PEOPLE OF POLAND: Almost 38,622,000 people reside in the Republic of Poland. Polish is the largest race in this country. The other minority groups are German, Ukrainian, Belarusian and some other tribes. Polish is the official language of the country. However, other languages are also spoken in some regions
Population 40 Millions ( 4 Crores )

Continental; Moderate, Changeable weather.
Average temperatures:
January
on the coast and the West from 0 to -1°C
North-East from - 4,5°C to - 5,5°C
in the mountains (South) - 7°C
July:
on the coast 16,5°C
in the South 19°C
Average annual rainfall: 600 mm.

Since 1999 following a reform of the System of Education, there are the following types of schools in Poland
6-year primary school
3-year gymnasium
post-gymnasium schools

The reformed 6-year primary school was introduced in the school in the year 1999/2000 on the Implementation of the Education System Reform and is divided into 2 stages:
• Stage I covers grades 1, 2 and 3, and is called integrated teaching. Teaching at this stage is designed to ensure smooth transition from pre-school to school education.
• Stage II covers grades 4, 5 and 6.

In the framework of the education system reform in 1999 three-year gymnasia were established as a first (lower) level of the secondary school. Since 2002 upper secondary schools have been operational.
• Lower Secondary Education: Gymnasium offers 3-years of full-time general lower secondary education for pupils who completed the reformed 6-year primary school. It is compulsory for all pupils. The gymnasium is targeted at pupils aged 13 to 16 and is considered the last stage (Stage 3) of general compulsory education.
• Upper Secondary Education: the age of pupils in upper secondary education is between 16 and 18/19/20 years. The upper secondary education is not divided into cycles.
• Post-Secondary (non-Tertiary) Education
Post-secondary schools admit graduates of general secondary schools based on a secondary school leaving certificate. The age of pupils is between 19 - 20/21.
Post-secondary schools provide courses within the following groups of branches: teacher education, arts, economics and administration, medical studies, technology, agriculture, forestry and fishery, transport and communication, hotel services and computing. The most popular branches include: teacher education, economics, library science, hotel services and computing.
Duration of education depends on the type of occupation and for majority of them are 2- 5 years.
• Tertiary Education
Under the new legislation non-state higher education institutions were established. In the academic year 2002/2003 there were 395 higher education institutions (including the military, internal affairs and church establishments), of which 125 were state and 270 were non-state institutions.
A school of higher education can offer uniform Master degree studies, higher vocational studies as well as supplementary Master degree studies. It can also offer postgraduate courses, PhD studies, as well as special studies and courses.