Financing - Poland

Financing

As from 1999, and in its complete form from 2000, all educational tasks carried out by the three levels of territorial self-government are financed in the framework of general subsidy from the state budget. In the year 2000 a uniform system of allocation of funds with the use of the algorithmic formula based on the number of pupils was adopted for the whole education system. This formula is based on the real number of pupils, adequately increased by a system of identification which takes into account specific conditions (i.e. rural areas, small towns) as well as specific educational tasks, (i.e. presence of SEN pupils, integration of SEN pupils in mainstream education, vocational training, sports schools). The territorial self-government unit, as a body running or supporting the school, is responsible for the designing of a budget program (i.e. a plan of expenditure) for all schools and educational institutions in its respective area. Educational investments belong to territorial self-governments’ own tasks, although they can be co-financed from the state budget through regional authorities.

Private schools

In line with the Education System Act of 1991, schools can be of two types: public (state) schools, which offer free education within the framework of the core curricula, and non-public schools. The latter can be civic (social), church or private schools. The schools were called ‘social’ or ‘civic’ because of the huge amount of work that was invested in them by people from local communities – mostly parents and teachers. All these schools may have their own curricula, which are approved by the Minister of National Education. They are financed by fees received from parents. Funds can also come from private enterprises and foundations. Non-public schools with the rights of public schools are eligible for a grant calculated according to the number of pupils, which equals 100% of the average cost of educating a pupil in a public school.

Non-public schools in Poland have the right to issue school certificates that are recognised by all other schools and by the universities. Most non-public schools have small numbers of pupils and small classes. They may be distinguished from the public schools by their individualised teaching programs, by a wider range of curriculum choice and by a higher standard of foreign language teaching. In the 2006/2007 school year, there were 808 non-public primary schools (221 private, 81 church and 506 civic), 645 non-public lower secondary schools (205 private, 124 church and 316 civic), 447 non-public general upper secondary schools (179 private, 105 church and 163 civic), and 323 non-public vocational secondary and basic vocational schools – 2223 non-public schools altogether. Non-public primary school pupils make up 2.0% of the total number of pupils attending primary schools, pupils in non-public lower secondary schools – 2.9%, non-public general upper secondary school pupils – about 4.3% and non-public vocational secondary and basic vocational school pupils – 2.6%.