1 September is a watershed for the majority of six-year-olds as they are going to enter education in accordance with the latest reform. In previous years, education was compulsory only to those six-year-olds who were born in the former half of the year; those who were born in the latter part went to school only if their parents agreed. Eventually, 2,837 six-year-olds entered education in 2014.
How many six-year-olds in education
It is still unknown how many six-year-olds are going to enter schooling this year, since some parents have decided to postpone their education and presented relevant certificates from local counselling centres. Counselling centres were inundated with work already in February. About one thousand applications to postpone education have been accepted (968 in mid-June). "The exact figures will be revealed at the beginning of September," says Anna Bytońska from the Wroclaw City Office Press Department. Parents may also change their minds at the very latest.
Handbooks for free
One of the key items in the reform is to extend free handbooks to subsequent classes. Basal readers were offered free of charge to Year 1 last year. This year, free handbooks will be provided to Year 2, 3, and 4 in primary schools and Year 1 in middle schools. Head teachers are going to buy them with the Ministry of Education subsidies, except for Year 2, which is going to be provided with books directly by the ministry. The reform is expected to continue to cover subsequent classes next year.
PE classes compulsory
PE classes are expected to change as well. A large number of pupils exempted from PE remains to be a big problem. With new regulations entering into force, pupils will not be exempted from the entire class nut only selected exercises they cannot perform (according to their doctor's certificates). PE assessment criteria are going to change as well. Apart from effort, the new assessment system will also take into account the attendance and involvement in activities to promote active lifestyle and sports.
Ban on junk food
Food is also in for a revolution with a ban imposed on junk food, including sweets, snacks, sodas and highly-processed food.
The new Ministry of Health directive stipulates that as of 1 September school shops can offer only wholemeal sandwiches, salads, milk and milk produces, fruit and vegetables and selected drinks which nonetheless cannot contain too much sugar. No chocolate bars, crisps, scones or sodas. Only healthy, natural and low-calorie products instead.
Shop operators will have to adjust to the new rules. Otherwise, they will be fined or their contracts will be terminated by head teachers. Or they will have to give up themselves.
This revolution should be no surprise for anyone in Wroclaw because city authorities have been putting new nutrition programme in schools and nurseries (including certificates for school shops and cafeterias which meets certain criteria or employ nutrition specialists). Local authorities organised free consultations with nutrition specialists for school shop and cafeteria operators in the summer.
School leavers to pay
School leavers will have to pay for their third attempt at a matriculation exam. The directive stipulates that the third attempt will be payable 50 PLN. The solution is designed to reduce the number of people who declare they would like to take an exam and fail to show on the day.
