Commission Report (2002): Poland

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 18: Education and training

Progress since the last Regular Report

Further legislative progress has been made in this area during the reporting period.

Poland continued to participate in the second generation of the Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Youth Community programmes (see section A.b ­ Relations between the European Union and Poland).

The Minister of National Education and Sport issued two ordinances. The first one, aligning Polish legislation with the Directive concerning education of children of migrant workers, was adopted in October 2001 and entered partially into force in December 2001. The other, signed in April 2002, concerns the taking up and conducting of studies by foreigners and their participation in scientific research and training. The latter will allow, as from accession, EU citizens to take up studies in Poland and to participate in scientific research and training without discrimination.

Concerning reforms in the education and training system, the Ministry of National Education was reorganised and renamed in October 2001 as the Ministry of National Education and Sports. A new department for Vocational Education and Training and Continuing Vocational Education and Training was introduced with additional capacities.

Regarding the education reform initiated in 1998, a new direction was taken at the end of 2001 by the adoption of a Law amending the Law on the Teacher's Charter, the Law on the Education System and the Law introducing provisions implementing the reform of the school system, that puts more emphasis on vocational education and training. Most importantly, this new legislation aims at re-introducing technical schools at secondary level as well as qualifications at that level. The duration of tuition periods is intended to become more flexible, the approach of broad profiles in vocational education and training is to be strengthened as is the system of external examinations certifying vocational profiles.

This change is based on the Strategy for Development of National Education for 2001 -- 2006 adopted in October 2001. The strategy underlines the need for wider pre-school education, stimulating innovative approaches, development of continuous education, improvement of access to education for the rural population and creating conditions for the development of the information society. The strategy is part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Employment and Human Resources Development and both strategies are linked through the importance they attach to the need for proper adaptation of vocational education to the requirements of the labour market.

Overall assessment

Legislative alignment has been completed.

Poland is performing well in the relevant Community programmes, for which the national agencies are very active. For the Community Programmes, two separate organisations have been established as State Treasury Foundations, reporting to their respective supervisory boards: the National Agency for the Leonardo da Vinci Programme and the National Agency for the Socrates and Youth Programmes. They have staff of about 30 people, which seems sufficient to fulfil the tasks assigned to them.

The Ministry of National Education and Sport's administrative capacity is judged satisfactory overall with regard to both staff and equipment. Specific reinforcement in certain areas may be required, and the necessary infrastructure will need to be put in place to ensure the application of the legislation concerning the education of children of migrant workers.

The further implementation of the education reform should be given high priority. While the effects of the new policy line adopted at the end of last year are still to show results, greater attention should also be given to the area of continuing vocational education and training, as well as the idea of lifelong learning which is not yet sufficiently embedded in society's mentality.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that no major problems were to be expected in this field. Since the Opinion, Poland has achieved steady progress, including with regard to its participation in the relevant Community programmes. A high level of alignment with the acquis has been achieved and the administrative capacity is broadly in place.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Poland has not requested any transitional arrangement in this field. Poland is generally meeting the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this domain.

In order to complete preparations for membership, Poland's efforts now need to focus on ensuring an appropriate administrative capacity to implement the acquis in this area and more broadly on implementing its education reform.

---

Next: Chapter 19: Telecommunications and information
Up: 3.1. The chapters of the
Previous: Chapter 17: Science and research