The Polish education system is based on three-tired principle (primary, secondary and higher education). Compulsory schooling in Poland begins when children are 7-year old, although pre-school nurseries and kindergartens are available for children to enter the schooling system at an earlier stage. Compulsory schooling ends when children reach the age of 17.
The post-primary education is divided into five streams:
1. General secondary schools;
2. General technical secondary schools;
3. Secondary vocational schools;
4. Secondary technical schools;
5. Basic schools.
Secondary schools include: four-year grammar schools preparing for higher education and professional careers, four and five-year technical schools preparing for professional careers and university education, four-year general technical secondary schools and secondary vocational schools training qualified workers of secondary education, three-year elementary vocational schools training qualified workers. Pupils are admitted to secondary schools on the basis of entrance examinations. Schools implement the syllabus approved by the Minister of National Education. The school year (ten months) is divided into two semesters.
The first four types provide pupils with an education which can lead to the “matura” certificate required for admission to the higher education institutions. Pupils can transfer from Type 5 to the other types of secondary schools (technical or vocational) to gain this qualification. Secondary education ends when pupils are between 19 and 21 years of age, depending on which stream they have taken.
The main types of post-primary schools:
Liceum Ogolnosztalcace/General Secondary School
Length of program (years): 4
Age level: from 15 to 19
Certificate awarded:
-Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Liceum Ogólnoksztalcacego/Matriculation Certificate of General Secondary School;
-Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Liceum Ogólnoksztalcacego/Certificate of Completion of General Secondary School.
Liceum Zawodowe/Secondary Vocational
School
Length of program (years): 4
Age level: from 15 to 19
Certificate awarded:
-Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Liceum Zawodowego/ Matriculation Certificate of Secondary Vocational School,
-Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Liceum Zawodowego/Certificate of Completion of Secondary Vocational School.
Technikum /Secondary Technical School
Length of program (years): 4 or 5
Age level: from 15 to 19 or 20
Certificate awarded: - Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Technikum/Matriculation Certificate of Secondary Technical School,
- Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Technikum/Certificate of Completion of Secondary Technical School.
Liceum Techniczne/General
Technical Secondary School
Length of program (years): 4
Age level: from 15 to 19
Certificate awarded: - Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Liceum Technicznego/Matriculation Certificate of General Technical Secondary School,
- Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Liceum Technicznego/Certificate of Completion of General Technical Secondary School
Szkola Zasadnicza/Basic School
Length of program (years): 3
Age level: from 15 to 17
Certificate awarded: - Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Szkoly Zasadniczej/Certificate of Completion of Basic School.
Teacher Education:
Kolegium Nauczycielskie/Teacher Training College
Length of program (years): 3
Age level: from 19 to 22
Certificate awarded:
1. Dyplom Ukonczenia Kolegium Nauczycielskiego/Certificate of Completion of Teacher Training College.
2. Dyplom”Licencjat”- first university degree if college is a part of University or other school of higher education.
The graduates who want to raise their qualifications can continue studies at university or other higher school.
Nauczycielskie Kolegia Jezyków Obcych/Foreign Language Teacher Training College
Length of program (years): 3
Age level: from 19 to 22
Certificate awarded:
1. Dyplom Nauczycielskiego Kolegium Jezyków Obcych/Certificate of Completion of Foreign Language Teacher Training College.
2. Dyplom “Licencjat”- first university degree if college is a part of school of higher education.
The graduates obtain certificates which entitle them to continue studies at university or other school of higher education.
Post – Secondary Professional Schools (non-higher education):
Policealne Studia Zawodowe/Post- secondary Vocational School
Length of program (years): from 1 to 2,5
Age level: from 19 to 20-21
Certificate awarded: Dyplom Technika/ Technician Diploma
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