Secondary education in Poland. School education in Poland When does studying in Poland begin?

Secondary education in Poland is one of the best in Eastern Europe. Secondary education in Poland lasts 12 years. We offer the opportunity to study in lyceums in Poland, including lyceums with the international education standard International Baccalaureate for children from 6 to 18 years old.

A special feature of obtaining the International Baccalaureate in Poland is the price. The student studies in the IB program, but given the lower cost of living, studying in Poland becomes more affordable. Having a diploma, lyceum graduates have a real opportunity to enter the most prestigious universities in the world.

Secondary education in Polish schools.

Primary School

Primary school education begins at the age of 6. The first year of education, the so-called zero grade, is intended only to prepare children for basic education.
From first to third grade, children study in the form of integrated education. There is no clear division into subjects during this period. Classes are taught by one teacher, only subjects such as foreign language, music and physical education are sometimes taught by specialist teachers.
From the fourth to the sixth - training, which is carried out by specialist teachers. Role class teacher performed by one of the teachers. At this stage, disciplines such as Polish language, history and society, natural history, foreign language (most often English), music, mathematics, computer science, technical studies, physical education, fine arts, religion and ethics are studied (attended at the request of parents).
The grading system in Polish schools begins in fourth grade. primary school. A 6-point system is used, where 6 is “excellent”, 5 is “very good”, 4 is “good”, 3 is “satisfactory”, 2 is “acceptable”, 1 is “unsatisfactory”.
The sixth grade ends with a test of students' knowledge, which is carried out in the form of a written test that is the same for all children. Learning outcomes in primary school are verified by tests that do not affect the final results schooling.

High school. Gymnasium

In the gymnasium one receives an education that is general character. During this period, students learn Polish, two foreign languages ​​(most often, one of them is English, and the second is German or Russian), social studies, history, music, geography, fine arts, biology, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry and physical education. Since 2009, two new subjects have been introduced: technical and artistic classes.
At the request of parents, students can attend classes on religion and ethics, as well as lessons in preparation for family life.

Education in a Polish gymnasium lasts 3 years. Studying at the gymnasium must be completed with an exam, which consists of 4 parts: language, humanities, as well as mathematics and natural sciences. Thus, the humanitarian section includes questions on history, social studies and the Polish language. The language part is represented by two levels: basic, which is mandatory for everyone, and advanced, for those who study foreign language from first grade. The natural and mathematical part includes questions on mathematics, biology, physics, geography and chemistry.

Exam results, unlike tests at the end of primary school, influence further studies. The grades obtained on these exams determine whether the student will be accepted into college, lyceum, or continue secondary education at a vocational school.

Lyceums and technical schools

In Poland (unlike Russia) the last stage of secondary education takes 3 years.
This level of study is optional and the student can choose how he wants to continue his studies.
The most common options are specialized and general education lyceums, but many students continue their studies at four-year technical schools or study for 2 years at a vocational school and 2 years at a general education lyceum. Thus, receive higher education in Poland they start no earlier than 19.

General education lyceum

Education at the lyceum lasts three years, after which the Matura is passed. When successful completion students receive a matriculation certificate.
Studying at lyceums in Poland gives students the opportunity to study certain subjects at a deeper level. You can choose several such subjects - from 0 to 4. In addition, there are also bilingual classes where some subjects are taught in a foreign language. After such training, students can take the bilingual Matura.
After graduating from the lyceum, graduates can continue their education at a higher educational institution, or at a post-secondary school.

Matura (testing after graduation from the lyceum)

After graduating from lyceums, all students take Matura - a set of exams that test the level of knowledge acquired in high school. The results of these exams play a key role in admission to Polish universities.
Polish and foreign languages ​​are taken orally. In oral examinations the main emphasis is on vocabulary student and practical application grammatical structures.
Written exams consist of three compulsory subjects(mathematics, Polish and foreign languages), as well as any three disciplines to choose from.
Passing Matura is counted if the result is 30% or higher. A student who wants to demonstrate their deep knowledge in a specific discipline, can take any subject at an advanced level. However, in this case, the student will have to take the exam twice: both basic and extended.
Students take the exam in their own schools, but a teacher from another school must be present among the commission members.

Vocational school

These educational institutions form First stage vocational training. After passing the professional exam at the District Examination Commission, students are issued a school completion certificate or diploma, which confirms their professional qualities. Students can then continue their education at a technical school or at a lyceum for adults, where they are immediately enrolled in the 2nd year of study.

Technical school (secondary vocational education)

Polish technical schools are an alternative to lyceums. However, in addition to secondary education, students also receive vocational training in technical schools.
After successfully passing the relevant exams, graduates are awarded a qualification (technician, waiter, assistant, technician, etc.), and are issued a diploma and a certificate of maturity.

Poland's educational system is considered one of the best in Europe, and strong primary and secondary schools allow you to enter prestigious universities in the country after passing final exams. What is secondary education in Poland? Free and mandatory, it is considered unique. Why?

School system in Poland

After completion by the child preschool education In Poland, the time has come to receive school education, the system of which is as follows:

How is education organized in schools in Poland?

As in the entire post-Soviet space, the school year in Poland begins on September 1, and ends the next year at the end of June. Usually there is no study as such directly on September 1: it is held ceremonial lineup, and the class leader meets and gets acquainted with students and parents (this applies to lower grades).

This country has a 5-day school week; schoolchildren rest on weekends. Most often, school starts at 8-00, although in some schools it starts a little later - at 8-30. In most educational institutions, training takes place in the first half of the day, i.e. on the first shift. However, if the number of students in the school is too large, there are 2 shifts: the first begins at 8-00, and the second at 12-30.

The academic year in Polish schools is divided into 2 semesters:

  • The first semester lasts from September to January: it ends with the Christmas holidays, lasting from December 23 to January 2; At the same time, semester results for all subjects are summed up. Also in January or February (depending on the voivodeship), children go on a two-week winter holiday.
  • The second semester lasts from January to June, when grades for the entire past academic year are given. The same results are included in the school certificate. During the second term, children go on one Easter holiday, lasting just under a week.

Summer holidays last from July to August, after which the next school year begins.

How to get into school in Poland

First of all, you need to find out which school belongs to the area where the child lives. This information is held by the Education Office, the education department of the Commune Office or the school itself.

Then you need to make sure that your child is included in the lists of children registered in the area to which the selected school belongs. These lists are received from the Population Registration Bureau by the director of the educational institution, who then distributes future students to classes.

Typically, such a list includes all Polish citizens registered at a specific address. Those who live in rented apartments may or may not have temporary registration.

If foreign citizens with children are not registered in Poland at their place of residence, they should contact the school director with a written application request to add the child to the list of those whom the school should accept for study this year. It is advisable to write such an application in advance and attach to it documents confirming the fact of residence, for example, a copy of the rental agreement.

School education in Poland in questions and answers

In this subsection we will consider the most pressing questions from parents regarding school education and secondary schools in Poland.

Is a parent obliged to send a child to school in Poland while temporarily in the country?

Yes, I must. Every child from 7 to 18 years of age in the country is required to attend school and receive an education. Failure to comply with this provision is fraught with sanctions and fines against parents. This rule also applies to children without Polish citizenship and does not depend on the legal status of the parents.

At what age do you go to first grade in Poland?

A child begins primary school education in the year in which he turns seven years old, even if by September 1 he is still six years old. However, due to changes in legislation from 2014-2015. School duty also applies to children aged 6 years.

If parents do not comply with the requirements of the law regarding the start of compulsory schooling, this is fraught with an investigation procedure, fines, and in the most in rare cases– and deprivation of rights to a child.

Given that primary and secondary education is free, do parents incur additional costs during the school year?

Yes, parents of children, regardless of their citizenship, bear the following mandatory expenses:

  • Acquisition school uniform– usually these are soft slippers for wearing at school, a uniform for physical education lessons (sportswear), and in some educational institutions– a sleeveless vest and/or a set of clothes with the school emblem. In general, these costs amount to PLN 50-80.
  • Textbooks are purchased according to a list approved by the director of the educational institution. Usually they are purchased once a year, the total cost is PLN 200-300.
  • Purchase of stationery - notebooks, rulers, pens, etc. The list of necessary items is also issued by the school, and the costs do not exceed several tens of zlotys.
  • Premiums should not be confused with health insurance - this is accident insurance that is valid 24 hours a day. The annual fee is PLN 40-50.
  • School lunches – daily meals for a child at school, costs are PLN 80-110 per month. Also, children usually take a second breakfast from home with them - this is drinking water and a snack (a bun, a sandwich, etc.).

There may also be expenses such as class fees and parental committee. If desired, the child can attend concerts, theaters, cinemas with the class, and go on excursions, which are paid separately.

Educational institutions such as the private International School in Gdańsk offer tuition in Polish or English languages. Concerning public schools- they are all free.

What if the child does not yet speak Polish? Will they help him learn the language?

Yes, they will definitely help. Every child who does not have Polish citizenship can count on free lessons state language, taught additionally. Training takes place at the selected school for the first academic year in parallel with receiving basic school education, on average 2 lessons per week of 45 minutes each, but no more than 5 lessons in 7 days. The number of classes and their schedule are approved by the director, having previously agreed with the teacher. Classes are conducted individually or for a small group of children.

How can a child catch up with the school curriculum if he has not previously studied a number of disciplines, and the previous school curriculum was significantly different from the current one?

A foreign child can attend additional classes necessary to level up the level of knowledge, without additional payment. They are conducted during the first year from the start of school, in the amount of 1 lesson every 7 days for 1 subject in which the student is lagging behind. Usually the need for such lessons is determined by the teacher teaching a particular subject. Collectively the number additional classes By various subjects cannot exceed 5 times a week.

What is a school ID and why is it given?

A school ID is the main document issued by an educational institution and confirms a student’s attendance at a particular school. It contains the student’s data and information about the educational institution. This mandatory document is issued only at the school where the child is studying. The certificate is valid for 1 year, after which it is re-stamped.

A school ID gives its holder the following benefits:

  • Discounts on public transport,
  • Discounts on tickets to the zoo, cinema, museums, etc.,

It serves as an identification document during extracurricular activities: competitions, olympiads, etc.

The modern education system in Poland is today considered one of the best in Eastern Europe. What are the features of secondary and higher education in this country?

Education system

Poland is an Eastern European country that borders Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Studying in Poland, as a state that is a full member of the European Union, meets high standards. A Polish diploma is considered pan-European. Why do not only citizens of Russia, but also residents of many other countries seek to obtain a Polish secondary or higher education today?

  1. Behind last years the number of universities here has increased fourfold, and the number of students themselves has increased fivefold. It is in this country that the oldest university in Europe is located - the Jagiellonian University, located in the city of Krakow. On this moment in Poland there are about 138 public and 310 paid educational institutions;
  2. All of these institutions today offer students study programs in both Polish and English. Applicants are given a wide choice of specialties;
  3. The requirements for admission are not particularly difficult.. For foreigners, there are systems of scholarships and discounts; it is possible to receive a grant for partially paid or free education in Poland. The government is developing programs to attract applicants from other countries, offering today one of the best ratios of cost and quality of knowledge acquisition on a par with other countries located in Eastern Europe.

Study in this country

The educational system of this country involves preschool development child, compulsory acquisition of knowledge at school (there are two types - an initial six-year course for all children from 7 to 13 years old and a three-year comprehension of the basics of science in a gymnasium - for adolescents from 13 to 16 years old), with the possibility of subsequent higher education.

The Polish education system is divided into the following stages:

  • Preschool - for children from 3 to 6 years old. Children can be sent to kindergarten for free if the child’s stay in the institution does not exceed five hours a day. Otherwise, you will have to pay for food and the time that teachers will devote to it (for citizens of the country and foreigners, the last year of stay in kindergarten is considered mandatory). For all children who have reached the age of 6, one year of preparation in kindergarten or in primary school is accepted for further education at school;
  • Secondary - primary school, where children study from 7 to 13 years old. Then a gymnasium - starting from the age of 13, or a secondary school - educational lyceum, vocational school and technical school (the duration of study in the first three institutions is three years, in the last - four);
  • Higher education in Poland involves professional education which lasts for 3 - 3.5 years (for technical specialties this period is increased by one year). Obtaining a master's degree lasts about 2 - 2.5 years.
  • The academic year in both primary schools in Poland and at universities is divided into two semesters; a six-point assessment system is adopted (in secondary schools) and a five-point assessment system (in higher educational institutions). At the end of a secondary educational institution, graduates take exams and receive a certificate of maturity, which will give them the right to enter a university; after it you can count on being awarded a bachelor's, master's or engineer's degree (subject to mastering technical or agricultural specialties).

Secondary education system

After graduation kindergarten and compulsory pre-school education for all, every child in Poland goes to study at a basic school and then to a gymnasium.

  1. School involves acquiring knowledge at the following stages:
  • In grades 1-3, classes in all disciplines are taught by one teacher, while knowledge in physical education, music or a foreign language can most often be obtained from a subject teacher; there are no clear time limits for lessons, and students can also come to classes on ethics and religion (although, as a rule, there are not so many of them);
  • In grades 4-6, children have a class teacher and teachers who will teach subjects such as Polish, as well as a foreign language (most often English), computer science, history, natural history, mathematics, drawing, music, physical education, classes in technology (also known as labor), you can optionally study the features of religion or ethics. At the end of the 6th grade, you must pass a test conducted by a special Examination Commission;

  • Humanitarian;
  • Natural Sciences;
  • Mathematics;
  • Language.
  1. Obtaining knowledge in technical schools and lyceums. This is precisely the fundamental difference between the Polish system and the Russian one - if in the Russian Federation it is customary to complete studies in the last two school grades, then for Poles it takes about three years to complete secondary education. If in Russian educational system Technical school is often considered only as a possible alternative to high school classes, but in Poland such a stage is mandatory on the path to further higher education. Regular lyceums with specialized classes remain popular among applicants, but many students also prefer four-year studies at a technical school or study at a vocational school (about two years) and master the basics of science at an additional general education lyceum (2 years).

If applicants in Russia are already 18 years old by the time they enter a university, then for residents of Poland this figure can be 19 or even 20 years old.

At the end of high school, graduates’ knowledge is usually tested by a system of exams called Matura (based on their results, if successfully passed, you can count on free study at state universities), which includes:

  • Oral test in Polish and foreign languages;
  • Written exams in compulsory disciplines, which are Polish, a foreign language, and mathematics.

Higher education system

Nowadays, both citizens of this country and foreigners have the opportunity to receive a high-quality and prestigious education in more than 450 educational institutions.

In addition to the Jagiellonian University, a higher education diploma can today be issued in Lublin, Warsaw, Poznan, Szczecin and other cities of the country.

Studying in Poland involves not only obtaining a European diploma, but also a huge amount of knowledge in many disciplines. Almost all universities offer applicants full-time and correspondence departments, as well as graduate and doctoral studies. Twice a year, educational institutions in the country hold special Days open doors, which explain the features of joining this institution.

To enter one of the country’s universities, you must pass the admissions committee the following documents:


In order to obtain a higher education at one of the most popular faculties, it is necessary to pass a number of exams, and additional standards have been introduced for sports institutes. These areas today can rightfully be called the most popular among Polish applicants:

  1. Computer science;
  2. Economy;
  3. Medicine;
  4. Physical Culture(future trainers and subject teachers are trained).

Forms of training and organization of the educational process

You can get a bachelor's degree after just three years of study (6 to 7 semesters, each lasting 4 months), a master's degree is awarded to students who have studied a year more (from 4 to 5 semesters), and after completing a five-year program of a corresponding thematic focus, a prestigious diploma is awarded title of master engineer.

The modern Polish system offers students full-time, part-time, evening and distance learning, as well as externships. For in-patient studies, a five-day schedule is adopted, in which one of the days (most often Friday) is allocated for individual work student; correspondence students come to classes about twice a month; in the evening form, it is customary to attend lectures five times a week, starting at 16:00; transfer to external studies is carried out upon submission of the relevant documents, in which it is necessary to indicate the reason why the student wishes to study externally.

The educational process is carried out in accordance with the principles provided for by the Bologna system. Just like in other European countries, the beginning school year in universities in Poland has two terms - the first acceptance of documents for admission occurs before September 30, the second - until February 26 (and not once a year, as in Russia). Educational process consists of the following forms of activity:

  • Attending lectures;
  • Seminars;
  • Practical and laboratory classes.

If a student does not pass the exam on time (sessions are held here twice a year), having a valid reason, he can count on the opportunity to retake it during the next session. If the entire session is not passed, then the question of expulsion from higher education is raised. educational institution with the right of subsequent restoration. The Polish language is somewhat similar to Russian and Ukrainian, so foreign students They can, being directly among native speakers, quickly master it at an initial or intermediate level. Cost of passage educational programs in Polish is significantly lower than training in English-language programs the appropriate direction. Compared to other European countries, getting an education at universities in Poland is a relatively inexpensive pleasure.

In Poland, every child has the right to receive secondary education. This right is legally established in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Article 70) and in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The constitution states that secondary education is compulsory not only for Poles, but also for foreign children staying on Polish territory.

A feature of the Polish education system is that children go to school already prepared. All boys and girls aged 5-6 years must attend the so-called zero class – “zerówka”. This is preschool training that all children undergo without fail.

Primary education in Poland (from first to sixth grade)

Szkoła podstawowa – basic school

Polish system compulsory education involves attending a six-year-old basic school, where children go from the age of 7. Basic school is divided into two stages.

  • So, at the first stage - from first to third grade, children study in the form of integrated learning. This means that there is no clear division into subjects during this period. Classes are taught by one teacher, only subjects such as foreign language, music and physical education are sometimes taught by specialist teachers.

This stage does not imply strict adherence by the teacher to the time format of lessons. At the request of parents, children can also attend religion and ethics classes. However, in recent years, the popularity of these lessons at school has been decreasing, and they are held less and less often.

  • The second stage of basic school - grades four to six - involves training conducted by specialist teachers. The role of the class teacher is played by one of these teachers. At this stage, subjects such as the Polish language, history and society, natural history, a foreign language (most often English), music, mathematics, computer science, technical studies (like labor), physical education, fine arts, religion and ethics are studied (attended according to parents' wishes).

The sixth grade certainly ends with a test of students' knowledge, which is carried out in the form of a written test that is the same for all children. Responsibility for organizing testing rests with the Central Examination Commission. The results of this test do not affect the completion of primary school, as well as admission to the regional gymnasium. However, it is worth noting that the points scored may affect the situation when the student is transferred or admitted to another gymnasium, for example, a more prestigious one.

Gymnasium (secondary school) Gimnаzjum

In 1999, Poland underwent an educational reform, which resulted in the introduction of the new kind schools. Thus, boys and girls aged 13-16 receive education, which is of a general nature. During this period, students study Polish, two foreign languages ​​(most often, one of them is English, and the second is German or Russian), social studies, history, music, geography, fine arts, biology, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry and physical education . Since 2009, two new subjects have been introduced: technical and artistic classes.

At the request of parents, students can attend classes on religion and ethics, as well as classes on preparing for family life.

Studying at a gymnasium necessarily ends with an exam, which consists of the following parts: language, humanities, as well as mathematics and natural sciences.

Thus, the humanitarian section includes questions on history, social studies and the Polish language. The language part is represented by two levels: basic, which is mandatory for everyone, and advanced, for those who are studying a foreign language from the first grade.

The natural and mathematical part includes questions on mathematics, biology, physics, geography and chemistry.

Exams are prerequisite graduation from high school. It is worth noting that the minimum number of points has not been officially established, but the result this exam is considered one of the main selection criteria for applicants to post-secondary educational institutions.

Post-secondary education

Szkoły pоnadgimnazjalne (lyceums, technical schools, etc.)

The difference between the education system familiar to Ukraine and the education system in Poland lies, first of all, in this stage of education. Ukrainian students for the most part simply complete the last two years of school; Polish boys and girls spend at least three years on this last stage of secondary education.

This level of training is optional. The student can decide whether and how he wants to continue his studies. There are several options.

The most common options are specialized and general education lyceums, but many students decide to continue their studies at four-year technical schools or combine a two-year vocational school and two years of study at a general education lyceum. Thus, people in Poland begin to receive higher education no earlier than 19-10 years of age.

  • Vocational school – basic vocational school (vocational technical education)

These educational institutions form the initial stage of professional training. After passing the professional exam at the District Examination Commission, students are issued a school completion certificate or diploma, which confirms their professional qualities. Students can then continue their education at a technical school or at a lyceum for adults, where they are immediately enrolled in the second grade.

  • General education lyceum (level – general secondary education)

Education at the lyceum lasts three years, after which the Matura is passed. In case of successful completion, students receive a certificate of maturity.

Profiles in lyceums in Poland provide students with the opportunity to study certain subjects at an advanced level. You can choose several such subjects - from 0 to 4. In addition, there are also bilingual classes where some subjects are taught in a foreign language. After such training, students can take the bilingual Matura.

After graduating from the lyceum, graduates can continue their education at a higher educational institution, or at a post-secondary school.

  • Technical school (secondary vocational education)

Polish technical schools are an alternative to lyceums. However, in addition to secondary education, students also receive vocational training in technical schools.

After successfully passing the relevant exams, graduates are awarded a qualification (technician, waiter, assistant, technician, etc.), and are issued a diploma and a certificate of maturity (świadectwo maturalne).

Matura (testing after graduation from the lyceum)

After graduating from lyceums, all students take Matura - a set of exams that test the level of knowledge acquired in high school. The results of these exams play a key role when entering Polish universities, because, as in Ukraine, in Poland students have the opportunity to study at public higher education institutions for free.

In 2004, a reform was carried out, as a result of which Maura began to be assessed in percentage terms. Until this time, it was assessed on a 6-point scale.

Polish and foreign languages ​​are subjects that are taken orally. One of the tasks in the Polish language is a presentation on a topic that is chosen by the student six months before the exam, and its defense before the examination committee. In oral exams, the main emphasis is on the student's vocabulary and practical application of grammatical structures.

Written exams consist of three compulsory subjects (mathematics, Polish and foreign languages), as well as three elective disciplines. Passing Matura is counted if the result is 30% or higher. A student wishing to demonstrate his or her in-depth knowledge of a particular discipline may take any subject at the advanced level. However, in this case, the student will have to take the exam twice: both basic and extended.

Students take the exam in their own schools, but a teacher from another school must be present among the commission members. Polish students claim that it is almost impossible to cheat on the exam.

Grading system in Polish school

Assessment of students begins in the fourth grade of primary school. A 6-point grading system is used, where 6 is “excellent”, 5 is “very good”, 4 is “good”, 3 is “satisfactory”, 2 is “acceptable”, 1 is “unsatisfactory”.