Korki

Korki is a Polish term for private tutoring or after-school lessons pursued outside the regular school curriculum. It denotes paid or informal instructional help intended to improve school performance, prepare for exams, or reinforce knowledge. The phrase is widely used in Polish discourse to describe tutoring arranged by students, parents, or tutoring companies.

Tutoring can take various formats, including one-on-one sessions, small groups, or online courses. Common subjects include mathematics, foreign languages, science, and core school subjects such as Polish. Some korki focus on exam preparation for high school admissions, matriculation exams, or national tests.

Korki became more prevalent after the late 20th century as education markets expanded and parental emphasis on grades grew. Today, it remains a common feature of the Polish education landscape, with regional variations in availability and price.

Privately funded tutoring has social implications. Proponents argue it offers targeted help and can raise achievement, while critics point to unequal access and potential student stress. Policy discussions often address quality control, transparency, and the role of tutoring in educational inequality.

Outside the tutoring meaning, korki is the plural of cork in Polish, and the term also appears in geographic names in Poland, where several villages or settlements carry the name Korki. In encyclopedic usage, korki is primarily understood as private tutoring in contemporary Poland.