NIK auditors screened 88 schools and obtained extra information from other 6881 public schools (pursuant to the Act on the Supreme Audit Office). NIK verified implementation of the recommendations after its audit in 2013. Most of them have been implemented by the audited schools.
Statement of NIK President Krzysztof Kwiatkowski
Six-year-olds
Preliminary audit results:
- all audited schools hire teachers qualified to educate the youngest students and have classrooms adapted to six-year-olds.
- these classrooms in over 90 percent are properly equipped, e.g. in educational aids, games and toys (98 percent) and have ergonomic student furniture (90 percent). This audit confirmed significant improvement in relation to the condition identified in last year’s audit. This time the auditors found out the following: the recreational part of classrooms has not been isolated in over 9 percent of schools, there was no bookshelves for the youngest students in nearly 6 percent of schools, no educational games or toys in 2.3 percent of schools, no audio-visual equipment in over 18 percent of schools or computers with access to Internet in more than 36.3 percent of schools.
- issues with ergonomics of equipment were reported in over 30 percent of canteens and 26 percent of school toilets.
- NIK points out that the need to organise classes for children from grades 1-3 on a shift basis may be a big challenge. The number of students in first grades nationwide will increase by as much as 70 percent. In cities of over 50 thousand inhabitants the number of organised grades with first graders will be bigger than the number of classrooms prepared for the youngest children. According to NIK this issue will occur first of all in schools located in cities on county rights (24.2 percent) and urban municipalities (26.4 percent). To the smallest degree this issue will apply to schools located in villages (6.8 percent). Therefore, school principals, especially in large cities, have to make sure that timetables take account of the youngest students.
- After-school care was provided to kids in almost all schools covered by the audit (97 percent). Nearly all schools offered a hot meal to the youngest students. By providing after-school care and a hot meal the schools implemented last year’s recommendations of the Supreme Audit Office addressed too all 2479 municipalities in Poland.
- A great majority of schools ensured special places (91 percent) and playgrounds (70 percent) to six-year-olds.
- NIK positively evaluates actions taken by the schools to provide proper conditions for education and care of the youngest students.
- Nearly in all audited schools the number of pupils in the first grade did not exceed 26 (80 percent) and in some schools a special, safe area was isolated for the youngest pupils (separate cloakrooms - 81 percent, toilets - 67 percent, special places in after-school rooms or even separate school entrances).
The results of the direct audit of 88 schools correspond with the extra information obtained by NIK (in line with the procedure provided for in the Act on NIK) from other 6881 public schools. Teachers are prepared and classrooms properly equipped (over 90 percent). After-school care is provided by a great majority of the schools (85 percent). Problems with non-adapted equipment occur in canteens (63 percent) and toilets (38 percent). The number of students in more than 93 percent of first grades did not exceed 26. A direct study (on a random sample) conducted by NIK confirmed credibility of data sent by the schools.
Again, NIK is going to send its post-audit report to all municipalities in Poland. No doubt, last year’s report sent to all municipality heads contributed to the elimination of many irregularities occurring in schools all over Poland. Today they are much better prepared to admit six-year-olds than before a year.
