Garść uwag o wybranych opiniach na temat szkolnictwa niepublicznego w Polsce

Abstract

The article presents a commentary on selected views regarding the Polish private education sector (excluding higher-education establishments), which currently comprises 9–10% of all schools in Poland. Amongst views expressed in pedagogic works, a positive outlook on private education prevails. It is emphasised that private schools: offer a wide range of classes, provide more than the statutory number of hours of obligatory subjects, have flexible curricula and methodologies,use teaching methods which promote student participation e.g. student projects, foster partnership between teachers and students. The shortcomings of private schools often quoted by educators include inadequate premises, frequently without or with too few laboratories, workshops, sports facilities or libraries. In the media, private schools are presented much less favourably and often unjustly criticised e.g. for promoting snobbish vogues for private education, accepting only rich students, selling good grades etc. Irrespective of all these negative views, legitimate as well as superficial and unjust, private schools constitute nowadays an important sector of Polish education.