PiS have announced plans to carry out a major reform of today's largely neglected educational system.
Neglected? Could you perhaps give us details on how the system is neglected, given that by all accounts, the standards are increasing year-on year?
This year an alarmingly low percentage of pupils passed their secondary-school-leaving exam
Just to remind you Polonius, the II RP education system that everyone talks so favourably about was very tough to pass. A lower percentage of kids passing is a good thing in many people's minds.
and many vocaitomnal schools have been closed
That trend started long before PO came into power.
A National Curriculum Council will revamp existing curricula and draw up new reading lists for pupils.
In other words, PiS will turn education (again) into politics. What's wrong with the existing cirricula? What about reading lists? Why does there need to be a PiS-appointed council to decide reading lists? Right now, the job is done by people with years of experience within education.
current set-up will be radically modified: junior secondary school (middle school = gimnazjum) will be abolished and the traditonal 8 + 4 scheme will be restored.
In other words, it will go completely against all the pedagogical evidence that shows that children benefit from a break point at the start of puberty - 11/12. It also goes against the fact that standards have risen dramatically since 8+4 was dropped. Oh, and it will also involve a costly reform at a time when the country still isn't rich.
Youngsters will begin their education at agre 7.
So we'll go back to adults in school at 19 years old. We'll also have them finishing university at 24/25, which means the birth rate will drop even further.
The reforms will bring the educational system more into line with the expectations and needs of the Polish nation and take parents' demand into greater account.
If it took the needs of Poland into account, then they would start school at 4 in order to get people paying social insurance quicker.
PiS are classic opportunists. They know that if they control education, they can control people. Classic communism.