The education system in Poland has been reformed several times in the last decades, the names and profiles of schools have changed, as well as the duration of education at various levels. The last major reform took place in 2016. Therefore, when looking for information on education, special attention should be paid to the timeliness of the data obtained.
At each level of education (and care for young children) in Poland there are public institutions, most often run by municipalities (nursery schools, kindergartens, primary schools) or districts (secondary schools), and non- public institutions. Tuition fees are paid for non-public schools.
Children under the age of 3 are cared for in nurseries and children’s clubs. These are not formally part of the school system, as their primary function is to provide care.
Children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 18 (or until the end of secondary education) are subject to compulsory schooling, and before that, for children aged 6, there is compulsory pre-school preparation (“kindergarten”). Pre-school preparation is organised in kindergartens or in pre-school units in primary schools.
The school year runs from September 1 to August 31 of the following calendar year and is divided into two terms. Between the terms, students have a winter vacation (2 weeks without classes) on different dates depending on the district. During the summer, students have a period of rest – summer vacation (from the last days of June to the end of August). Working days that fall on public and religious holidays are also free of classes.
In the early grades of primary school, learning usually takes place in several lessons per day. One lesson lasts 45 minutes. Schools usually open at 8:00 a.m., but some institutions teach in shifts. Primary schools provide before and after-school care for children whose parents work through a day care centre. Daycare is free of charge. Daycare centres do not operate during winter and summer vacations, when parents are obliged to take care of their children. Kindergartens operate under a different system – they usually operate during winter holidays and organise a holiday service, for which it is necessary to register.
Primary school students receive free textbooks and exercise books. Textbooks are loaned to students, which means that they must be returned when the student has finished using them. Primary schools must ensure that students have a hot meal and a place to eat it (lunches are paid for, but many schools can help finance the cost of such meals).
Legal basis:
Act of December 14, 2016 – Education Law (i.e., Journal of Laws of 2024, item 737, 854, 1562, 1635), with respect to foreigners, specifically Chapter 7 (Articles 165-167 of this Act).
Regulation of the Minister of National Education of August 23, 2017 on the education of persons who are not Polish citizens and persons who are Polish citizens and who have received education in schools operating in the educational systems of other countries (Journal of Laws of 2023 item 2301)
Additional information:
Information on the education of people arriving from abroad in the Polish education system – Ministry of National Education – Gov.pl Portal (www.gov.pl) Education of children arriving from abroad in the Polish education system – Ministry of National Education – Gov.pl Portal (www.gov.pl)
Information current as of: .
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