PubMed2002
Based on the status of buildings and conditions to keep them clean, the situation in all types of schools has been investigated within seven years interval (1995-2001). Observed dynamics of changes was related to the background of political system transformations. In the primary schools, improvement was observed within each of the following analyzed aspects: sanitary conditions, use of unadjusted buildings, technical conditions of the buildings, access of pupils to sanitary arrangements. These positive changes in primary schools should be related to the communes self-governments care in running them for several years (instead of the state as it was previously), as well as with phenomenon of size reduction of the least schools (due to the demographic depression, shortening of education time from 8 to 6 years), which were operating in the worst conditions. In the upper secondary the improvement has been noticed within the sanitary conditions and use of the unadjusted buildings. In the same time stagnation in buildings technical condition and students insufficient access to sanitary arrangements were stated. It is a challenge for new hosts of secondary schools--self-government of powiats (which overtook them from the state in January 1, 1999). As results from the study, the functioning conditions of lower secondary schools established in September 1999 are similar to those of primary schools, although they intended to be examples of excellence with modern equipment. A dozen or so percent of pupils and students used in schools desks unadjusted to their height. This situation has to be improved. Data from sanitary-epidemiological stations concerning keeping proper standards of hygienic conditions of educational process in schools should find broader employment, they should be helpful in creating national education policy.