The School of Education is a joint undertaking of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the University of Warsaw. It is the only school in Poland that conducts daily post-graduate teacher certificate studies. The School is free of charge, and students may apply for a scholarship that will help them cover their costs of living, as well as accommodation at the UW dormitory.
The School of Education program has been prepared in cooperation with a prestigious teacher training institution – Columbia University Teachers College in New York.
Currently the School of Education is running its second round of studies, attended by 28 students in two paths – for teachers of Polish language and mathematics. In the future, courses for teachers of other subjects and for more students are planned to be launched.
An integral part of teacher training is daily practical classes at schools. The students spend their time both in academic classes at the School of Education and at a selected school – they observe lessons, participate in conducting them or conduct them on their own. They also take part in the school staff meetings, and in parent-teacher conferences. Experimental knowledge gained at a given school is discussed during the students’ academic classes on an on-going basis. The School of Education is responsible for the quality of the teaching practice and it cooperates with a network of carefully selected schools in Warsaw and surrounding areas.
The students have their individual tutors at the School of Education, and a mentor – a supporting teacher at the school where they do their internships. Academic classes are held for small groups. Great importance is attached to discussion and regular student progress self-evaluation.
Classes at the School of Education are conducted by persons experienced in school work, active in education, looking at it from various perspectives – practicing teachers, academics, and other people with passion for education. The lecturers represent various universities – they were trained by top American and European specialists in teachers’ education.
There is also an Alumni Office at the PAFF and UW School of Education which offers long-term support to graduates, including assistance in finding a job. Graduates can also cooperate on a current basis with lecturers of the School, improving their teaching skills and sharing experiences.
Methods applied at the School of Education, along with its best practices are popularized at schools and institutions responsible for training both future and in-service teachers.
In 2017, the School of Education launched free-of-charge training courses in literature and Polish language didactics, math didactics, and education and communication skills for in-service teachers, aimed at improving their subject and education skills. To date, they have been attended by 34 students. In parallel, the School of Education’s staff conducted workshops for teachers from schools where practical classes are held; those workshops have been attended by almost 250 people.
The School of Education is located in the UW Center of New Technologies (CENT) building in Warsaw. The School was established thanks to the engagement and cooperation of PAFF, the University of Warsaw, the Foundation for Quality Education, and the Center for Citizenship Education.
