Centre of Continuing Education in Sopot, POLAND

1. Centre of Continuing Education in Sopot,POLAND CC-WISE: Cross-Cultural Walk in the Streets of Europe 1st Project Meeting Sopot, Bulgaria, 4-7 th February 2005

2. Where are we located? We are located in the North of Polandbetween Gdansk and Gdynia (Tri-City) Sopot

3. The City of Sopot Sopot - one of the most beautiful towns of the Baltic seaside began to create its legend as a fashionable resort at the beginning of the 20's of the XIX century. Now, it is distinguished by the small-town charm of its narrow streets and colourful wooden verandas. It is also an entertainment centre of the Tri-City, a place of leisure for both residents and tourists.

4. Our institution • Centre of Continuing Education (CKU) was established in 1946 • Our schools offer vocational education fo people aged 19+ who would like either to gain new qualifications or additional professional skills • The structure of CKU is developed; we have – apart from the schools – University of The Third Age, Practical Companies, an association LABOUR, EDUCATION & HEALTH andTeachers’Training Centre (TTC) • TTC is responsible for supporting teachers in their work, permanent improving the methodical skills, creating and implementing a new European dimension of teaching as well as for involving local teachers and pupils into the educational programmes of EU.

5. The educational system in Poland

6. Education – basic principles • The right to gain knowledge and the freedom of teaching in Poland are safeguarded by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland • The basic legislative act that regulates the functioning of the educational system is the Act of September7th, 1991 amended in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003 • The most important legislative acts for higher education sector are: the Act of September 12th, 1990 and the Act of June 26th1997 on Higher Vocational Schools with futher amendments

7. Education – basic principles Chart for Teachers – an official document that indicates and regulates forms and ways of becoming a teacher in Poland. • educated, with diploma and pedagogical preparation • ready to develop their qualifications,skills and abilities • fufill healthy conditions • with moral/ ethic values

8. Education – basic principles • Education in Poland is compulsory until the age of 18 • Attending a primary school and a gymnasium fulfilled the educational obligation • Schools can be of two types: - Public (state) - Non-public schools • A reform of educational system was introduced in 1999

9. Responsibles Bodies • As from January 1st, 1999 – public schools and educational institutions have been taken over and run by territorial authorities • At the central level: the Minister of National Eduaction and Sport co-ordinates and executes the educational policy of our state • At the regional level: an Educational Superintendent – Kurator – carries out the policy of the Minister of Eductaion in a voivodship • At the district level – powiat – authorities are in charge of managing post – gymnasium and post-secondary schools • At the local level – gmina – authorities run primary and lower secondary schools • A school Headmaster – recruited on the basis of an open competition and employed by the leading body for 5 years

10. New Structure of the Educational System in Poland • 6 – year primary school ( pupiles aged 7 – 13) -test at the end of the primary school – as a result of the test, pupils receive an information about the areas they have mastered and which they still need to work on • 3 – year gymnasium (pupiles aged 13 –16) - pre-orientation exam at the end of the gymnasium – in order to sum up all the work of a pupil in gymnasium and to choose the post – gymnasium school =>constitute the lower secondary levelof education

11. Lower secondary level of education What is typical for the lower secondary level of education? • teaching is orgainisedin broad profiles • introducing pupils into the world of knowlegde • interdisciplinary dimension of teaching (f.ex.: links between history, geography and Polish lesson) • first steps into the area of the civic education • helping to develop social skills and abilities • a possibility of attending an extra curricular activities for those pupils who are eager to develop their knowledge (an individual decision of each school) • supporting drop-out children: help of school’s psychologist and Psychological and Pedagogical Centre, an additional educative hour per week

12. New Structure of the Educational System in Poland • Post – gymnasium schools - 3-year general secondary school – leading up to obtain secondary school certificate (matura exam) - 3-year profiled lyceum–providing general education and offering tuition in individual vocational profiles, leading up to matura exam -4-year technical secondary school –awarding vocational diploma

13. New Structure of the Educational System in Poland • 2- year supplementary lyceum – leading up to secondary school certificate (matura exam), for graduates of basic vocational schools who wish to level up their qualifications and obtain a complete secondary education • 2-3 year basic vocational school – awarding vocational diploma, followed up in a supplementary lyceum or supplementary technicum • 3-year supplementary technical secondary school – awarding vocational diploma, leading up to matura examination, for graduates of the vocational school • Up to 2,5 year post – lyceum school – for graduates of general secondary education

14. New Structure of the Educational System in Poland • Schools of higher vocational education • 3-year teacher training college – for preparing pre-school and primary school teachers nad for training well – qualificated foreign languages’ teachers • 4,5- 6 year school of higher education – university type, Master’s Degree Studies

15. „If one dreams alone It is just a dream If one dreams with many It is the start of a new reality” (Anonymous Author)