Organisational and content changes of the Polish vocational education system arise from the recommendations of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union concerning the European Qualification Frameworks (EQF) and Lifelong Learning (LLL) and following this from the initiatives assuring cohesion of the national strategy for LLL, through the preparation and implementation of the National Qualification Framework.
The reform project intends to modify the classification of ‘school’ vocational subjects through selection and integration so as to reduce their numbers. There will be distinct and named qualifications described in the new core curriculum of vocational education based on knowledge, skills and competences. Division of vocational ‘school’ subjects into vocational qualifications will be done according to an ‘economic classification’ i.e. classification of occupations according to labour market needs.
The Ministry of National Education also draws attention to the needs for reforming the modes of examination used to confirm vocational qualifications. Pupils will be able to confirm separately every qualification selected, during the whole education process and not only during exams. For every confirmed qualification, pupils will get a certificate and as soon as pupils confirm all selected qualifications they will get a diploma with supplement. There will be a computerised system of examination tasks database and exams will be carried out throughout the year rather than only during examination sessions. The vocational examination system will be unified regardless of learning forms – school or non-school.