Until September 1999, the first stage of education in Poland was an eight-year primary school, after which you can apply for admission to secondary schools: general secondary or vocational. Education reform, in addition to curricular changes, also introduced new types of schools: six elementary school, three years secondary schools, secondary schools: three years of secondary school, four-year technical school, vocational school with a period of 2-3 years of teaching high school and two years to complete and three-year supplementary technical (the latter two types of schools are designed for graduates of basic vocational schools). During the transition period working alongside secondary schools and secondary schools. Total time education until the completion of a school which offers the possibility of accession to the maturity examination (matriculation examination) is 12 - 15 years. After passing the Matura examination (matriculation examination), graduates receive a matriculation certificate authorizing them to apply for admission to college.
