Education at the primary school and at the secondary school in the Republic of Poland is usually undertaken according to the place of residence. However, sending the child to the school which is located in the place of pupil’s residence is not compulsory. The choice of the post-secondary schools is individual.
Primary schools and secondary schools, apart from conducting classes, are also dealing with organizing the pupil’s leisure time . These are so-called day rooms in which children can stay upon completion of classes, usually until 5pm - 6pm. In day rooms There are teachers in the day rooms, who apart from providing a care also provide a help in doing homework. Parents who are not able, on account of their professional obligations, to care for children after the lessons, can leave them in the day room.
On parents request, religion classes can be organized for children and teenagers at public nursery schools, primary schools and secondary schools,. At public post-secondary schools, the religion class is being organized at the parents’ request. Every pupil after finishing 18 years can decide if he intends to attend religion classes.
Polish schools are equipped with canteens and buffets. Buying dinners out for children at schools is possible. The cost of dinners per month depends on the school and it is usually around 60 up to 150 PLN. At some schools we can observe a special dress code by wearing so-called school uniforms. It depends on the headmaster’s personal touch and the internal rules of a school. Every school can establish its own type of the dress code and provide it to pupils for a small payment. Changing shoes by pupils is compulsory. Every pupil has the duty of bringing along shoes which he will change before classes.
Parents who are in a difficult financial situation can apply for the social welfare. A Social Welfare Centre, having jurisdiction over the place of residence can grant the welfare to the family. Help can be granted at the form of paying for meals at school or the nursery school, or in the form of the purchase of textbooks and other resources for the child.
