The measures, which include the introduction of compulsory tests at each educational level, are intended to raise standards and develop a post-Communist schools system.
At present, only seven per cent of Poles have a university education and only pupils graduating from high school are obliged to take final exams.
If approved by parliament, the education structure from September 1999 will be divided into three age ranges, primary school until 11, a three-year middle school stage, then a high school or vocational training until leaving.
Poland's plan to reconstruct its school-level education system comes at a time when other eastern European countries, particularly in the former Soviet Union, are struggling to maintain standards of education.
A report from the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) recently claimed that for many children in the former Soviet Union, education had deteriorated since the fall of Communism.
Among the reasons for this are the financial pressures placed on countries seeking to liberalise their economies, with the cost of school buildings, staff and equipment proving too much for some emerging economies.
Country profiles
Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
(From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back
(From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift