The education in Poland starts at the age of seven years in a Primary School (Polish szkoła podstawowa), and it's preceded by kindergarten, which is no obligatory. Elementary level is divided on two parts: 3 years of so called integrated education (one teacher, who is also a tutor; only foreign languages and religion are taught by different ones). During the next three years of elementary school pupils are taught by teachers which are specialized in a given subject (maths, Polish, nature, 2 foreign languages, P.E. etc.).  Next is the lower secondary level consisting of three years in gymnasium (gimnazjum) starting at the age of 13, ends with an exam. This is followed by upper secondary level, which has several alternatives, the most common being the three years in a liceum or four years in a technikum:

•  Liceum Ogólnokształcące is the Polish equivalent of high school. They are attended by those who plan to attend university or who do not have any desire to pursue a specialized career. Polish high schools are attended by children ages from 16 to 19 or 21.Polish high schools are divided into several types:

•     Technikum - A vocational high school is known as a "technikum”; designed for those who want to start working immediately after finishing their compulsory education or continue educations at universities or colleges. The following are some examples (in alphabetical order):
•     Technikum Budowlane: Vocational Technical High School for Building Technology
•     Technikum Ceramiczne: Vocational Technical High School of ceramics/earthenware (very few remaining)
•     Technikum Drogowe Zespołu Szkół Budowlanych: Vocational Technical High School of Road Engineering
•     Technikum Elektryczne: Vocational Technical High School of Electronics
•     Technikum Fryzjerskie: Vocational Technical High School for Hairdressing
•     Technikum Gastronomiczne: Secondary Technical School of Catering (Note: not a cooking school, per se)
•     Technikum Handlowe: Vocational Trade High School
•     Technikum Hodowlane: Vocational Technical High School of Agriculture
•     Technikum Hotelarskie: Vocational Technical High School of Hotel Administration
•     Technikum Łączności: Vocational Technical High School of Telecommunications
•     Technikum Mechaniczne: Vocational Technical High School for Mechanics
•     Technikum Przemysłu Drzewnego: Vocational Technical High School of Forestry/Wood-related industries
•     Technikum Uzupełniające dla Dorosłych: Vocational School for Adult Remedial Education

Both end with a maturity examination (matura), and may be followed by several forms of upper education, leading to licencjat or inżynier (the Polish Bologna Process first cycle qualification), magister (the Polish Bologna Process second cycle qualification) and eventually doktor (the Polish Bologna Process third cycle qualification).

Institutions of higher education

There are following types of studies:

•     Vocational courses - graduates are granted bachelor level titles of: licencjat (lic.) or inżynier (inż.);
•     complementary magister-level courses for holders of the above mentioned professional titles, the graduates obtain the title of magister or equivalent;
•     uniform magister-level courses - graduates are granted master level titles depending on the profile of the school;
•     PhD studies for magister-level graduates; graduates obtain the academic degree of doktor;
•     Post-graduate studies.

Higher education courses are provided in various modes of study, including regular daily studies as the predominant arrangement as well evening and extramural studies, and those offered in the distance-learning system.
At present, the following two types of institutions may be distinguished:

•     Higher education institutions, which offer both university-type and vocational education. Most of these institutions, and state ones in particular, carry out scientific research and have the right to award both professional titles and academic degrees;
•     Schools of higher vocational education, which provide only vocational education and have the right to award only the titles of licencjat and inżynier. Those graduating from these schools may continue their studies in university-type institutions and subsequently obtain the title of magister or magister inżynier.

University-level higher education

University-type higher education institutions are divided into the following categories:

•     universities
•     technical universities and academies
•     academies of agriculture
•     academies of economics
•     teacher training schools and academies
•     academies of medicine
•     academies of fine arts, music, drama, film and TV
•     academies of physical education
•     academies of theology
•     merchant navy schools
•     military academies
•     schools of police
•     fire service school

University education aims to train independent professionals who are able to undertake fundamental and applied research or creative artistic work. Students learn to make use of scientific research and gain research-based knowledge and experience. Moreover, university-type institutions provide all of the above-mentioned types of studies, which do have an impact on the content of some courses: while they remain concrete in approach and are more focused on professional skills, a strong emphasis is placed on applying scientific knowledge for professional needs. The other basic tasks of university-type institutions are:
•    training holders of professional titles to supplement their general and specialist knowledge;
•    Developing and promoting national culture and technological advancement.

Non-university higher education

These institutions train students in specific vocational areas and prepare them to practise particular professions. The other basic tasks of the schools of higher vocational education are:

•    supplementing professional skills and specialist knowledge;
•     retraining within a given vocational specialist option;
•     Educating students in the spirit of respect for human rights, patriotism, democracy and responsibility for the well-being of society, the State and one’s place of work.

Courses include at least six semesters of teaching classes and at least 15 weeks of practical placement.
Foreign languages
Students in Polish schools typically learn one or two foreign languages at schools. Generally, in 2005/06 the most popular obligatory foreign languages in Polish schools were:

•     English – 67.9%
•     German – 33.3%
•     French – 13.3%
•     Spanish – 10.2%
•     Russian – 6.1%
•     Italian – 4.3%
•     Latin – 0.6%
•     Others – 0.1%

In 2005/06 there were 49,200 students in schools for national minorities, most of them in German, Kashubian, Ukrainian and Belarusian.
The Centre of Continuing Learning in Chojnice has been established in 1976 on the background of previous schools for adults. Today, CKU is modern school, mostly for young adults, who did not manage to finish their education as teenagers. Our school was founded to help students to find their own way of living in changing realities and to prepare them to successful work life. Students can both finish High School (Liceum Ogólnokształcące) and learn to get job preparation on following specialities:

•     Technikum Budowlane: Vocational Technical High School for Building Technology
•     Technikum Elektryczne: Vocational Technical High School of Electronics  
•     Technikum Gastronomiczne: Secondary Technical School of Catering (Note: not a cooking school, per se)
•     Technikum Handlowe: Vocational Trade High School
•     Technikum Hodowlane: Vocational Technical High School of Agriculture
•     Technikum Hotelarskie: Vocational Technical High School of Hotel Administration
•    Technikum Łączności: Vocational Technical High School of Telecommunications
•     Technikum Mechaniczne: Vocational Technical High School for Mechanics
•     Technikum Przemysłu Drzewnego: Vocational Technical High School of Forestry/Wood-related industries
•     Technikum Administracji:  Vocational Technical High School of Administration
•     Technikum Informatyczne: Vocational Technical High School of Computer Studies
•     Technikum Ekonomiczne:  Vocational Technical High School of Economic Studies

Students can choose evening or weekend classes on the most of specialisations as well as improve their knowledge in e-learning (as a back-up of traditional learning system).
Our school provides also many types of courses, both practical and theoretical (for example computer courses, language courses, for shop assistants or for accountants).
The school has 20 classrooms, most of them are modern equipped and prepared to specific studies as: computer labs, electronic lab, cooking lab, library, and free internet access (in library). There is also an opportunity to get practical knowledge in a simulation company „Transtur”. Our teachers prepare more than 400 students to pass their Matura, and about 700 learners who continue their education get job preparation.
Our students came both from town and rural areas, and most of them have to deal with peers drop-out; as they are obliged to cope with finding job, family and education; and suffers from social disadvantages. Teachers, hired in CKU, are not only specialists in their subjects, but tutors as well. As there is no specialist preparation, all employees are aware of difficulties that face our students. They do all they can to support them not only in school life but other aspects as well.The education in Poland starts at the age of seven years in a Primary School (Polish szkoła podstawowa), and it's preceded by kindergarten, which is no obligatory. Elementary level is divided on two parts: 3 years of so called integrated education (one teacher, who is also a tutor; only foreign languages and religion are taught by different ones). During the next three years of elementary school pupils are taught by teachers which are specialized in a given subject (maths, Polish, nature, 2 foreign languages, P.E. etc.).  Next is the lower secondary level consisting of three years in gymnasium (gimnazjum) starting at the age of 13, ends with an exam. This is followed by upper secondary level, which has several alternatives, the most common being the three years in a liceum or four years in a technikum:

•     Liceum Ogólnokształcące is the Polish equivalent of high school. They are attended by those who plan to attend university or who do not have any desire to pursue a specialized career. Polish high schools are attended by children ages from 16 to 19 or 21.Polish high schools are divided into several types:

                                   •    The General Liceum (16-19)
                                   •    The Specialized Liceum (16-19)
                                   •    The Supplementary Liceum (18-21)

•     Technikum - A vocational high school is known as a "technikum”; designed for those who want to start working immediately after finishing their compulsory education or continue educations at universities or colleges. The following are some examples (in alphabetical order):
•     Technikum Budowlane: Vocational Technical High School for Building Technology
•     Technikum Ceramiczne: Vocational Technical High School of ceramics/earthenware (very few remaining)
•     Technikum Drogowe Zespołu Szkół Budowlanych: Vocational Technical High School of Road Engineering
•     Technikum Elektryczne: Vocational Technical High School of Electronics
•     Technikum Fryzjerskie: Vocational Technical High School for Hairdressing
•     Technikum Gastronomiczne: Secondary Technical School of Catering (Note: not a cooking school, per se)
•     Technikum Handlowe: Vocational Trade High School
•     Technikum Hodowlane: Vocational Technical High School of Agriculture
•     Technikum Hotelarskie: Vocational Technical High School of Hotel Administration
•     Technikum Łączności: Vocational Technical High School of Telecommunications
•     Technikum Mechaniczne: Vocational Technical High School for Mechanics
•     Technikum Przemysłu Drzewnego: Vocational Technical High School of Forestry/Wood-related industries
•     Technikum Uzupełniające dla Dorosłych: Vocational School for Adult Remedial Education

Both end with a maturity examination (matura), and may be followed by several forms of upper education, leading to licencjat or inżynier (the Polish Bologna Process first cycle qualification), magister (the Polish Bologna Process second cycle qualification) and eventually doktor (the Polish Bologna Process third cycle qualification).

Institutions of higher education

There are following types of studies:

•     Vocational courses - graduates are granted bachelor level titles of: licencjat (lic.) or inżynier (inż.);
•     complementary magister-level courses for holders of the above mentioned professional titles, the graduates obtain the title of magister or equivalent;
•     uniform magister-level courses - graduates are granted master level titles depending on the profile of the school;
•     PhD studies for magister-level graduates; graduates obtain the academic degree of doktor;
•     Post-graduate studies.

Higher education courses are provided in various modes of study, including regular daily studies as the predominant arrangement as well evening and extramural studies, and those offered in the distance-learning system.
At present, the following two types of institutions may be distinguished:

•     Higher education institutions, which offer both university-type and vocational education. Most of these institutions, and state ones in particular, carry out scientific research and have the right to award both professional titles and academic degrees;
•     Schools of higher vocational education, which provide only vocational education and have the right to award only the titles of licencjat and inżynier. Those graduating from these schools may continue their studies in university-type institutions and subsequently obtain the title of magister or magister inżynier.

University-level higher education

University-type higher education institutions are divided into the following categories:

•     universities
•     technical universities and academies
•     academies of agriculture
•     academies of economics
•     teacher training schools and academies
•     academies of medicine
•     academies of fine arts, music, drama, film and TV
•     academies of physical education
•     academies of theology
•     merchant navy schools
•     military academies
•     schools of police
•     fire service school

University education aims to train independent professionals who are able to undertake fundamental and applied research or creative artistic work. Students learn to make use of scientific research and gain research-based knowledge and experience. Moreover, university-type institutions provide all of the above-mentioned types of studies, which do have an impact on the content of some courses: while they remain concrete in approach and are more focused on professional skills, a strong emphasis is placed on applying scientific knowledge for professional needs. The other basic tasks of university-type institutions are:

•    training holders of professional titles to supplement their general and specialist knowledge;
•    Developing and promoting national culture and technological advancement.

Non-university higher education

These institutions train students in specific vocational areas and prepare them to practise particular professions. The other basic tasks of the schools of higher vocational education are:

•     supplementing professional skills and specialist knowledge;
•     retraining within a given vocational specialist option;
•     Educating students in the spirit of respect for human rights, patriotism, democracy and responsibility for the well-being of society, the State and one’s place of work.

Courses include at least six semesters of teaching classes and at least 15 weeks of practical placement.

Foreign languages

Students in Polish schools typically learn one or two foreign languages at schools. Generally, in 2005/06 the most popular obligatory foreign languages in Polish schools were:

•     English – 67.9%
•     German – 33.3%
•     French – 13.3%
•     Spanish – 10.2%
•     Russian – 6.1%
•     Italian – 4.3%
•     Latin – 0.6%
•     Others – 0.1%

In 2005/06 there were 49,200 students in schools for national minorities, most of them in German, Kashubian, Ukrainian and Belarusian.
The Centre of Continuing Learning in Chojnice has been established in 1976 on the background of previous schools for adults. Today, CKU is modern school, mostly for young adults, who did not manage to finish their education as teenagers. Our school was founded to help students to find their own way of living in changing realities and to prepare them to successful work life. Students can both finish High School (Liceum Ogólnokształcące) and learn to get job preparation on following specialities:

•     Technikum Budowlane: Vocational Technical High School for Building Technology
•     Technikum Elektryczne: Vocational Technical High School of Electronics  
•     Technikum Gastronomiczne: Secondary Technical School of Catering (Note: not a cooking school, per se)
•     Technikum Handlowe: Vocational Trade High School
•     Technikum Hodowlane: Vocational Technical High School of Agriculture
•     Technikum Hotelarskie: Vocational Technical High School of Hotel Administration
•     Technikum Łączności: Vocational Technical High School of Telecommunications
•     Technikum Mechaniczne: Vocational Technical High School for Mechanics
•     Technikum Przemysłu Drzewnego: Vocational Technical High School of Forestry/Wood-related industries
•     Technikum Administracji:  Vocational Technical High School of Administration
•     Technikum Informatyczne: Vocational Technical High School of Computer Studies
•     Technikum Ekonomiczne:  Vocational Technical High School of Economic Studies

Students can choose evening or weekend classes on the most of specialisations as well as improve their knowledge in e-learning (as a back-up of traditional learning system).
Our school provides also many types of courses, both practical and theoretical (for example computer courses, language courses, for shop assistants or for accountants).
The school has 20 classrooms, most of them are modern equipped and prepared to specific studies as: computer labs, electronic lab, cooking lab, library, and free internet access (in library). There is also an opportunity to get practical knowledge in a simulation company „Transtur”. Our teachers prepare more than 400 students to pass their Matura, and about 700 learners who continue their education get job preparation.
Our students came both from town and rural areas, and most of them have to deal with peers drop-out; as they are obliged to cope with finding job, family and education; and suffers from social disadvantages. Teachers, hired in CKU, are not only specialists in their subjects, but tutors as well. As there is no specialist preparation, all employees are aware of difficulties that face our students. They do all they can to support them not only in school life but other aspects as well.