A large part of the Polish higher
education market is made up of private colleges and universities. There are
about 310 privately owned universities and colleges and 138 state schools of
higher learning. This has resulted in a high level of competition that has
given Poland lower prices for studying than in many other European countries.
The higher education system is one of high quality and all leading universities
offer programmes thought in English, within study areas such as medicine,
engineering, humanities, business and finance. More than 100 higher education
institution in Poland currently offer study programmes in English. Poland has
taken active part in the Bologna Process. The ECTS (European Credit Transfer
System) allows students to be geographically mobile and continue their
education in other countries. There is no central administration for admission.
Instead, each institute is responsible for their own admission process.
However, each applicant must generally hold a “maturity certificate” to qualify
for admission in Poland.
The main legal basis for education in
Poland is provided by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. According to
its provisions:
ü Every person has the right to education,
ü Education is compulsory until the age of 18,
ü Education in public schools is free of charge,
ü Parents are free to choose schools other than public
schools for their children,
ü Public authorities provide citizens with general and
equal access to education.
The
education system in Poland is centrally managed by two institutions –
theMinistry of National Education (general and vocational education) and the
Ministry of Science and Higher Education (higher education). It is only the
national educational policy that is developed and carried out centrally, while
the administration of education and the running of schools are decentralized.
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 provided
either at school or at the employers’ premises) concerns young people aged 16–18
years. Full-time compulsory education includes the final year of pre-primary education,
6-year primary education and 3-year lower-secondary education. Nursery schools
(przedszkole), primary schools (szkoła podstawowa) and lower--secondary schools
(gimnazjum) are administered by commune (gmina) authorities. Upper-secondary
schools, which are not compulsory, are attended by the vast majority of the
population in the age group 16–19/20 years and are administered by district
(powiat) authorities. Autonomous higher education institutions offer mainly first-,
second- and third-cycle programmes (long-cycle Master’s degree programmes are
available only in a few fields of study). Adult education is provided by public
and non-public schools for adults, public and non-public HEIs, continuing
education centres, practical training centres and further and in-service
training centres.
1.
Compulsory Education
Compulsory education covers full-time compulsory
education (up to the age of 16) and part-time compulsory education (up to
the age of 18). Full-time compulsory education is divided into:
a.
one-year
pre-school preparation;
b.
full-time
education in school settings that lasts until the completion of lower-secondary
school but not beyond the age of 16.
Part-time compulsory education concerns students
aged 16–18 and may be organized:
a.
in
upper-secondary schools, both general and vocational;
b.
at the
employers’ premises (apprenticeship system).
One-year’s pre-school preparation is compulsory for
6-year-olds and may be completed either in nursery schools or pre-school
classes in primary schools. In September 2011 pre-school education became
compulsory for 5-year-old children. Optional pre-school education is offered to
children aged 3 to 5. Children aged between 7 and 13 attend a 6-year primary
school (szkoła podstawowa). The amendment to the School Education Act made
primary school education compulsory also for 6-year-old children. This change,
however, is being implemented gradually. The process of implementation is
spread over two years: (a) in 2014 education in grade 1 of the primary
school is compulsory for children born in the first half of the year 2008, i.e.
from January till June 2008 and all children born in 2007; (b) in 2015 – for
children born in the second half of the year 2008, i.e. from July till December
2008 and all children born in 2009. Primary education is divided into two
stages: the first stage (grades 1 to 3) offering integrated early school
education, and the second stage (grades 4 to 6), at which subject-based teaching
is provided. At the end of the 6-year primary school pupils take a compulsory
external test (set by the Central Examination Board, administered and assessed
by Regional Examination Boards) which is primarily designed to provide teachers
and parents with information about pupils’ achievements and has no bearing on
admission to lower-secondary school. All primary school leavers continue their
education in the 3-year general lowersecondary school (gimnazjum). At the end
of lower-secondary education pupils take a compulsory external examination (set
by the Central Examination Board, administered and assessed by Regional
Examination Boards) which has a strong bearing on admission to upper-secondary
schools.
2.
School Education
Governance of school education reflects the
territorial organisation of the Polish state. Poland is divided into 16
provinces or regions (województwo), 379 districts 12 (powiat), and 2 478
communes (gmina). The head of the province (wojewoda) represents the
Council of Ministers in a given region. The regional education authorities
(kuratorium oświaty) are included in the regional administration and are
responsible for pedagogical supervision over schools. The local authorities
take part in exercising public authority (levels of powiat and gmina, see
below).
The Central Level
Responsibility for the administration of the school
education system rests with
the
Minister of National Education. The Minister co-ordinates and pursues the national
education policy, cooperating in this respect with regional authorities and
other organisational units responsible for the school education system. By way of
regulation, the Minister lays down, among other things: requirements and procedures
for admission to public schools; general outlines of timetables for public
schools; core curricula for pre-school education and general education in particular
types of schools, as well as for vocational education; rules for assessing and
promoting pupils and for conducting tests and examinations; organisational arrangements
for the school year; and rules for the remuneration of examiners and teachers.
The Regional Level
The regional authorities in Poland are located at
province level (województwo). There are two types of institutions which are
responsible for educational matters
at
this level.
Education Superintendent (state administration at the regional level)
Education superintendents (kurator oświaty) are
chief pedagogical supervisionbofficers at the regional level. They are responsible
for general administration of education in particular provinces. They are
regional administration officials appointed and supervised by the head of
province (wojewoda) who is subordinate to the Prime Minister. The education
superintendent implements the policy of the Minister of National Education.
On behalf of the head of province, the
superintendent is responsible for the implementation of tasks defined in the
School Education Act and in the regulations relevant to particular provinces.
The most important task is pedagogical supervision over public and non-public
schools, including regional in-service teacher training institutions, located
in particular provinces.
Provincial Government
Provincial government is responsible for administering
the following types of educational institutions: teacher training and
foreign-language teacher training colleges (which are being phased out),
colleges of social work, in-service teacher training institutions, educational
resource centres, schools and other related educational institutions operating
at regional and supra-regional levels.
The district level
The district (powiat) is an intermediate
administrative unit between the province and the commune. District authorities
are responsible for running the following types of public schools and other
educational institutions: upper-secondary and post-secondary schools; art
schools; sports schools and schools for sports champions; special primary and
special lower-secondary schools; schools at prisons; youth detention centres
and hostels for minors; counselling and guidance centres; and remedial centres.
Pedagogical supervision is excluded from their control – it is the responsibility
of the education superintendent.
The local level
The commune (gmina) level in Poland is the lowest
administrative division. It is
responsible
for establishing and administering public nursery schools (including special nursery
schools), primary schools and lower-secondary schools. Pedagogical supervision
over these types of schools is the responsibility of the education superintendent.
3.
The School Level
The School Head
The head of a school is appointed by the school
managing body, through open
competition,
for a five-year term. In justified cases, and in agreement with the education
superintendent, the school head may be appointed for a shorter period, with the
minimum duration of such an appointment being one school year. Responsibilities
of the school head include, among other things, exercising pedagogical
supervision over the school, care of pupils and creating conditions for their
harmonious psychological and physical development, implementing resolutions of
the school council and the teachers’ council, proper use of funds, and the
organisation and conduct of tests and examinations in the school.
Teachers’ Council
A school which employs at least 3 teachers is
required to establish a teachers’ council.vThe teachers’ council is a
collective body concerned with the performance of the school’s statutory tasks
related to education and care. The teachers’ council consists
of
all teachers employed in the school, and staff employed in other institutions
which
provide
practical vocational training to pupils of the school, or in boarding schools
provide
education and care to pupils. The teachers’ council is chaired by the head
of school.
The decision-making powers of the teachers’ council
include, among other things, approving school action plans, adopting
resolutions on the results of pupils’assessment and promotion, adopting
resolutions on teaching innovations and experiments in the school, and adopting
organizational arrangements for in-service training of teachers in the school.
The teachers’ council drafts the school statutes or any amendments to the
statutes,
and presents them to the school council for approval.
School Council
The school council is a body that can be established
in a school with the aim of solving its internal problems. It is involved in
various internal matters at the school The council should include a minimum of
6 members. The school council decides on its own internal regulations and
elects its chairperson. The school head can participate in the council meetings
in an advisory capacity.
Parents’ Council
The parents’ council represents all the parents of
the pupils in the school. It can submit motions related to all school matters
to the school head and other school bodies, to the school managing body or the
body responsible for pedagogical supervision.
It can
also give opinions on timetables and on the financial plan as proposed by the
school head.
4.
Education System
Education |
School/Level
|
Grade From
|
Grade To
|
Age From
|
Age To
|
Years
|
Notes
|
|
Primary
|
Primary
School (Szkoła Podstawowa)
|
7
|
13
|
6
|
Duration
of compulsory education: from age 6 to 18
|
|||
Middle
|
Gymnasium
(Gimnazjum)
|
13
|
16
|
3
|
Świadectwo
ukończenia gimnazjum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the
Gymnasium)
|
|||
Middle
|
Basic
Vocational School (Zasadnicza Szkoła Zawodowa)
|
16
|
18
|
2
|
Świadectwo
ukończenia szkoły zasadniczej (Certificate of Completion of Education in the
Basic Vocational School)
|
|||
Secondary
|
Technical
Secondary School (Technikum)
|
16
|
20
|
4
|
Świadectwo
dojrzalości technikum (Maturity Certificate of the Technical Secondary
School) or świadectwo ukończenia technikum (Certificate of Completion of
Education in the Technical Secondary School)
|
|||
Secondary
|
General
Lyceum (Liceum Ogólnokształcące)
|
16
|
19
|
3
|
Świadectwo
dojrzalości liceum ogólnokształcącego (Maturity Cetificate of the General
Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum ogólnokształcącego (Certificate of
Completion of Education in the General Lyceum)
|
|||
Secondary
|
Specialized
Lyceum (Liceum Profilowane)
|
16
|
19
|
3
|
Świadectwo
dojrzałości liceum profilowanego (Maturity Certificate of the Specialized
Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum profilowanego (Certificate of
Completion of Education in the Specialized Lyceum)
|
|||
Post-secondary
|
Szkoły
policealne
|
2
|
Dyplom
uzyskania tytułu zawodowego (vocational title diploma) (from 1 to 2.5 years)
|
|||||
Post-secondary
|
Szkoły
pomaturalne
|
3
|
Dyplom
ukończenia szkoły pomaturalnej (diploma of completion of education in the
post-secondary school) (nurses and midwives - 2.5 years)
|
|||||
Tertiary
|
University
First Level (wyższe szkoły zawodowe)
|
4
|
The
graduates are awarded the professional title of licencjat (after 3 years of
study) or inżynier (after 3.4 or 5 years of study) following a thesis or
diploma project.
|
|||||
Tertiary
|
University
Second Level
|
2
|
Master's-level
courses, 5-6 years total or 1.5 - 2 years complementary
|
|||||
Tertiary
|
University
Third Level
|
3
|
Doktor's
degree, 3-4 years of graduate study or combination of professional work with
academic research and the elaboration of a dissertation
|
|||||
Tertiary
|
Doktor
habilitowany
|
Awarded to
candidates who already hold the degree of doktor. can be obtained either by
academic staff of higher education institutions and research units, or by
persons who combine their research work with other professional activities.
The holder of this degree eligible for the academic post of professor at
higher education institutions and can be awarded the academic title of
professor conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland.
|
||||||
Primary Education
1 year of preschool education to stimulate primary
reading skills and mathematics is compulsory. Thereafter children move on to
primary school from ages 7 to 12. The first cycle of grades 1 – 3 are beginner
phases (with a single teacher), while grades 4 – 6 introduce systemic learning. Subjects include
art and music, crafts and technology, Polish, mathematics, .social and natural
environment and physical education. Primary and secondary education are free.
Secondary Education
There are 2 streams in secondary education. General
schools provide an education designed to dock with university programs.
Vocational schools produce qualified workers while also providing general
education.
Vocational Education
Should they wish to, students at vocational schools
may proceed to post-secondary schools where they are trained as accountants ,
administrators, computer specialists,
nurses and librarians, to mention but a few.
5.
Curriculum
The
scope of primary education is determined by three elements: the core
curriculum,
outline
timetables and requirement standards.
Core
curricula have to be respected by each school.
Education
in the 6-year primary school is divided into 2 stages:
•
Stage I – grades 1 to 3, called integrated teaching;
•
Stage II – grades 4 to 6.
The teaching at Stage 1 is meant to provide a smooth
transition from pre-primary to school education. Educational activities are
conducted according to a flexible timetable prepared by the teacher, in which
the duration of lessons and breaks is influenced by the pupils’ activity.
At the level of primary school there at last 18
compulsory lessons (periods) per week (grades 1-3) and 24 in senior grades
(4-6). To these figures 2 hours of religion or ethics classes (non-obligatory)
should be added at all levels along with 3 to 4 hours left to the discretion of
the school head.
Before September 2009, the core curriculum for this
education stage was included in the Regulation by the Minister of National
Education and Sport of 26 February 2002 on Core Curriculum for Pre-school and
General Education. Starting with the school year 2009/10 the new core
curriculum based on the Regulation by the Minister of National Education of 23
December 2008 on Core Curricula for Pre-school and General Education
in
particular types of schools has been introduced for grade 1 of primary school.
The new curriculum will be gradually introduced in the subsequent grades of
primary school in the coming school years.
The outline timetable for this stage is included in
the Annex to the Regulation by the Minister of National Education and Sport of
12 February 2002 on Outline Timetables for Public Schools (for grades 2 and 3
in the school year 2009/10).
Stage 1
(grades 1-3, primary school)
|
|
Compulsory
educational activities
|
Number of
teaching hours per week in a period of 3 years
|
Integrated teaching
|
54
|
Religion/ Ethics
|
6
|
Hours left to the school head’s
discretion
|
12
|
Total
|
72
|
The body running a school is allowed to increase the
number of compulsory teaching hours by a number not exceeding 3 hours per week
for one grade in one school year. However, the weekly number of compulsory
teaching hours, as well as religion/ ethics classes and additional classes
cannot exceed a maximum of 23 hours in grades 1 to 3.
Starting from September 2009 a new outline timetable
has been introduced in grade 1 of primary school (Regulation by the Minister of
National Education of 23 March 2009 amending the Regulation on Outline
Timetables for Public Schools). According to the new regulation the total
number of hours in grades 1 to 3 (religion/ethics and hours left to the school
head’s discretion excluded) will remain the same.
Stage 2 of the 6-year primary school covers grades
4, 5 and 6. Teaching at this stage is arranged by subjects listed in the
outline timetable (Polish language, History and
civics,
Modern foreign language, Mathematics, Natural science, Music, Art, Technology, Computer
science, Physical education, Religion/Ethics). In addition to subjects, the
following cross-curricular themes have been introduced at this stage:
·
health education
·
ecological
education
·
reading and
media education
·
education for
society
ü education for family life
ü cultural heritage of the region
ü patriotic and civic education
The school head is responsible for the inclusion of
the cross-curricular themes in the school curriculum.
Core curriculum for this education stage is included
in the Regulation by the Minister of National Education and Sport of 26
February 2002 on Core Curriculum for Pre-school and General Education (with
further amendments).
The outline timetable for this stage is included in
the Annex of the Regulation by
the
Minister of National Education and Sport of 12 February 2002 on Outline
Timetables
for
Public Schools.
Stage 2
(grades 4-6, primary school)
|
||
No.
|
Compulsory educational activities
|
Number of teaching hours per week in a
period of 3 years
|
1.
|
Polish
language
|
16
|
2.
|
History
and civics
|
4
|
3.
|
Modern Foreign Languages
|
8
|
4.
|
Mathematics
|
12
|
5.
|
Natural
science
|
9
|
6.
|
Music
|
2
|
7.
|
Art
|
2
|
8.
|
Technology
|
2
|
9.
|
Computer
science
|
2
|
10.
|
Physical education
|
9+3
|
11.
|
Lessons
with Class Tutor
|
3
|
Total
|
72
|
|
Religion /Ethics
|
6
|
|
Hours left to the School Head’s
discretion
|
9
|
|
Total
|
87
|
|
On the basis of the outline timetable, the school
head develops the school timetable, divided into school years. The body running
a school is allowed to make an increase in the number of compulsory teaching
hours by up to, but not, exceeding 3 hours per week for one grade in one school
year. However, the weekly number of compulsory teaching hours, as well as religion/
ethics classes and additional classes, cannot exceed a maximum of 28 hours in grades
4 to 6.
Teachers have the right to choose forms and methods
of teaching. Methods depend on the number of pupils per class and on school
equipment (e.g. the number of computers, DVD players, etc.). Some lessons
require the class to be divided into smaller groups (e.g.foreign languages,
technology or computer science).
The teacher chooses a school curriculum and a
textbook (textbooks are chosen from the list approved by the Minister of
National Education). The teacher has also a right to prepare his/her own
curriculum. Every curriculum is approved for the use in school by the
respective school head.
Mata Kuliah : Perencanaan Pembelajaran
Dosen : Dr. Dirgantara Wicaksono, M.Pd
