Education has always been highly esteemed in Cieszyn and its schools have attracted pupils from the whole of Cieszyn Silesia. At present in Cieszyn, i.e. a town of 38 thousand inhabitants, more than 15 thousand children and teenagers are getting educated!
      Cieszyn parish itself is the managing agency for 12 state kindergartens, 6 primary schools and 3 middle schools (gymnazja). Its main duties are the following: ensuring safe and hygienic conditions for learning, upbringing and care; conducting renovation works and investment tasks, and providing the premises with the educational aids and equipment indispensable for the realization of educational programs.
      In twelve state kindergartens 68% of the children from 3 to 6yrs are cared for, in reality all the six-year-olds exercise a right for a year long preparation for school. The monthly kindergarten fee is, on average, 200 zlotys and it comprises all day educational classes, care and the right to three meals a day. Besides good care and the realization of the educational program Cieszyn kindergartens offer English classes, callisthenics, art classes, sports activities at a swimming pool and a skating rink and many events for children and their families. State primary schools educate 2.250 pupils and the middle schools – almost 1300. The schools ensure a very high level of education (the results of all the primary schools exceed the mean for the Province) and the following: day-room activities for the youngest children, various activities outside lessons, meals in school canteens and interesting forms of recreation during holidays. The artistic achievements of schools can be assessed during an annual Review of Artistic Production of Primary and Middle Schools, called “Szkolna Ławka Artystyczna” (“A School Artistic Desk”) and the Cieszyn Review of Nativity Plays. The pupils achieve considerable successes in almost all sports disciplines.
      Ensuring good learning conditions for disabled pupils (if possible, together with their peers) is one of the town’s priorities. In order to attain this the following were created: an integrated kindergarten (number 2) and integrated sections in primary schools number 2 and 3 (the latter is named after Janusz Korczak). Children with more severe handicaps participate in classes provided by a non-public institution, The Centre for Rehabilitation and Education. The town cares about the improvement of teaching conditions, it ensures – so far as it can afford - financial means for renovation works and necessary investments. In 2002 a new sports hall was opened for school use and the extension of Middle School 2 (named after Jan Kubisz) is meant to be finished in November 2003.
      Cieszyn plays the function of an important educational centre for the whole Cieszyn district. More than 5200 pupils attend state secondary schools. They are: 2 high schools and 5 school complexes. The high schools conduct their education in the following fields of specialization: humanities, biology&chemistry, mathematics&physics, foreign languages, computer science, sociology&law, and sports&tourism. Vocational high schools, technical schools and vocational schools ensure the acquisition of education and skills that are indispensable for future economists, traders, energeticists, electronics-mechanics, providers of hotel and catering services and many others. The state education above the middle school level is in the hands of Starostwo Powiatowe, i.e the Chief Office of the District.
      A special thing about Cieszyn is the development of non-state education, which is chosen by almost 10% of the children and young people. In non-state education the multi-denominational character of Cieszyn Silesia is reflected: “Dziedzictwo Jana Sarkandra” (“Jan Sarkander’s Heritage” Association) provides education from kindergarten to high school, and The Evangelical Association runs a middle school and a high school. In addition to these there are the following: “Jaś and Małgosia”- a non-state kindergarten, an Alternative Primary School, and A School of Management and Organization that provides secondary level education for both teenagers and adults.
      The Teacher Training College of Foreign Languages deservedly enjoys a very good reputation. It trains, on average, 250 students in the following fields: English, French and German.
      For 33 years a branch of the University of Silesia has been operating in Cieszyn and it comprises the following: The department of Art, the Department of Ethnology and the Department of Educational Science. During the academic year more than 5700 students study in the following fields: general pedagogics, school pedagogics, kindergarten education, philosophy & social education, religious education, oganization of cultural and social events, social care and educational work and ethnology.