The history of education in Poland is a compelling story of resilience, reform, and reinvention. From clandestine schools during foreign rule to today’s modern, state-supported institutions, Poland’s educational system has been shaped by centuries of social movements, political upheaval, and national aspiration. Understanding its trajectory sheds light on both the challenges and successes that have defined the country’s approach to learning and teaching.
Enlightenment and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Before Poland disappeared from the map of Europe in the late 18th century, it was already establishing its intellectual foundations. One of the most significant educational reforms of the early modern era occurred in 1773, when the Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej) was founded. Often described as the world’s first ministry of education, it was formed under the influence of the Enlightenment and became a model for secular, state-led education.
The Commission restructured curricula, introduced new teaching materials, improved teacher training, and sought to make education more accessible, especially to the emerging middle class. At the time, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s education system included parish schools, town schools, and Jesuit colleges, with the Jagiellonian University in Kraków serving as the intellectual centre of the nation.
The Partition Era and Underground Education
Poland’s three partitions (1772, 1793, 1795) by Russia, Prussia, and Austria led to the country’s erasure from the political map for 123 years. Each occupying power imposed its own education policies—often aimed at suppressing Polish language and identity.
- In Prussia, education was heavily Germanised, with Polish banned from schools. However, the Prussian model also introduced a more structured and universal schooling system.
- In Russia, efforts to russify Polish youth escalated, especially after uprisings in 1830 and 1863. Polish textbooks and teaching were outlawed.
- In Austrian Galicia, relative autonomy allowed a more lenient approach. Polish was permitted in schools, and higher education institutions like the Jagiellonian University and the University of Lwów continued to operate in Polish.
During this time, secret education (tajne komplety) flourished. Teachers, often at great personal risk, conducted clandestine classes in homes and churches, preserving Polish culture, literature, and history.
The Second Republic: A Time of Rebuilding
Following Poland’s return to independence in 1918, the country faced the monumental task of unifying three disparate education systems inherited from the partitioning powers. The 1924 Jędrzejewicz reform marked a major step in modernising Polish education. It standardised school levels, introduced compulsory schooling, and established teacher education institutions.
Key features included:
- Compulsory education for children aged 7 to 14.
- A dual-track secondary system, consisting of general academic and vocational paths.
- Emphasis on civic education and patriotism, with Polish language and history restored to central positions.
Despite limited resources and the challenge of rural illiteracy, the interwar period saw a marked rise in literacy and school attendance. Universities flourished, with institutions like the University of Warsaw and Warsaw University of Technology attracting students from across the country.
World War II: Learning in the Shadows
The outbreak of World War II devastated Poland’s educational infrastructure. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union systematically dismantled schools and universities, arrested professors, and destroyed libraries. In the German-occupied areas, secondary and higher education for Poles was outright banned. Yet, in defiance, Poles built one of the largest underground education networks in Europe.
The Secret Teaching Organisation (Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska) coordinated covert classes for children and young adults. Higher education was also conducted in secret, with entire university-level programmes taught underground in Warsaw, Kraków, and Lwów. These efforts helped preserve intellectual continuity during one of Poland’s darkest periods.
Communist Poland: Centralised and Ideological
After 1945, Poland came under Soviet influence, and education was restructured to serve the goals of the new socialist state. The government introduced centralised control, ideological indoctrination, and secularism. While the Ministry of Education guaranteed free access to primary and secondary education, schools were expected to promote Marxist-Leninist values.
Key developments during this period included:
- Universal primary education and growing access to secondary schools.
- Expansion of technical and vocational training, aligned with state economic plans.
- Elimination of religion from schools, although catechism continued informally through parishes.
- Rapid literacy campaigns, which by the 1960s had almost eliminated illiteracy in Poland.
Despite political pressures, Polish educators often found ways to introduce critical thinking and maintain cultural identity. By the 1980s, students and teachers played an active role in the Solidarity movement, demanding reforms and academic freedom.
The Post-Communist Transition
The fall of communism in 1989 brought sweeping changes. Poland began reforming its educational system to reflect democratic values, decentralisation, and alignment with European standards. The Education System Act of 1991 laid the groundwork for a new model, with key changes including:
- Restoring autonomy to schools and universities.
- Reintroducing religious education, though participation became voluntary.
- Establishing school boards and giving more power to local governments.
- Encouraging private and non-public schools, leading to a more diverse educational landscape.
The 1999 reform reorganised the school structure into six-year primary schools, three-year lower secondary schools (gimnazjum), and three-year upper secondary schools. The system also placed emphasis on external exams (e.g., the matura) and quality assurance.
21st Century: Reform and Debate
In recent decades, Poland’s education system has experienced both praise and controversy. PISA assessments in the 2000s showed impressive progress, particularly in reading and science, placing Polish students among Europe’s best performers.
However, debates about curriculum content, teacher pay, and school structures remain. A significant overhaul came in 2017, when the gimnazjum level was abolished, and the system returned to an eight-year primary school followed by a four- or five-year secondary path (either liceum or technikum). Proponents saw this as a way to reduce fragmentation; critics argued it caused confusion and disrupted school communities.
Technological modernisation, civic education, and climate awareness have become increasingly integrated into Polish curricula. At the same time, educators and students continue to push for reforms in mental health support, inclusive education, and teacher working conditions.
Today and Tomorrow
Today, Poland’s education system includes:
- Public and private institutions, all under state oversight.
- Free and compulsory education from age 7 to 18.
- A growing emphasis on digital skills, foreign languages, and critical thinking.
- A well-developed higher education sector, with universities attracting international students and researchers.
The legacy of resistance, adaptation, and innovation continues to define Polish education. From the Commission of National Education to secret wartime classrooms and modern-day reforms, Poland’s schools have always been more than places of learning—they are spaces where national identity, resilience, and hope for the future take shape.