Education
Education in Poland starts at the age of six (or seven) years in primary school (Polish szkoła podstawowa). Next is the lower secondary level consisting of three years in gymnasium (gimnazjum), starting at the age of 13, ends with an exam. This is followed by upper secondary level, which has several alternatives, the most common being the three years in a liceum or four years in a technikum. Both end with a maturity examination (matura, roughly equivalent to British A-levels examination and quite similar to French baccalauréat), and may be followed by several forms of upper education, leading to licencjat or inżynier (Polish equivalents of Bachelor's degree), magister (Polish equivalent of Master's degree) and eventually doktor (Polish equivalent of Ph. D. degree).
Economy
Poland is considered to have the strongest economy of all eastern European nations, with an annual economic growth rate of over 6.0%.[1] Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization throughout the 1990s with mixed results. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, which has been the main drive for Poland's economic growth. The agricultural sector remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and a lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal), has also been slow, but recent foreign investments in energy and steel have begun to turn the tide. Recent reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger than expected fiscal pressures. Improving this account deficit and tightening monetary policy, with focus on inflation, are priorities for the Polish government. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sectors, the reduction of state employment, and an overhaul of the tax code to incorporate farmers, who currently pay significantly lower taxes than other people with similar income levels.
Climate
Poland has a moderate climate with both maritime and continental elements. This is due to humid Atlantic air which collides over its territory with dry air from the Eurasian interior. As a result, the weather tends to be capricious and the seasons may look quite different in consecutive years. This is particularly true for winters, which are either wet, of the oceanic type, or - less often - sunny, of the continental type. Generally, in north and west Poland the climate is predominantly maritime, with gentle, humid winters and cool, rainy summers, while the eastern part of the country has distinctly continental climate with harsh winters and hotter, drier summers.
Poland's climate is chiefly shaped by air masses that come over its territory. In summer, humid polar-maritime air from the north Atlantic brings clouds, precipitation and cold weather, whereas in winter it causes thaw and fog. Relatively dry polar-continental air from Russia, which typically comes to Poland in winter, brings frosts while in summer it is responsible for heat periods. Arctic air from far north (the Arctic Sea) produces changeable weather and sudden temperature drops such as freezes in May. Tropical air brings clouds and rains in summer and thaws and fogs in winter - so it is similar to polar-maritime air although it flows in from the distant Azores. Tropical air may also come from Africa or Asia Minor; it is of the continental type and appears only in early spring and summer, bringing hot and sunny weather.
Generally, Poland receives all kinds of air masses typical of the northern hemisphere. This results in a variable climate and considerable problems with weather forecasting. Poland's climate is also characterized by substantial weather changes in consecutive years, caused by disturbances in the pattern of main air masses coming to the country. Summer may be hot and dry a few times in a row and then it becomes cool and wet. This phenomenon tends to happen in several-year cycles.
Poland's climate is also strongly influenced by the lowland topography of this part of Europe, stretching from France to Ukraine. Not stopped by any natural barriers, air masses move quickly from the Atlantic or North Sea. Another factor is the country's location, far from vast water bodies (the Atlantic Ocean) and close to extensive land areas (Eurasia). The Baltic Sea is a major contributor to the climate of north Poland while the southern part of the country is also affected by the Black Sea.
List of Universities in POLAND
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North America
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