POLISH SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Jolanta Minor
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. 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 continuing education centres, practical training centres and further and in-service training centres.
PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
This educational level is regarded as the first level of the school system. It concerns children from 3 years of age. For children aged 3-4 pre-primary education is voluntary and is subject to parental decision.
Before 2011/12 six-year-old children were obliged to complete a year of preparation for primary education. Since September 2011, in relation to the planned lowering of school starting age, all five year olds are obliged to complete a year of preparation for primary education in kindergartens or other pre-school institutions.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
Children must attend compulsory full-time education for ten years from the age of six. Compulsory part-time education in the school or out-of-school forms lasts from 16 until 18 years of age.
Oddział przedszkolny(pre-school class)
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6 years of age (5 years from 2011)
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Szkoła podstawowa (6-year primary school)
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7-13 years of age (6 years from 2012)
Stage 1 – early school education, 7-10 years of age
Stage 2 – teaching based on separate subjects, 10-13 years of age
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Gimnazjum (3-year lower secondary school)
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13-16 years of age
Stage 3 – teaching based on separate subjects
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LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL DAY/WEEK/YEAR
The school year is divided into two semesters. It comprises minimum 178 days (max. 38 weeks) between September and June. The compulsory subjects are in general spread over five days a week.
CURRICULAR CONTROL AND CONTENT
Core curricula for compulsory teaching, created at the central level by groups of experts appointed by the Ministry of Education, are the same for all pupils. For the first stage of primary school the curricula for integrated teaching apply, for the second stage of primary school and gimnazjum there are curricula for separate subjects.
Compulsory subjects:
• Stage 1 (grades 1-3, primary school): early school education
• Stage 2 (grades 4-6, primary school): Polish language, History and civics, modern foreign languages, Mathematics, Natural science, Music/ Art, Technology, Computer science, Physical education, lessons with class tutor
• Stage 3 (grades 1-3 of the gimnazjum): Polish language, History, Civic education, Modern foreign language, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Art/Music , Technology, Computer studies, Physical education, lessons with class tutor.
POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION/UPPER SECONDARY
AND POST-SECONDARY LEVEL
Compulsory part-time education in the school or out-of-school forms lasts from 16 until 18 years of age (in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland).
Liceum ogólnokształcące (general upper secondary school)
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16-19 years of age
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Liceum profilowane (specialised upper secondary school)
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16-19 years of age
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Technikum (technical upper secondary school)
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16-20 years of age
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Zasadnicza szkoła zawodowa (basic vocational school)
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16-18/19 years of age
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Uzupełniające liceum ogólnokształcące (supplementary general upper secondary school)
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18/19-20/21 years of age
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Technikum uzupełniające (supplementary technical upper secondary school)
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18/19-21/22 years of age
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Szkoła policealna (post-secondary non-tertiary school)
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19-21 years of age (very rarely 20)
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ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ W PIETRZYKOWICACH
My school is in Pietrzykowice- in a village situated on the south of Poland, where about 4 000 people live. The nearest towns are Żywiec, Bielsko- Biała, Katowice, Kraków. We have Żywieckie lake and Beskidy mountains here.
In my school there are 460 pupils in 20 classes, 46 teachers and 12 staff workers. Our pupils are from 6 to 16 years.
Headmaster has two deputy heads. They are responsible for the organizational and educational matters.
The school year is divided into two semesters. It comprises minimum 178 days (max. 38 weeks) between September and June. The compulsory subjects are in general spread over five days a week. We have two breaks- summer vacation (2 months) and winter vacation (2 weeks).
THE QUALITY SYSTEM
FOUR MAIN FIELDS OF ACTIVITY:
I. EDUCATION- TEACHING
II. UPBRINGING AND CARE
III. MANAGEMENT
IV. PEDAGOGICAL SUPERVISION
PRIORITIES:
- COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH STUDENT.
- extracurricular activities and classes (subject’s classes, sport, art, music…),
- classes with gifted students,
- classes with students with learning difficulties,
- PROPER PLANNING WORK OF SCHOOL.
- STUDY THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION.
- TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
- MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE SCHOOL.
- CONTACTS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
MY TASKS
I have worked for 25 years as a teacher in elementary and lower secondary school. During that I have been a head teacher for 9 years. Now I am a deputy head in my school called Zespół Szkół (there are primary and lower secondary school). I am also an art teacher and a school educator.
In my current position I am responsible for proper process of teaching- realization and quality too. I control teachers for their work, their competences. I hold pedagogical control and watch the organizational matters.
- Control of documentation.
- Supervising the proper realization of curricula.
- Control of teachers’ duty roster.
- Suprvising school trips.
- Supervising school projects.
- Preparation replacement for absent teachers.
I build tradition of our school by special projects, meetings, events, ceremonies. I try to help teachers to solve educational and pedagogical problems. I take care of my pupils, they are from 11 to 16.
I would like to find our school friendly and safe.
As an art teacher I teach students to be sensitive to the beauty and goodness, to be creative, ingenious- I tell them- “Everyone is an artist”.
- Realization of special events „Greek Day”, „Regional Day”, „European Day”.
- Supervising the School Schedule of Holidays and Ceremonies.
- Preparing school exhibitions –students painting and drawing.
- Supervising competitions, etc.
- Making decoration to school theatre, ceremonies.
…AND I TRY TO HELP, TO SUPPORT, TO ADVISE…