Crèches, kids’ clubs and day-care providers (and nannies providing individual care) form a separate system of care for children aged up to 3 years, which is not linked to the education system (see also childcare settings in Chapter 4). The education system comprises the school education system and the higher education system. The school education system includes nursery schools and alternative preschool education settings for children aged 3 to 6/7 years, schools for children and young people, schools for adults, stage II sectoral vocational schools and post-secondary schools, and specific types of other educational institutions. Outside the education system, various entities provide adult education as part of economic activity or labour-market training activity.

Care for children aged up to 3 years

A crèche is managed by the director and a kids’ club by the head (both are referred to as “heads” in this chapter). The head, together with childminders, is responsible for the quality of childcare. Where the number of children is higher than specified in the legislation, a crèche additionally employs a nurse or midwife. A day-care provider looks after several children at his/her own premises and is responsible for the quality of care. Day-care providers are employed by local government units, other institutions, organisations or natural persons, or are self-employed. 

External supervision of the three childcare institutions (as they are referred to in the legislation) or settings is the responsibility of a local government body at the level of commune (the lowest-level local government unit). As part of their duties, staff authorised by such a body carry out inspections at childcare institutions, which cover all of their activities, including nursing and educational care and childcare and educational activities. 

The national regulations issued in September 2023 set standards for the quality of childcare which can be considered by local government units supervising childcare institutions, entities that administer childcare institutions or employ day-care providers, and self-employed day-care providers. The standards address the work with children (childcare and educational objectives), children’s safety, development and safety of staff, monitoring and evaluation, and collaboration between childminders and parents (see also Chapter 11.1 “Quality assurance in early childhood and school education”). 

Preschool and school education

The same arrangements are in place for management staff, staff monitoring educational quality and staff responsible for guidance in preschool education and school education. 

A nursery school or school is managed by the head who can be either a teacher or a non-teaching head. In addition to his/her duties as the head of staff (e.g. employment and dismissal of staff, teacher performance appraisal), the head is responsible for, for example, the organisation of work; pedagogical supervision of the school’s activities, including educational quality; the organisation of psychological and educational support; and continuing professional development of teachers. 

External supervision of nursery schools and schools is the responsibility of the ministry in charge of school education (or another ministry overseeing specific types of schools such as agricultural schools) and the Regional Education Authority (REA) in a given province. Inspectors working in the ministries and the REAs conduct inspections in educational institutions which are part of the school education system. 

Guidance is provided by the following specialists, who are classified in the legislation as teachers and are employed under the same conditions as teachers: teacher-educationalist (referred to in the legislation as teacher-pedagogue) and special education counsellors (referred to in the legislation as special education pedagogue); teacher-psychologist; teacher-educational therapist; teacher-speech therapist; teacher-careers adviser; and teacher-methodological adviser and teacher-consultant. Educationalists and education counsellors, psychologists, educational therapists, speech therapists and careers advisers work with pupils, teachers and / or parents. Methodological advisers and consultants support only teaching and management staff.  

Other staff working in nursery schools and schools are support teachers, who co-provide inclusive education or education for pupils with disabilities, socially maladjusted pupils or those at risk of social maladjustment; teacher assistants who are non-teaching staff supporting teachers in their work with pupils with disabilities, maladjusted pupils or those at risk of social maladjustment; and Roma education assistants, who support pupils of the Roma minority and collaborate with teachers and parents. The legislation sets out conditions under which nursery schools and schools employ such staff. 

Schools also employ teachers-librarians, and school nurses or school hygienists, dental practitioners and dental hygienists.

Higher education

The rector of a higher education institution (HEI) is the only management position (or a single-person authority) referred to in the legislation, but the statutes of an HEI may provide for other management positions (or single-person authorities), aside from collective governing bodies established by law. The statutes of an HEI also establish management positions (other than the rector). As part of his/her powers and responsibilities, the rector manages the institution, including financial management; drafts an institutional strategy and submits reports on its implementation; sets and implements a human resources policy, and appoints and dismisses staff in management positions; and establishes degree programmes and doctoral schools. The rector carries out his/her duties in collaboration with collective bodies of the institution. 

Within their autonomy in the area of internal quality assurance, HEIs put in place various organisational arrangements; for example, they appoint the rector’s representative or a committee or establish a unit for quality assurance. They also independently define responsibilities and qualification requirements for such representatives, committee members or staff. External quality assurance is the responsibility of the Polish Accreditation Committee; see Chapter 11.2. 

The legislation on higher education does not address career guidance or psychological counselling. Based on their internal regulations, HEIs have established careers offices which employ careers advisers and administrative staff, and psychological counselling services which employ qualified psychologists and psychotherapists. 

Adult education

Schools and other institutions providing adult education within the school education system are managed by heads, and the arrangements for staff responsible for management and pedagogical supervision or educational quality monitoring are the same as in preschool and school education. Like for preschool and school education, external pedagogical supervision is the responsibility of the competent ministries and the REAs, and inspections are conducted by REA inspectors. 

Schools for adults and other adult education providers within the school education system employ teachers-careers advisers, and their management and teaching staff are supported by teachers-methodological advisers and teachers-consultants. 

There are no specific regulations on staff for entities which provide adult education outside the school education system, as part of economic activity or labour-market training activities. Such entities employ their management and other staff based on the generally applicable labour laws and their internal regulations. However, they should demonstrate that they employ qualified staff if they apply, on a voluntary basis, for accreditation awarded by the Head of the REA (see Chapter 11.3, Quality Assurance in Adult Education and Training). 

Legislation

NB.: In January 2021 the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education were merged into the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), and the MES was divided into the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in January 2024. Thus, regulations on school education and higher education were issued by different ministries.  

General legislation

• Act of 26 June 1974, The Labour Code (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 26 czerwca 1974 r., Kodeks Pracy (z późn. zm.)). The Act specifies rights and duties of employees, as part of the employment relationship, which are not regulated by specific legislation. The Code applies, for example, to non-teaching heads of nursery schools and schools, and non-academic staff employed in HEIs.

• Act of 10 October 2002 on the Minimum Wage (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 10 października 2002 r. o minimalnym wynagrodzeniu (z późn. zm.)). The Act sets, among other things, an annually inflation-indexed minimum monthly salary for employees.

• Act of 17 December 1998 on Retirement Pensions and Disability Pensions from the Social Security Fund (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 17 grudnia 1998 r. o emeryturach i rentach z Funduszu Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (z późn. zm.)): The Act specifies the state pension age and pension entitlements.

• Act of 8 June 2001 on the Profession of Psychologist and the Professional Self-Government of Psychologists (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 8 czerwca 2001 r. o zawodzie psychologa i samorządzie zawodowym psychologów (z późn. zm.)); Regulation of the Minister of Health of 19 June 2019 on state-guaranteed mental health and addiction treatment services (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia z dnia 19 czerwca 2019 r. w sprawie świadczeń gwarantowanych z zakresu opieki psychiatrycznej i leczenia uzależnień (z późn. zm.)). The acts lay down qualification requirements for psychologists and psychotherapists.

• Act of 15 July 2011 on the Professions of Nurse and Midwife (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 15 lipca 2011 r. o zawodach pielęgniarki i położnej (z późn. zm.). The Act specifies, among other things, the qualifications requirements for practising these two professions.

• Act of 12 March 2022 on the Assistance for Citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on its territory (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 12 marca 2022 r. o pomocy obywatelom Ukrainy w związku z konfliktem zbrojnym na terytorium tego państwa (z późn. zm.)): The Act provides the basis for nursery schools and schools to employ, in the position of teacher assistant, staff assisting pupils from Ukraine who have no or insufficient knowledge of the Polish language to participate in education.

• Civil Service Act of 21 November 2008 (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2008 r. o służbie cywilnej (z późn. zm.)). The Act lays down conditions of service for, among others, staff in the Regional Education Authorities responsible for external quality assurance of nursery schools, schools and other institutions in the school education system.

• Regulation of the Prime Minister of 29 January 2016 on positions, qualification requirements and professional promotion grades for civil servants, salary indexes and detailed rules for calculating and granting other benefits available to members of the civil service corps (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Prezesa Rady Ministrów z dnia 29 stycznia 2016 r. w sprawie określenia stanowisk urzędniczych, wymaganych kwalifikacji zawodowych, stopni służbowych urzędników służby cywilnej, mnożników do ustalania wynagrodzenia oraz szczegółowych zasad ustalania i wypłacania innych świadczeń przysługujących członkom korpusu służby cywilnej (z póżn. zm.)). The Regulation specifies, among other things, positions and remuneration arrangements for staff in the Regional Education Authorities responsible for external quality assurance of nursery schools, schools and other institutions.

• Act of 21 November 2008 on Local Government Employees (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2008 r. o pracownikach samorządowych (z późn. zm.)). The Act lays down conditions of service for non-teaching heads in public nursery schools, schools and other institutions which are administered by local government units.

• Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 25 October 2021 on the remuneration of local government employees (Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 21 października 2021 r. w sprawie wynagradzania pracowników samorządowych). The Regulation specifies salary ranges and minimum salaries for, among others, heads of creches and kids’ clubs and non-teaching heads of nursery schools, schools and other institutions administered by local government units. 

Legislation on the care for children aged up to 3 years, preschool and school education, and adult education within the school education system

• Act of 4 February 2011 on the Care for Children aged up to 3 years (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 4 lutego 2011 r. o opiece nad dziećmi w wieku do lat 3 (z późn zm.)). The Act lays down, among other things, the rules for the establishment and administration of crèches and kids’ clubs, tasks of such institutions and qualification requirements for heads of crèches and kids’ clubs.

• Act of 14 December 2016, The Law on School Education (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2016 r. – Prawo Oświatowe (z późn. zm.)). The key legislative act for the school education system, which specifies the responsibilities of heads of nursery schools, schools and other institutions, and forms of pedagogical supervision, incl. inspections.

• Act of 26 January 1982, The Teachers’ Charter (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 26 stycznia 1982 r. - Karta Nauczyciela (z późn. zm.)). The key legislative act for teachers, incl. teaching heads, which lays down: conditions of service for teaching heads of public nursery schools, schools and other institutions in the school education system; their responsibilities with regard to teaching, educational and care-related activities; and general performance appraisal arrangements for teaching heads.

• Act of 22 May 2009 on Teachers’ Compensation Allowances (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 22 maja 2009 r. o nauczycielskich świadczeniach kompensacyjnych (z późn. zm.). The Act grants special pension entitlements to teachers.

• Act of 12 April 2019 on Healthcare Services for Pupils (Ustawa z dnia 12 kwietnia 2019 r. o opiece zdrowotnej nad uczniami). The Act specifies qualification requirements and responsibilities for staff providing healthcare services in schools.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 29 December 1998 on the organisational structure of the Regional Education Authorities and the establishment of their branches (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 29 grudnia 1998 r. w sprawie organizacji kuratoriów oświaty i tworzenia ich delegatur (z późn, zm.)). The Regulation specifies, among other things, positions in the Regional Education Authorities which require a teaching qualification, incl. inspectors responsible for external quality assurance of nursery schools, schools and other institutions within the school education system.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education and Sport of 31 January 2005 on the minimum rates of the basic pay for teachers, other work-related benefits and allowances and pay for work on days free of duty (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej i Sportu z dnia 31 stycznia 2005 r. w sprawie wysokości minimalnych stawek wynagrodzenia zasadniczego nauczycieli, ogólnych warunków przyznawania dodatków do wynagrodzenia zasadniczego oraz wynagradzania za pracę w dniu wolnym od pracy) (z późn. zm.)). The Regulation, updated annually, sets salary rates for teachers, incl. teaching heads.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 25 August 2017 on the pedagogical supervision (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 25 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie nadzoru pedagogicznego (z późn zm.)). The Regulation lays down arrangements for external quality assurance, including the qualifications and responsibilities of inspectors at the Regional Education Authorities, and for internal quality assurance, including the related responsibilities of heads of nursery schools, schools and other institutions in the school education system.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 11 August 2017 on the requirements for the position of head and other management positions in public nursery schools, primary and post-primary schools and other public educational institutions (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 11 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie wymagań, jakim powinna odpowiadać osoba zajmująca stanowisko dyrektora oraz inne stanowisko kierownicze w publicznym przedszkolu, publicznej szkole podstawowej, publicznej szkole ponadpodstawowej oraz publicznej placówce (z późn. zm.). The Regulation lays down detailed qualification requirements for heads.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 11 August 2017 on the rules for a competition for the position of head of a public nursery school, primary school, post-primary school or another public educational institution, and the rules of procedure for a competition committee (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 11 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie regulaminu konkursu na stanowisko dyrektora publicznego przedszkola, publicznej szkoły podstawowej, publicznej szkoły ponadpodstawowej lub publicznej placówki oraz trybu pracy komisji konkursowej(z późn. zm.)). The Regulation lays down a detailed procedure for competitions for the position of head.

• Regulation of the Minister of Education and Science of 14 September 2023 on the detailed qualification requirements for teachers (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 14 września 2023 r. w sprawie szczegółowych kwalifikacji wymaganych od nauczycieli): The Regulation lays down qualification requirements for teachers, including teachers holding management positions, and teachers-pedagogues, psychologists, speech therapists, educational therapists and careers advisers.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 9 August 2017 on the rules for the provision and organisation of psychological and educational support in public nursery schools and schools and other public educational institutions (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 9 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie zasad udzielania i organizacji pomocy psychologiczno-pedagogicznej w publicznych przedszkolach, szkołach i placówkach (z późn. zm.)). The Regulation specifies, among other things, the responsibilities of counselling and guidance specialists in nursery schools, schools and other institutions in the school education system: pedagogues, special education pedagogues, psychologists, speech therapists, educational therapists and careers advisers.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 9 August 2017 on the conditions for education and care provided to children and young people with disabilities, socially maladjusted pupils and pupils at risk of social maladjustment (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 9 sierpnia 2017 r. w sprawie warunków organizowania kształcenia, wychowania i opieki dla dzieci i młodzieży niepełnosprawnych, niedostosowanych społecznie i zagrożonych niedostosowaniem społecznym (z późn. zm.)). The Regulation specifies, among other things, the responsibilities of the head of a nursery school, school or other institution in the areas covered by the regulation and the rules for the employment of support teachers and teacher assistants.

• Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 28 May 2018 on in-service teacher training institutions (as subsequently amended) (Rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 28 maja 2019 r. w sprawie placówek doskonalenia nauczycieli (z późn.zm.)). The Regulation lays down, among other things, qualification requirements and conditions of service for teachers-methodological advisers and teachers-consultants, and their responsibilities.

• Regulation of the Minister of Family and Social Policy of 19 September 2023 on the standards of care for children aged up to 3 years (Rozporządzenie Ministra Rodziny i Polityki Społecznej z dnia 19 września 2023 w sprawie standardów opieki sprawowanej nad dziećmi w wieku do lat 3): sets childcare standards and related responsibilities of institutions and individuals involved in childcare provision. 

Legislation on higher education

• Act of 20 July 2018, The Law on Higher Education and Science (as subsequently amended) (Ustawa z dnia 20 lipca 2018 r. – Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym i nauce (z późn. zm.)). The key legislative act for higher education which specifies, among other things, general appointment requirements, employment conditions and the powers and responsibilities of the rector of an HEI, and general requirements for staff holding management positions in an HEI.