Poland will continue the successful pilot project of establishing Local Knowledge and Education Centres (Lokalne Ośrodki Wiedzy i Edukacji (LOWE)) launched by the Ministry of National Education in 2017 and co-funded by the EU. In the framework of the pilot project, 50 centres were initiated in 13 provinces across the country. After a very good reception of the first 50 centres, the Ministry decided to continue the project and establish 100 more centres from 2020 on.

The Local Knowledge and Education Centre is an additional function adopted voluntarily by a school, engaging the community to improve the skills of its adult population. Schools are one of the widest existing networks of social services. The task of the centre is to use this natural position of the school and open access to programmes for adults – especially to people living in small and remote towns and villages or neglected city districts. Schools act as local centres and offer adults an opportunity to develop basic skills and key competences that are foundational to lifelong learning. The offer is based on prior identification of adults’ specific needs in the community.  The quality of the needs analysis has a direct effect on the social response to the programme.

Source: Eurydice Poland Unit