Poland

Poland

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres making it the 69th largest country in the world and 9th in Europe. Poland has a population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 33rd most populous country in the world.

The establishment of a Polish state is often identified with the adoption of Christianity by its ruler Mieszko I in 966, when the state covered territory similar to that of present-day Poland. Poland became a kingdom in 1025, and in 1569 it cemented a long association with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by uniting to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth collapsed in 1795, and its territory was partitioned among Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Poland regained its independence in 1918 after World War I but lost it again in World War II, occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Poland lost over six million citizens in World War II, and emerged several years later as a socialist republic within the Eastern Bloc under strong Soviet influence. In 1989 communist rule was overthrown and Poland became what is constitutionally known as the "Third Polish Republic". Poland is a unitary state made up of sixteen voivodeships. Poland is also a member of the European Union, NATO and OECD.

Educational system in Poland

The Polish education system seems to be very complicated. Children started their education at the age of seven and the compulsory age lasts to sixteen. Polish schools are usually public. They are also co-educational. At first, children are sent to the primary school. It lasts six years. They are learnt such subjects as: languages, math, music, art, history and physical education. After graduating the sixth class they are supposed to take the first serious exam, but the results of this exam don't determine what type of junior high schools the students will attend to. Then children chose the junior high school and they attend there for three years. At this school there are a lot of additional subjects such as chemistry, social studies, biology and geography. Before they graduate they have to pass the final exams which is consisted of two sections: a humanistic one and a science one. At the age of sixteen they leave this school and if they would like to educate further they take the exam to the secondary school.

They chose among high school, technical school or vocational school. If they are going to study at the university, they start a high school or a technical school. If they don't want to study, they choose the vocational. After three or four year of attending to the secondary school, most of students take Matura-exam. Before they start to study, they have to pass the entrance exam. To study at the university you are required to get the good results of Matura-exam. You will receive the Bachelor's Degree after three years of studing and present your thesis. After next two years of complementary Master-level courses you will get the Master's Degree. Of course the Master thesis is necessary. You can also choose the five-year-study, but in this case you receive only the Master Degree, you don't get the Bachelor's Degree. complementary Master-level courses - studia magisterskie uzupełniające