Anja
22 Nov 2006 / #1
School year in Poland starts on the 1st of September and ends on first Friday after the 18th of June. It lasts ten months and is separated into two terms by winter break, with two holiday breaks for Christmas and Easter. This year, however, new school year started on the 4th of September, which was on Monday, and many pupils were happy because they had one more weekend “free.”
Schooling system in Poland has undergone many changes since 1989 political transformation. In autumn 1999, a new reform was introduced. At present children start attending school when they are seven, but it is also obligatory for six-year-olds to attend so called “0” class (“zerówka”:), which can be either formed as a part of kindergarten or in primary school. In the “0” class kids get accustomed with learning, acquire basic knowledge in writing and counting, music, religion etc. but are not marked and their learning resembles fun rather than any serious schooling. A new project is being prepared for the act imposing an obligation for children to start their school education as early as at 6th year of age, but that is still being worked on; there are as many supporters as opponents for this idea. The later state that psychological and emotional development of a six year old is not the one which allows him or her to attend regular classes in school to a child’s full advantage and that the loss resulting from such an experiment might be bigger than any benefit expected.
The new idea supporters claim that the change is necessary in our rapidly growing and technologically changing society and thus it gives a child benefit to start earlier on with his / her education and to stand up to the requirements and challenges of the modern, united European market.
But as for the time being, children start primary school when they are seven. Primary school consists of 6 grades; then children have to set an exam enabling them to attend secondary school which lasts for 3 years. These 9 years of schooling are obligatory in Poland. After secondary school a child might choose a high school (college). Education here takes next 3 years and is finished with Polish “matura”, A-level exams which enable a person to seek academic education. After graduation young people might choose among universities or academies of various kinds.
The public opinion on Polish reformed educational system is divided, but since the nostalgic autumn approaches I would rather not go into discussing the subject in details. What I remember from my childhood in Cracow is that I would very impatiently be looking forward to the beginning of each school year, to choosing new notebooks, pencils, pens and newly printed, smelling with ink, books; to meeting with my school mates and exchanging our holiday stories. Everything seemed to be so simple and organized in a world ruled by the course of school days, breaks, class- tests and our school teacher “preaching”. I am sure that in this respect nothing has really changed and Polish pupils, regardless of any kind of reform whatsoever, still look forward to the ceremony of the first school day. They will gather solemnly dressed in a school gym and meet their friends and teachers and everything will start all over again.
September in Poland makes us all think about two important things: one is the beginning of World War II and the other the beginning of a new school year. Both are linked by one date. The first event, although remembered, remains in history, the other repeats itself every year and brings about the atmosphere of anticipation filled with a scent of fresh apples, ink, freshly redecorated classrooms and the feel of already cool mornings and a sound of an alarm clock waking you up for a new school day.
Anja
Schooling system in Poland has undergone many changes since 1989 political transformation. In autumn 1999, a new reform was introduced. At present children start attending school when they are seven, but it is also obligatory for six-year-olds to attend so called “0” class (“zerówka”:), which can be either formed as a part of kindergarten or in primary school. In the “0” class kids get accustomed with learning, acquire basic knowledge in writing and counting, music, religion etc. but are not marked and their learning resembles fun rather than any serious schooling. A new project is being prepared for the act imposing an obligation for children to start their school education as early as at 6th year of age, but that is still being worked on; there are as many supporters as opponents for this idea. The later state that psychological and emotional development of a six year old is not the one which allows him or her to attend regular classes in school to a child’s full advantage and that the loss resulting from such an experiment might be bigger than any benefit expected.
The new idea supporters claim that the change is necessary in our rapidly growing and technologically changing society and thus it gives a child benefit to start earlier on with his / her education and to stand up to the requirements and challenges of the modern, united European market.
But as for the time being, children start primary school when they are seven. Primary school consists of 6 grades; then children have to set an exam enabling them to attend secondary school which lasts for 3 years. These 9 years of schooling are obligatory in Poland. After secondary school a child might choose a high school (college). Education here takes next 3 years and is finished with Polish “matura”, A-level exams which enable a person to seek academic education. After graduation young people might choose among universities or academies of various kinds.
The public opinion on Polish reformed educational system is divided, but since the nostalgic autumn approaches I would rather not go into discussing the subject in details. What I remember from my childhood in Cracow is that I would very impatiently be looking forward to the beginning of each school year, to choosing new notebooks, pencils, pens and newly printed, smelling with ink, books; to meeting with my school mates and exchanging our holiday stories. Everything seemed to be so simple and organized in a world ruled by the course of school days, breaks, class- tests and our school teacher “preaching”. I am sure that in this respect nothing has really changed and Polish pupils, regardless of any kind of reform whatsoever, still look forward to the ceremony of the first school day. They will gather solemnly dressed in a school gym and meet their friends and teachers and everything will start all over again.
September in Poland makes us all think about two important things: one is the beginning of World War II and the other the beginning of a new school year. Both are linked by one date. The first event, although remembered, remains in history, the other repeats itself every year and brings about the atmosphere of anticipation filled with a scent of fresh apples, ink, freshly redecorated classrooms and the feel of already cool mornings and a sound of an alarm clock waking you up for a new school day.
Anja