STAN I PERSPEKTYWY WYCHOWANIA PRZEDSZKOLNEGO W POLSCE
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN POLAND. CURRENT SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the problem of preschool education in Poland, particularly on the low level of preschool enrolment rate in rural and poor areas. The 1990s witnessed some profound changes in the Polish education system. These changes aimed to decentralise and democratise the education system, and adjust the education system to the changing environment. At the same time the reform of preschool institutions has not been implemented. The authors of the education reform implemented in 1999 did not take into account the importance of preschool education. There is a big disproportion between Poland and other European Union countries in preschool enrolment rate. The results of official statistics on preschool education were, compared to other European Union countries, very disturbing. On the one hand, the preschool enrolment rate for children aged 3 to 6 is about 51% in Poland, on the other hand the enrolment rate for children attending preschool institutions in European Union countries is about 90%. Since 1990, during the process of economic transformation and the education system decentralisation, local authorities have closed an excessive number of preschool institutions (35% of nursery schools and 32% of preschool institutions attached to primary schools). In general, 8637 preschool institutions were closed down, especially in rural areas. Research carried out in Poland shows that it is necessary to implement the reform of preschool institutions in order to increase the preschool enrolment rate as well as parents’ awareness of the importance of the preschool education.

• Details
• Contents