John Paul II School in Dębe D ę b e 34 a D ę b e 34 a Ż e l a z k ó w P o l a n d

SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN POLAND Presentation made within the Comenius project „Lifelong learning ” Multiculturalism, European awareness, educational process and lifestyle of young people

System of education in Poland includes: PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATIONPRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION PRIMARY SCHOOLSPRIMARY SCHOOLS LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS (GYMNASIUM)LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS (GYMNASIUM) UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLS (general upper secondary schools, specialised upper secondary schools, technical secondary schools, basic vocational schoolS)UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLS (general upper secondary schools, specialised upper secondary schools, technical secondary schools, basic vocational schoolS) HIGHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATION

KINDERGARTEN PRIMARY SCHOOL Type of school providing this education: Nursery School (Przedszkole) or Nursery Division at Primary Schools Length of program in years: 1 Age level from: 6 to 7 Type of school providing this education: Primary School (Szkoła Podstawowa) Length of program in years: 6 Age level from: 7 to 13 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia szkoły podstawowej - Certificate of Completion of Primary School Education At the end of 6-year primary school (age 13) – general obligatory test

G Y M N A S I U M GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL Type of school providing this education: Gymnasium (Gimnazjum) Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 13 to: 16 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia gimnazjum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Gymnasium) At the end of 3-year lower secondary school, gymnasium (age 16) – general, obligatory examination Type of school providing this education: General Lyceum (Liceum Ogólnokształcące) Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 16 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzałości liceum ogólnokształcącego (Maturity Cetificate of the General Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum ogólnokształcącego (Certificate of Completion of Education in the General Lyceum) At the end of 3-year upper secondary school (age 19) – general, obligatory examination called Matura exam

Technical Secondary School Basic vocational school Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School (Technikum) Length of program in years: 4 Age level from: 16 to: 20 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości technikum (Maturity Certificate of the Technical Secondary School) or świadectwo ukończenia technikum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Technical Secondary School) At the end of 4-year upper secondary school (age 19) – general, obligatory examination called Matura exam and the vocational examination, called “egzamin zawodowy” Type of school providing this education: Basic vocational school Length of program in years: 2, 3 Age level from: 16 to18/19: Certificate/diploma awarded: A leaving certificate that gives students access to the job market

Supplementary technical Higher education secondary school Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School (Technikum) Length of program in years: 4 Age level from: 18/19 to 21/22 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości technikum (Maturity Certificate of the Technical Secondary School) or świadectwo ukończenia technikum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Technical Secondary School) The higher education system comprises both public and non-public institutions. Graduates of the first level courses are awarded the professional title of licencjat or engineer after 3-4 years' study. Graduates of the second level courses are awarded the professional title of MA or equivalent after 1.5 to 2-year complementary magister level courses. There are also uniform 5-year MA level courses The credential giving access to higher education is the Maturity Certificate of a given kind of secondary school. Admission to higher education is based on the result of the Maturity examination. Higher education institutions may also organize entrance examinations and check the knowledge and abilities which were not tested in the Maturity examination.

HIGHER EDUCATION

A S S E S S M E N T At the end of 6-year primary school (age 13) – general, obligatory test with no selection function; the entry for the test enables pupils to start education in the gymnasium; it provides pupils, parents as well as both schools, i.e. the primary school and the gymnasium, with information about the level of achievements of the pupils. The skills required in core curricula are examined. The test was conducted for the first time in At the end of 3-year lower secondary school, gymnasium (age 16) – general, obligatory examination, the results of which are indicated on the gymnasium leaving certificate. This examination checks abilities, skills and knowledge in the field of humanities and science (and a foreign language as of 2008/09). It was conducted for the first time in The results of the test together with the final assessment of the pupils’ performance determine the admission to the upper-secondary schools.

Assessment at the level of upper secondary education - - at the end of the course, all schools (except for the basic vocationa schools) organize final examinations (matura). The schools may issue swiadectwo dojrzałosci (a certificate for those who sat for and successfully completed the final examination, which is required for admission to higher education). The basic vocational schools issue swiadectwo ukonczenia szkoły zasadniczej (a leaving certificate that gives students access to the job market). Post-secondary schools prepare their students for professional life. The matura examination, entitling pupils for admission to higher education is made up of two parts: external written (prepared and assessed by Regional Examination Commissions) and internal oral (prepared and assessed by school teachers). The vocational examination, called “egzamin zawodowy” (in basic vocational schools, technical uppersecondary schools and post-secondary schools) consists of two parts: written, which examines the knowledge and abilities connected with a specific job and running business activity, and a practical one, which examines the skills necessary to perform the job. All tests and examinations are organised by agencies - 8 Regional Examination Boards supported and supervised by the Central Examination Board.

EDUCATIONAL STAGES AT OUR SCHOOL Stage I: *pre-school division for 6-year-olds Stage II: primary school * Integrated teaching (classes I – III) * Teaching based on separate subjects (classes IV – VI) Stage III: gimnazjum – lower secondary school * Teaching based on separate subjects classes I - III

EDUCATIONAL CLASSES ON THE SEPARATE STAGES Pre-school education Pre-school education Primary school: classes I – III Making children ready for learning Integrated teaching at primary school

CLASSES IV - VI 1. Religious education / ethics 2. Polish 3. English 4. History 5. Music 6. Art 7. Technology 8. Maths 9. Nature 10. ICT 11. Physical education Gimnazjum (lower secondary school) 1. Religious education / ethics 2 Polish 3. English 4. German 5. History 6. Music 7. Art 8. Technology 9. Maths 10. Physics 11. Chemistry 12.Geography 13. Biology 14. ICT 15. Physical education

OUR SCHOOL’S OFFER LANGUAGE LAB ICT CLASSROOM SCIENCE CALSSROOM GYM