3. 1. Pre-primary education. This educational
level is regarded as the first level of the
school system. It concerns children from 3 to
6years of age. Six-year-old children are
obliged to complete a year of preparation
for primary education (under municipal
responsibility) called “0 grade”. The classes
are attached either to kindergartens or
primary-schools. Both private and public
schools can be fee-paying, however in the
latter case the conditions specified in the
legislation apply.

4. 2. Education in Poland starts at the age of
seven in primary school. Next there is the lower
secondary level consisting of three years in
school called gymnasium starting at the age of
13, and ending with an exam. This is followed by
the upper secondary level, which has several
alternatives. The most common is a three-year
lyceum or a four-year technique. They both
end with a maturity examination (secondary
school certificate, roughly equivalent to British
A-level examination). We used to have the
system of marks from 2 to5 which was extended
by adding a plus or a minus.

5. 3. In the early 1990 the system was
extended by adding new marks, 1 and
6. Now we have marks from 1 to 6. 1 (is
insufficient)2 (is poor)3 (is sufficient)4 (is
good)5 (is very good)6 (is excellent)In
the new system, 1 is the failing grade,
and 6 means that the student exceeded
the expectations. In the first stages of
primary school (I – III classes) there are
no marks. The teachers write descriptions
of their pupils’ abilities.

6. 4. A primary school is an institution
where children receive the first stage
of compulsory education known as
primary or elementary education. In
Poland children attend primary school
from the age of 7 to 12.
5. A gymnasiums a type of school
providing lower secondary education.
In Poland pupils attend gymnasium at
the age of 13 –16 and after passing the
final exam they go to lyceum.

7. 6. Lyceum is an upper secondary school
where young people stay for 3 years. The
school prepares the students to enter a
university. At the end of school pupils pass the
exam called mature (3 compulsory subjects
and from 1 to 3 optional subjects). Some
pupils after gymnasium attend four-year
technical schools called technique . Except
the subjects of science, languages and Polish
literature they can study technical subjects
like electronics, mechanics, automation,
computer technologies.

8. 7. Technique trains low-level
industrial managers (foremen,
technical supervisors etc.) or
specializes in occupations that
require more advanced skills. Some
pupils may attend vocational
schools preparing them to some
physical jobs. Those students can’t
continue their education in
universities and collages.

9. 8. High schools may be followed by
several forms of upper education:
colleges, universities and
polytechnics leading to licentiate
(Polish equivalents of Bachelor's
degree), magister (Polish equivalent
of Master’s degree) The most
ambitious students may continue the
education and award the Ph.D.
degree or even the title of professor.