History
The education of Polish society was a goal of rulers as early as the 13th century, and Poland soon became one of the most educated countries in Europe. The library catalogue of the Cathedral Chapter of Kraków dating back to 1110 shows that in the early 12th century Polish intellectuals had access to European literature. The Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 by King Casimir III in Kraków, is one of Europe's oldest universities.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's Commission of National Education (Polish: Komisja Edukacji Narodowej) formed in 1773 counts as the world's first Ministry of Education.
During the partitions of Poland and the Second World War, much of Poland's education was carried on in secret (see Education in Poland during World War II and Flying University).
The education in the People's Republic of Poland on the one hand vastly improved the literacy of all students, on the other hand some sciences (especially history and economics) suffered due to the communist preference for propaganda over facts.
The Polish education system was reformed in 1999. Before the reformation primary school education took 8 years and it was followed by 4 years of secondary school.
Nowadays education in primary school is shortened to 6 years and it is finished by writing compulsory exam. Next step is middle school ("gimnazjum") which lasts 3 years and it is also finished by writing compulsory exam. Depending on how high the score is, students apply to secondary schools. There are two types of secondary schools: Liceum and Technikum. The first one is 3-year school focused in general education and preparation for a university, the second 4-year secondary school is of a more vocational and usually more technical type.
Primary School:
- 0th - 6-7 years old
- 1st - 7-8 years old
- 2nd - 8-9 years old
- 3rd - 9-10 years old
- 4th - 10-11 years old
- 5th - 11-12 years old
- 6th - 12-13 years old
Middle School:
- 1st 13-14 years old
- 2nd 14-15 years old
- 3rd 15-16 years old
Secondary School:
- 1st 16-17 years old
- 2nd 17-18 years old
- 3rd 18-19 years old
- 4th 19-20 years old (only in Technikum)
In Poland compulsory education ends at the age of 18.
Read more about this topic: Education In Poland
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