District Education – Systemic Solutions and Continuous Development

For years, both general education and vocational schools have ranked among the leaders in external examination pass rates. This refers to the school-leaving examination and vocational examinations. The same applies to their standing nationwide, which significantly exceeds the average result of external examinations throughout Poland.

Maintaining a leading position is a difficult task, especially when those in charge are struggling with relentless demographic decline—the continually decreasing number of students. To illustrate this inexorable process, one might say that in recent years “two small schools have disappeared” from the county map. Hard statistical data confirms this. Only someone very unreasonable would fail to look for a solution in this situation.

Dariusz Kwaśniewski:

The Board has not yet dealt with the planned—this is a fact—reorganisation of the county school network, although such work is under way. It began last year (2014), that is, during the previous term of office, and this is certainly no secret. Moreover, after analysing all the data—at the appropriate time—I will present the prepared proposed solutions together with the head of the education department at a Board meeting. Only then will the Board decide—attention!—WHETHER and WHICH of the proposed solutions will be submitted to the Bolesławiec County Council, because it is this body that makes decisions in this area. This will happen in February next year. I believe that the council will support wise solutions. As it has done so far… for 17 years already. Let me remind you that our upper-secondary schools have long been among the best, as we have repeatedly demonstrated (quality of teaching—the results of school-leaving and vocational examinations, excellently equipped vocational workshops, good infrastructure, hundreds of completed educational projects, numerous additional activities, etc.

Investing in talent—a scholarship system

As early as 2009, the Bolesławiec County Council adopted a resolution on a local programme supporting the education of gifted children and young people. For achievements in a given school year, students of upper-secondary schools receive a scholarship or a one-off financial award, as well as an Efebus statuette. Awards and statuettes are also given to primary and lower-secondary school graduates from the county. It is worth emphasising that the number of scholarship recipients and award winners increases every year.

Modern personnel for the economy—training excellent specialists

A system motivating continuous improvement and well-equipped vocational schools support the training of specialists for the local labour market. This is possible thanks to exceptional efforts. These undoubtedly include the implementation of the Modernisation of Education Centres in Lower Silesia project. Modern workshops were established in the automotive, construction, mechatronics and electronics, IT, tourism and mechanical fields, for a total amount of PLN 7,480,500.

Equally important are cooperation with local companies, additional classes developing key competences, work placements and internships with employers, and the implementation of international vocational projects (within the Comenius, Erasmus+ and Leonardo da Vinci programmes). The General and Vocational Education Complex named after Maj. H. Sucharski in Bolesławiec also operates a Continuing Education Centre, which provides qualification courses enabling participants to acquire a profession, supplement their education and improve their skills.

The county trains specialists in the following occupations:

• Technical secondary school
  • electrical technician
  • digital graphic processes technician
  • IT technician
  • electronics technician
  • teleinformatics technician
  • veterinary technician
  • sales technician
  • photography technician
  • logistics technician
  • economics technician
  • hotel management technician
  • tourist services technician
  • food and catering services technician
  • food and household management technician
  • advertising organisation technician
  • motor vehicle technician
  • underground mining technician
  • mechanical technician
  • mechatronics technician
  • construction technician
  • landscape architecture technician
  • land surveying technician
  • forestry technician
• Basic Vocational School:
  • electronics assembler
  • electrician
  • salesperson
  • multi-trade course
  • cook
  • motor vehicle mechanic
  • motor vehicle electromechanic
  • finishing works technologist
  • building finishing and installation assembler.

Bolesławiec County/ii