Can you imagine going to a school in Poland where not only lessons are shorter than usual, but, on top of that, you don't have to attend them five times a week? No, this is not an abstract or dreamy vision. As one Polish city demonstrates, such changes might be adopted in foreseeable future.

Schools in Wodzisław Śląski in the Silesian Voivodeship are moving ahead with the idea. When will students switch to the innovative teaching methods and why the city officials decided to introduce it?

Apart from switching to four days of school and moving away from 45-minute lessons in Wodzisław Śląski there are also plans to reduce class sizes and switch to descriptive assessments.

According to Portal Samorządowy, pupils can also expect a reduction in the number of tests and quizzes. Instead, schools are to focus on individual work with students and particular emphasis is to be placed on exact sciences. Psychological and pedagogical support for pupils is also to be increased while teachers will be able to make use of psychological counselling programmes.

The new strategy is to be implemented in 13 primary schools in Wodzisław Śląski. Preparations are already underway since 2022 and are the result of the education system modernisation and the digital transformation of schools.

How can a four-day learning week and fewer number of quizzes improve the quality of education? Introducing the changes, schools in Wodzisław Śląski want to provide students with more opportunities to develop new talents and initiate a pathway that would prepare them for work in companies located in the city.

Thanks to the new programme, students are to learn independence and responsibility. Changes in the approach to teaching will ultimately also increase the creativity of students and teachers.

All systemic revolutions are to be implemented gradually. The Education Development Strategy for the City of Wodzisław Śląski for 2022-2026 states that the introduction of formative assessment is planned for the first half of 2024. The project is intended to be long-term and to be continued in subsequent years. Modifications can also be made over time if necessary.

"The aim of the digital transformation of schools in Wodzisław Śląski is to modernise the city's education system and adapt it to the competence needs of students in the third decade of the 21st century," reads the explanatory memorandum included in the Education Development Strategy for the City of Wodzisław Śląski for 2022-2026.