The results of PISA surveys show that Poland is currently at the forefront of EU countries in terms of pupils’ achievements in reading, mathematics and science. Between 2000 and 2014, it was among the EU countries which made most rapid progress in terms of increasing the number of young adults in the 30-34 age group holding higher education qualifications. Most of the school education tasks at the preschool up to upper secondary school levels were handed over to local authorities at the commune (gmina) or district (powiat) level. This was combined with the growth of the non-public school education sector which now has very extensive autonomy, while benefitting from public funding. A high degree of autonomy of schools and higher education institutions (HEIs) (also in the public sector) is guaranteed by law. Work has been undertaken to implement fully the European Qualifications Framework which facilitates comparison of learning outcomes between schools and their transfer abroad.

All these achievements were made possible by, among other things, a fairly modern legislative framework for education. The 1997 Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Art. 70) grants the right to education to all and, at the same time, provides for the obligation to continue education until the age of 18. This obligation is carried out in school (full-time compulsory education) or non-school settings (part-time compulsory education) (see below).

A reform of the Polish school system has been underway since 1 September 2017. In December 2016, two key Acts were passed by the Parliament, the Law on School Education and the Provisions introducing the Law on School Education, which have largely replaced the School Education Act of September 1991.

The main change involves replacing the previously existing 6-year primary school and 3-year lower secondary school (6+3), leading to upper secondary education in 3- or 4-year schools, with the single structure 8-year primary school and extending the duration of education in (upper) secondary schools to 4-5 years. This partly re-establishes the model which was in place in Poland before the school system reform of 1999/2000. However, the changes, which will be gradually introduced, do not have any impact on the opportunities for secondary school graduates to continue education in the higher education system. See also the chapters ‘Primary education’ and ‘Secondary and Post-secondary education’, and the updated chapter on National_Reforms_in_School_Education.

Polish education is gradually – though not without difficulties – opening up to non-formal education and continuing education. Since September 2012, the system of external vocational examinations has opened up to individuals who have acquired vocational knowledge and skills outside vocational schools. Moreover, changes introduced since October 2014 facilitate the validation of learning outcomes achieved outside the higher education system. The new legislation, already adopted or currently being drafted, follows the same course.

 

Full information on educational system in Poland is available on: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/content/organisation-education-system-and-its-structure-56_en