THE SITUATION IN POLAND

• 4-year general secondary schools
  
• 4-year vocational secondary schools
  
• 5-year technical secondary schools
  
• 3-year basic vocational schools.

On the completion of the 4-year general secondary school, pupils obtain a secondary school leaving certificate, awarded on the basis of school results, without a final examination.

This certificate mentions the subjects and the marks obtained at the end of the final year. It gives access to the Matura examination and/or to post-secondary (non-higher) education. It does not allow admission to higher education institutions.

Pupils leaving the 4-year vocational secondary schools are awarded, on the basis of positive results in vocational examination, a secondary vocational school leaving certificate, which gives access either to occupation or to the Matura examination

At the end of the 5-year secondary technical schools, pupils obtain, on the basis of the results in the final year of studies and the marks in the final vocational examination, a certificate, which confers the title of a technician. This certificate gives access to occupation and/or entitlement to sit for the Matura examination.

Pupils leaving the 3-year basic vocational schools have to sit for a vocational examination leading to a basic vocational school leaving certificate, conferring the title of a skilled worker.

This certificate gives access to the trade or occupation and/or to upper secondary education, preparing for the Matura examination.

The Matura examination is not compulsory in Poland, although it is necessary for all those pupils who wish to apply for admission to any type of higher education establishment.