The Polish School System

Week 5 – Professional Observations – 24^th March 2011

This week has been another routine week. I have met new challenges with polish grammar, I have continued to experiment in the kitchen and I have been able to enjoy general good fun with my friends here in Poznań.

This week I got talking to some fellow trainee teachers that are on my volleyball team. As I was still very ignorant to the details of the educational system here I decided to ask them about general education here in Poland. We had a great discussion regarding the similarities and differences between both students and teachers here in Poland in comparison to the UK.

I discovered that children in Poland start education at the age of 6 and it is compulsory until the age of eighteen. When children are six years old they spend one year at pre-school where they learn fundamental polish and mathematics. Pupils from ages seven to twelve attend primary school. Primary education is similar to Northern Ireland where they have two ‘cycles’ like our two key stages. The first ‘cycle’ is comparable to Northern Ireland primary schools. Each class would have their own class teacher who would educate them all areas of learning within the Polish Curriculum. During the second three years at primary school each subject has a different teacher and typically pupils change classroom for each subject. At the end of primary school the children sit an examination which is similar to the new transfer assessment in Northern Ireland. This decides what middle school, known as gymnasium, they will attend. This period lasts for three years and at the end pupils sit another test to decide which secondary school they will attend until they are 18. This system in Polish schools is reminiscent of the Dixon plan used in several schools in the Craigavon area in Northern Ireland. It has the advantage that children are assessed at more than one stage in their education to determine the school they will attend. After secondary education students have the opportunity to go directly into employment or to study at university. As university fees are free in Poland, a huge difference from in the UK, most individuals avail of this option and study to obtain a bachelor’s degree in three years or a master’s degree in five years.

Unfortunately I have been unable to experience the education system here in Poland first hand, but I am glad I am now more aware of the educational system in this country. I have fortunately been informed today that I can visit an international primary school next Tuesday. I am looking forward to observing the school and experiencing teaching here in Poland and I hope that although it is an international school it will still show me what teaching is like here in Poland in comparison to at home in Northern Ireland.