The System of Education in Poland

THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN POLAND

ORGANISATION OF THE INITIAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

The education system in Poland is centrally managed by the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Full-time compulsory education (to be received in school) covers children and young people

aged 6-16 years, whereas part-time compulsory education (to be received in school or non-school settings) concerns young people aged 16-18 years.

AGE CATEGORY / TYPE OF SCHOOL
Small children may receive pre-primary education, which is not compulsory, but all six year-old children must attend either kindergartens (przedszkola) or pre-primary classes attached to primary schools.
0-3 years of age (mostly private) / Żłobek - nursery
3-5/6 years old (private/public) / Przedszkole - kindergarten
Compulsory education includes the final year of pre-primary education, 6-year primary education
and 3-year lower secondary education
6-13 years of age (private/public)
at the age of 6
7-10 years of age
10-13 years of age / Oddział przedszkolny - pre-school class (so called ‘0’ class)
Szkoła podstawowa - primary school:
stage 1 – integrated teaching (3 classes)
stage 2 – teaching based on separate subjects (3 classes)
GENERAL OBLIGATORY TEST
13-16 years of age (private/public) / Gimnazjum - lower secondary school (3classes)
stage 3 – teaching based on separate subjects
GENERAL OBLIGATORY EXAMINATION
Upper secondary schools, which are not compulsory, are attended by the vast majority of the population in the age group 16-19/20 years of age (private/public)
16-19 years of age / Liceum ogólnokształcące (general upper secondary school)
MATURA EXAMINATION (equivalent for A-levels)
16-20 years of age / Technikum (technical upper secondary school)
MATURA EXAMINATION
16-18/19 years of age / Zasadnicza szkoła zawodowa (basic vocational school)
VOCATIONAL EXAMINATION
20-21 years of age / Szkoła policealna (post-secondary non-tertiary school)
VOCATIONAL EXAMINATION
Higher education (private/public)
The final examination certificate (świadectwo maturalne) is required by all institutions for admission to higher education. There are two types of study: full-time and part-time studies.
The following types of state higher education institutions can be found:
universities, technical universities, agricultural academies, schools of economics, teacher education schools, medical academies, maritime schools, academies of physical education, artistic schools, theological schools, higher vocational schools, military schools, and internal affair schools.
Degree programmes include first-cycle (Bachelor’s degree – licencjat or inżynier) programmes, second-cycle (Master’s degree – magister or an equivalent degree) programmes and/or long-cycle (Master’s degree) programmes.