is not so easy to get into a municipal kindergarten: mostly beneficiaries are taken there. A child can stay in such a garden for 13 hours free of charge. After this time, parents must pay one PLN per hour of stay. State kindergartens have their own territory, while private ones are very rare. Groups can have up to 25 children. The gardens are open from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm. Usually children are taken away earlier, at about four o'clock: Poles start their working day earlier, and they prefer to spend evenings with their families. The gardens are closed from July to August.

Private kindergartens organize all kinds of excursions for children, teach foreign languages, play chess, teach children to swim, sing, sculpt. Food is ordered from specialized catering services and warmed up, while parents are provided with a menu with dishes for the week. For visiting a private garden, depending on the city of residence, you need to pay from 800 zlotys per month. In a municipal kindergarten, it is practically the same, but for some circles you need to pay extra, and, as a rule, there is a kitchen of its own.

It is not necessary to attend kindergarten in Poland. But all preschoolers must go through the "kindergarten" (zerówka) before school. "Zeruvka" can be passed both in kindergarten and in schools or in designated groups, which are called preschool points.

Primary school (7 - 15 years old)

Poles receive primary and secondary education for twelve thirteen years. Therefore, they enter the university later than in Ukraine. A large-scale primary school reform is planned in Poland from September 2017 (szkoła podstawowa). Previously, primary school lasted six years, then the children went to the gymnasium for three years. Now the sixth graders will go to the seventh grade, and eventually they will give up the gymnasium. Not everyone is happy with this reform. The Union of Polish Teachers believes that more than 30 thousand teachers will need to look for new job... But the Polish Ministry of Education, on the contrary, promises that more jobs will appear. The teachers collected signatures for a referendum on the abolition of the reform to be held in September. But when voting in the Seimas, the application for a referendum was not accepted: 236 deputies were against, and 210 for.

Primary school education is formed in two stages. The first stage, lasting three years, absolutely free from the standard framework educational system, since at this stage there are no strict restrictions on the form, conduct of classes and there is no clear division into subjects. Lessons are taught by one teacher, but there may be specialized teachers in such subjects as a foreign language, music, physical education... Until the second grade, there is no school for assessing children. Children stay at school from eight in the morning to one in the afternoon.

Then the children have subject teachers and a class teacher. Grades are given on a six-point scale, where six is ​​excellent. But getting an excellent grade is difficult enough, for that the answer must be perfect. At the same time, two is still considered an acceptable estimate, the worst is one. There are also schools in Poland, with any one clear direction, for example, ballet, music or sports - in them children initially study general subjects, and after that specialization begins. At the end of elementary school, children need to write a graduation test. Previously, although it was considered mandatory, it did not affect anything: the child, regardless of the result, could go to the gymnasium. Now this exam will affect admission, both in lyceums and technical schools.

In Polish schools, they study for five days. Classes begin in September and the academic year is divided into two semesters and ends at the end of June. Twice a year, children go on vacation: at Christmas and New Year and during Easter. In addition to holidays, in winter there are two more weeks of vacation, which in each Polish voivodeship take place at different times in January or February. During the holidays, schoolchildren, if they wish, can visit theaters and museums with the teacher. Children also do not study during public holidays.

Religion is taught in many schools. Lessons are taught by priests who teach children about the structure and history of the Catholic Church, sometimes they are asked to teach prayer at home. Religious lessons are also conducted for representatives of other confessions. If the school does not have the required number of students of one religion, then they can attend classes in other schools. You can refuse these lessons, but for this you need to write an application. In this case, the child during these lessons can go to the library or to ethics classes (if there are any at the school). In fact, almost everyone attends religious lessons, because the Catholic traditions are highly developed in Poland.

“I have a familiar Polish woman, she has a child from a Nigerian, and she did not enroll him in religion, but this is rather an individual situation. Here children in grade 3 have to take the sacrament, and with the help of teaching religion, the school prepares them for this, ”said Anna, whose daughter Alesya is studying at a Polish school.

Lyceums and technical schools (16 - 19 years old)

In Ukraine, after the ninth grade, there is an opportunity either to go to a lyceum or college, or to stay in grades 10-11 and graduate from high school. In Poland, after school, it is not necessary to go to lyceums and technical schools, but without this it is impossible to enter a university.

The forthcoming reform will affect this level of education as well. Since then, general education lyceums (liceum ogólnokształcące), in which Poles studied for three years, will increase by a year, and four-year technical schools (technikum) will be replaced by five-year ones. Cancel professional school(szkoła zawodowa), in which Poles received working professions. It will be replaced by a first-level branch school (branżowа szkołа I stopnia). In lyceums, Poles will continue to study school subjects, but more deeply. And those who want to have a technical specialty will go to technical schools.

An analogue of the Ukrainian ZNO in Poland is handed over in the spring. Only he is called "matura" (egzamin maturalny). Almost all subjects can be taken at two levels - basic (matura na poziomie podstawowym) and advanced (matura na poziomie rozszerzonym). In order to issue a certificate, all graduates need to pass the Polish language, mathematics and a foreign language at a basic level, the graduate chooses the rest of the subjects depending on what specialty he wants.

Universities

After graduating from secondary education, there is an opportunity to enter the university. Graduates enter Polish universities based on the results of the matura. After submitting the documents, the graduates are included in the rating and, naturally, the higher they are in it, the more chances there are to enter. Usually, additional exams are not needed, with the exception of creative specialties, the same, acting.

There are about 400 universities in Poland. Paid training v state university, oddly enough, more often than in paid. A large number of students from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and also from Germany and Spain come to Poland to study.

The grading system in Polish universities is five-point, where “five” is the highest grade. Some universities give "half" grades - 3.5 or 4.5. Each semester has both compulsory and optional subjects. The session is handed over at the end of January and June. However, sometimes you can pass earlier. Some teachers give the exam in the last lesson, while others pass the admission to it before that.

1. Warsaw University (Warsaw)
2. Jagiellonian University (Krakow)
3. Warsaw Technical University(Warsaw)
4. University named after Adam Mickiewicz (Poznan)
5. Wroclaw Technical University (Wroclaw)
6. Mining and Metallurgical Academy. Stanislava Staszyca (Krakow)
7. Wroclaw University (Wroclaw)
8. Gdansk medical University(Gdansk)
9. University. Nicolaus Copernicus (Torun)
10. Gdansk Technical University (Gdansk), Warsaw Medical University (Warsaw)

Poland participates in the Bologna Process, therefore the system higher education here it is not very different from other European countries. A bachelor's degree, or, as it is called in Poland, a licensee (studia licencjackie), lasts 3-3.5 years, a master's degree - 1.5-2 years. It is necessary to study for technical specialties (studia inżynierskie) for a year longer. At the end of the undergraduate degree, the graduate writes graduation work for the award of a bachelor's degree or an engineering degree.

For some specialties (law, veterinary medicine, medicine, dentistry, and others) in Poland there are programs called the "single master's degree" (jednolite studia magisterskie). They study for five to six years without interruption. The graduate is awarded a master's degree or an equivalent special title - doctor, dentist, veterinarian. But after master's degree, you can enter doctoral studies (Polish postgraduate studies) and defend a thesis.

Since 2016 Slavic Languages ​​Center offers new interesting opportunities for Ukrainian students - free high-quality European education in schools, lyceums, technical schools! Today we will help you to understand the peculiarities of the Polish school system and we hope tomorrow your dream of a Polish school will come true!

Educational reform and education system in Poland

The Constitution of the Republic of Poland guarantees the right to education to persons living in the territory of the country. Therefore, Ukrainians, along with Polish citizens, can apply for a free secondary or secondary technical education, and having received a European certificate, continue their studies in the best universities in Poland, Europe, and the world.

The educational reform of 2017 changed the structure of the education system, which is now represented by such educational institutions as:

• 8-year elementary school (szkoła podstawowa);
• 4-year general secondary school (liceum ogólnokształcące);
• 5-year technical school (technikum);
• Level I 3-year branch school (branżowa szkoła pierwszego stopnia);
• 2-year sectoral school of the II level (branżowa szkoła drugiego stopnia);
• 3 year old special school preparation for work (szkoła specjalna przysposabiającą do pracy);
• postgraduate school, school for persons with secondary education (szkoła policealna).

The system of complete secondary education in Poland today is represented by an elementary school (szkoła podstawowa), a general education lyceum (liceum ogólnokształcące) or a technical school (technikum).

The educational reform establishes a compulsory 9-year period of study for all children:

• preschool education (Last year kindergarten) - the so-called "zerówka", lasting 1 year for 6-year-old children;
• primary school - education lasts 8 years (from 6-7 to 15 years).

After graduating from primary school, students (16 - 18 years old) can study at a general education lyceum or receive professional education and to master a new specialty at the technical school.

Features of education in primary school in Poland (szkoła podstawowa)

The legislation leaves the parents of 6-year-old children the right to choose - kindergarten or school, but 7-year-old children are required to become primary school students.

Primary school educational process (szkoła podstawowa).

The educational process in an 8-year elementary school includes 2 stages: 1 - 3 grade - earlier school education; Grades 4 - 8 - systematic study of individual subjects.

In grades 1 - 3, training takes place under the guidance of the class teacher. Sometimes physical education, music, educational art or foreign language lessons are taught by teachers who are experts in their field.

From grades 4 to 8, all subjects are taught by individual teachers. Mandatory school program includes such academic disciplines: Polish, English, second foreign language (grades 7 - 8), music, educational art, history, social studies (grade 8), nature (grade 4), biology (grade 5 - 8), geography (grade 5 - 8), chemistry (grade 5 - 8), physics (grade 5 - 8), mathematics, computer science , technique (4th - 6th grade), physical education, safety (8th grade), classes with a class teacher.

Additionally, in the elementary school there are classes on religion and ethics, but students attend them with parental consent, if desired. Since 2006, many schools in Poland have introduced the study of the first foreign language in grades 1-3, usually children begin to learn English.

Grading system in Polish schools

In Polish mainstream schools learners' knowledge and behavior are assessed. In grades 1 - 3, teachers use a descriptive system. From the 4th grade of primary school, knowledge is tested according to the following rating scale: 6 - excellent, 5 - very good, 4 - good, 3 - enough, 2 - allowed, 1 - not enough (negative assessment). Also Polish teachers can use the signs "+" and "-", for example "2 =" is also considered a positive assessment. In primary and secondary schools, there is a separate scale for assessing student behavior: "exemplary", "very good", "good", "correct", "inappropriate (inappropriate)", "reprehensible".

Final exams in primary school (szkoła podstawowa)

Eighth graders take final exams. So, for primary school graduates 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021. exams in Polish, modern foreign language, mathematics will be compulsory. From 2021-2022 compulsory exams will be 4, but students will independently be able to choose an additional exam from such academic subjects as biology, chemistry, physics, geography or history. All exams are taken in writing, and the grading scale is percentage. Since there is no minimum passing percentage for each academic subject, all students will pass the exam. The choice of subjects will help determine the level of knowledge of each student in key areas of knowledge, which is the basis for further learning. Final exam results are important as they will become the main selection criteria for high school candidates.

After passing the exams, all graduates receive a primary school graduation certificate (świadectwo szkolne). Children with an average grade of the certificate of 4.75 and above, as well as good behavior in elementary school, will please parents with an honors document.

Matura - features of the "Polish VNO"

Graduates wishing to receive a complete secondary education continue their studies in general secondary schools (liceum) or technical schools (technikum). You can familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of Polish secondary education in separate sections of our website.

Having received a complete secondary education, graduates can continue their studies at universities, after passing entrance exams- Matural examinations (matura), an analogue of the Ukrainian VNO. Children must pass matural exams from academic subjects: Polish, mathematics, a foreign language, an academic subject of their choice (computer science, social studies, biology, chemistry, physiology, physics, geography, history, music history, art history). Graduates can also choose foreign languages ​​for the exam (English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish; Latin language and ancient culture) and languages ​​of national minorities (Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Ukrainian, Kashubian, Lemko). Each applicant must pass 4 written exams (Polish, mathematics, foreign language, academic discipline of their choice) and 2 oral exams (Polish, foreign language). Graduates of schools of national minorities are additionally obliged to take an exam in the language of a national minority.

Matural exams are carried out in several stages. So, in 2019, the main session is scheduled for May; additional session - in June (for children who missed the main session for good reasons); retake session 1 compulsory subject not submitted during the first or second session in the oral or written part - in August. In cases specified by law, exams will be paid. Laureates and finalists school olympiads in individual subjects, are exempted from the matural exam and receive the highest score - 100%. The educational reform has established a 30% passing mark required to pass the exam. That is, students must score at least 30% (oral and written) from 3 compulsory academic subjects and 1 academic subject to choose from in order to receive a confirmation document for passing the material exams (świadectwo dojrzałości).

Features of education in a police school (szkoła policealna)

A special place in the Polish education system is occupied by a police school (szkoła policealna), offering relevant specialties and free education for adults. Such schools are intended for people with secondary education and allow you to receive a diploma confirming professional qualifications after passing the exam.

Admission takes place on the basis of a secondary education diploma, without passing matural exams. The learning process in such a school lasts from 1 to 2.5 years; in a stationary (usually in the afternoon) or correspondence form learning. The final exam is the same as for a vocational school (szkóła zawodowa) or a technical school (technikum).

The police school invites its students to get an up-to-date profession, gives time to think about the prospect of further higher education. Of course, this is not a replacement for higher education, but only an opportunity to expand your specialization. It happens that Polish students receive additional qualifications in polysemy schools, in parallel with the main profession. Also, this educational institution is a good alternative to additional paid postgraduate courses.

How to enroll in a Polish school for Ukrainians?

For the admission of Ukrainian schoolchildren to the Polish school, it is necessary to learn the Polish language, at the B1 level, in order to easily adapt to educational process, find mutual language with teachers, communicate with classmates, get to know the new country and Polish culture. The school administration can also interview the prospective student and his parents or arrange an additional exam.

Living conditions for students of Polish secondary schools

Public elementary schools in Poland accept foreign children for education, but only a few offer accommodation in their own school hostels (boarding schools). Usually school dormitories (boarding schools) are open to students high school or technical school. Elementary boarding schools are built around specific values ​​(eg Catholic schools) or specific student skills (sports, arts or military schools). Sometimes public primary schools are funded by the region or international organizations, then all students are provided with free textbooks, boarding, meals, etc.

Private schools - boarding houses can become an alternative to the state primary school, but education, as a rule, is paid. In addition, parents are expected to pay for accommodation, meals, extracurricular education (for example, a foreign language), school uniform, textbooks or school trips.

In any case, Poland is open for you and gladly awaits everyone who wants to study!

We, the team of professionals at the Slavic Languages ​​Center, will help you choose an educational institution, efficiently and quickly resolve all organizational issues to make your dream of school education abroad a reality!