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6.3. Gymnasium

The gymnasium (gimnazjum) was introduced in the school year 1999/2000 as a compulsory generał education school with a duration of 3 years, and is therefore designed for young people aged between 13 and 16 years. Ali primary school leavers continue their education in the gymnasium. Education in the gymnasium is divided by school subjects (the framework timetable for the gymnasium is attached in the annex). One of the aims of this cycle is to identify the abilities and interests of the pupil, and thus to facilitate his/her choice of a further educational pathway. The total weekly load for individual gymnasium years is 28 hours (periods). Within the hours to be freely allocated by the school head, the school may organise practical vocational training. These activities are organised for pupils who do not demonstrate potential for completion of education in a gymnasium within the prescribed time.

In addition to the type of gymnasium described above, special gymnasiums have been established. Curricular differences in this case are the same as between mainstream and special primary schools.

Education in the gymnasium ends with an examination which covers knowledge and skills in humanities, mathematics and natural Sciences. This examination is compulsory, though its result does not determine the pupil’s progression to the next year. The result obtained in the examination is given on the finał school certificate. It informs the school (the gymnasium and the post-gymnasium school chosen by the pupil), parents and the pupil himself/herself about the level of the latter’s achievements, and above all it should guide the choice of a further educational pathway. The examination, set by Regional Examination Commissionshas replaced entrance examinations to secondary schools, held for 7- and 8-year primary school leavers before the establishment of the gymnasium. The examination ending the third year of education in the gymnasium has been organised sińce the year 2002.

Gymnasium leavers are awarded the certificate of completion of education in the gymnasium (świadectwo ukończenia gimnazjum) which provides access to further education in post-gymnasium schools, that means: 2-3 year basie vocational schools, 3-year generał secondary schools, 3-year specialised secondary schools and 4-yeartechnical secondary schools.

Gymnasiums for children and young people. Statistical data (school year 2001/2002)

Number of schools Number of pupils Number of teachers

Total,    6 423    1743122    123650

ind.:

public gymnasiums_5 943_1717074_120722_ 7. Post-primary generał education schools (sińce 2001 post-gymnasium schools)

7.1. 4-year General lyceum (before the implementation of the Act of 2001)

It is a secondary school providing generał education at the end of which pupils may be awarded the maturity certificate (świadectwo dojrzałości). As an institution of 4-year education it will function till the year 2004. At that time the last class of generał lyceum graduates, who were enrolled on the basis of the certificate of completion of education in the 8-year primary school (until 1966 - 7-year primary school) and the results of entrance examinations organized by a given school, will leave this structure The entrance examination was a test covering knowledge and skills acguired in a primary school

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