I'm terribly interested...
The Russian secondary education system will be radically reformed in the coming years. Discussion of this reform has been the most popular topic on the Russian agenda since the end of 2010, only high-profile disasters, revolutions and military actions are more popular. Meanwhile, neither the public, nor officials, nor experts can clearly and clearly talk about what kind of school Russia needs in 10 years.
Classical education or emphasis on high technology? Uniformity for the sake of national unity - or a kingdom of blossoming complexity? Free education of a good level - or will parents have to pay for almost everything except the notorious “physical education and life safety”? There is not only no consensus, but also no clarity about all this in Russian society: even experts, when speaking “to the public,” prefer to speak in long, meaningless phrases.
It may be easier to understand the desired direction of reform if we take a brief look at the most famous school systems in the world. These are the most developed European countries, former metropolises of the great colonial empires - as well as the current world leader of the United States and representatives of the two fastest growing educational systems in the world. ""
In a series of two publications, SP presents a brief overview of the national school traditions of France, Germany, Great Britain, the USA, South Korea and Finland.
The current secondary education system in France consists, like most European systems, of three levels - primary (ecole primaire, from 6 to 11 years) and senior (college, college - from 11 to 15 years, then lycee, lyceum - from 16 to 15 18). This is a fairly conservative system that has existed with minor changes for more than 100 years - since the 1890s. State-standard education is compulsory for children from 6 to 16 years of age (the lyceum, as an analogue of Russian grades 9–11, mainly prepares students for admission to universities). At the same time, education is free in public schools, but there are also private alternatives.
Private schools - mostly tuition fees for students, but less constrained by government restrictions - also provide their graduates with state-issued diplomas. There are two types of such schools, based on their relationship with the state: subsidized (sous contrat) and unsubsidized (hors contrat). In the first of them, the government pays salaries to teachers, and schools follow the national program and standard curriculum, in the second, there are no subsidies from the government, but there is an opportunity to educate children according to non-standard programs.
Among state-subsidized schools, there are also two categories: “contrat simple” and “contrat d’association”. Contrat simple: The school meets government requirements for curriculum and examinations while receiving subsidies for teachers' salaries. Contrat d'association: In addition to the contrat simple, the school is partly controlled by the state in terms of pedagogical methods and the selection of teachers, receiving funding for operating expenses and salaries. To receive funding under such a contract, schools must prove that they have a certain philosophy that is missing in the state system. Typically, private schools have a religious (Catholic) orientation. This system has been in effect in France since 1959 (the so-called Debray laws).
The cost of studying at private schools depends on many factors, but, in general, is not particularly prohibitive by European standards. Thus, education in one of the oldest and elite schools - Ecole de Roches - in 2008 cost 27,320 euros per academic year.
Let us also note that 80% of schools in France are public, and the smallest category is non-state-subsidized institutions; there are only about 20% of them in the country (less elementary, about 9%, secondary, just over 30%). There are also more teachers in public schools than in private ones - but in terms of the number of schools, non-state institutions win.
Non-state schools in France include almost all religious (Catholic) educational institutions, as well as schools for children with disabilities, etc. In other words, those schools that educate obviously non-standard people or do it in non-standard ways are being pushed into the private sector.
Primary school in France is not much different from the advanced version of Russian school - small classes, a playful approach to subjects, no grades in most schools. But at the age of 11, having completed primary school, young Frenchmen enter college, which is considered the first stage of secondary education. In college, grades are counted in reverse order: the student enters the sixth grade and four years later finishes the third. Then comes the final – and, unlike Russia, compulsory for everyone – stage of the lyceum, which takes two years. There are two main types of lyceums - general educational (general) and technological (technologique), but within each category there are many profiles and specializations - approximately what they are now trying to teach Russian schoolchildren to do.
The second grade of the lyceum (that is, the first in chronological order) is general education, here it does not yet reach specializations. The first grade already has many directions - branches of study leading to different types of bachelor's degrees (this is the name of the exam for an analogue of our matriculation certificate, in fact the first specialized work or project of the student). Some lyceums even offer programs such as astronautics or aeronautics as profiles.
Among the differences between French specialization and Russian projects is the special status of the French language as a subject. Everyone without exception takes the state language test after first grade. The score for this test is taken into account when taking the bachelor's degree exam.
The bachelor's exam itself is preceded by the last, “diploma” class, also known as the “terminal”. Preparation for the final exam is extremely serious, since its results are taken into account when entering universities. In general, during the three years of lyceum, the French have time to both decide on their future specialty and demonstrate their level to others and submit a kind of application for a future career.
Germany
Based on the same Prussian education system as the Russian school, the education system in Germany these days is much more diversified and, according to some analysts, less democratic. Critics of the German school system usually point to the fact that the main choice of a child’s future is made in elementary school - later, if the family’s capabilities initially did not allow them to choose a good school, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to break into the ranks of the elite.
So, primary school in Germany educates children from 6 to 10 years old (or up to 12 years old in Berlin and Brandenburg). In it, children learn to read, count, write, and study natural history. The differences among primary schools are mainly in the availability and quality of extracurricular activities. Then comes the turn of high school - from 10 to 19 years old. And here specialization and social stratification among schools becomes apparent.
The choice of the type of school, as German laws state, occurs individually for each student in accordance with the recommendation of the school, the wishes of the parents, the level of school grades, and the result of the entrance exams. Since the level of development and the availability of recommendations is related to the primary school the child attended, the choice of school often depends on the capabilities of the family.
The types of secondary schools in Germany are as follows: basic school (Hauptschule) - designed for 5-6 years of study and involves subsequent training in a vocational school; real school (Realschule) - designed for 6 years of study, and a high score obtained based on the results of studying in a real school allows you to enter the senior class of a gymnasium, and then to a university; finally, the most thorough education is provided by gymnasiums (Gymnasium) - where education lasts 8-9 years.
As a rule, a gymnasium specializes in three main areas: humanitarian (languages, literature, art), social (social sciences) and technical (natural sciences, mathematics, technology). Upon completion of training, a diploma of secondary education (Abitur) is issued. The German Abitur is the equivalent of the Russian certificate of complete secondary education and the British A-level diploma. Gymnasiums are aimed at entering the University.
In addition to these three types, there are also general schools (Gesamtschule) - they combine various features of a gymnasium and real schools, allowing you to receive both a humanitarian and technical education at the same time.
In addition to public schools, private educational institutions also issue state-issued certificates. These are, as a rule, religious, elite, closed schools. The range of educational services provided by private companies is wider than the state one - for example, only in such schools can a foreign student receive a German certificate.
Private schools in Germany (public education is expected to be free) charge more for tuition than French schools - for example, in prestigious German schools the full cost of the academic year is about 40,000 euros.
Great Britain
The British secondary school is perhaps the most distinctive education system in Western Europe. And, at the same time, perhaps the most prestigious - regardless of tests like PISA, British schools magnetically attract students from all over the world, not excluding Russians.
“Many people teach, we educate gentlemen,” this phrase is attributed to the director of one of the most prestigious British schools. In fact, this is the essence of the carefully built brand of British secondary education.
Education in the UK is compulsory for all citizens aged 5 to 16 years. There are two sectors of education: public (free education) and private (paid educational institutions, where a year costs 40 - 50 thousand US dollars). In addition, there is a big difference between the education systems of different parts of Britain: one system has developed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the second in Scotland.
One of the most characteristic types of secondary school in the United Kingdom is the Boarding School, whose tradition dates back to the early Middle Ages. Initially, these schools appeared at monasteries, in particular Benedictine ones. Although monastery boarding schools were charitable, British boarding schools have been fee-paying for half a millennium.
Now boarding schools have a reputation as “aristocratic” - the fact is that once upon a time it was schools of this type that raised several generations of British people who subjugated half the world. And now some of the boarding houses that have existed for many hundreds of years under one roof and one name can be called clubs for the descendants of the most aristocratic families of the former empire.
Apart from these schools, there are many other types of educational institutions in the kingdom. According to the age of the students, they are divided into full-cycle schools (All-Through schools), this is an approximate analogue of our educational complexes “from kindergarten to graduation”; and for schools for each individual age: preparatory schools - nurseries, from 2 to 7 years, in which, in addition to regular kindergarten classes, they also teach reading and writing, junior schools - primary schools, from 7 to 13 years, ending with a special exam Common Entrance Examination, without which the path further is closed. In addition, there is an alternative system - Primary School from 4 to 11 years old, with a further transition to the Secondary School stage.
Next after Junior comes the high school, Senior School - teenagers from 13 to 18 years old study there. Here, children first undergo two years of training to pass GCSE exams, followed by another two-year program: A-Level or International Baccalaureate.
In a parallel system, this age is “closed” by Secondary school, which teaches children aged 11 years and older. An analogue of the Russian gymnasium, Grammar school is an education for children aged 11 years and older according to an in-depth program. Graduation classes for those entering universities in Britain are called Sixth Form, these are 2 senior years of study (16 - 18 years old).
In Britain, the tradition of separate education for boys and girls is still strong. This is especially noticeable in the world of traditional boarding schools, of which the majority are “separate”. However, schools of the “new formation” are mostly, on the contrary, mixed.
In terms of ownership, both private and public schools are widely represented in the UK. Free secondary education is, of course, guaranteed by the state, however (similar to Germany) for a successful career you need to graduate from the “right” school. And such schools are traditionally private (this was the prevailing form of ownership until the twentieth century) and are quite expensive for parents.
Compulsory education in Britain applies to children up to 16 years of age. Then (after receiving A-Levels) the system of educational loans begins to operate. Moreover, a university graduate begins to pay them only when he gets a job with earnings of at least 21 thousand pounds a year. If there is no such work, there is no need to repay the debt. USA
The length and age at which children begin compulsory education in the United States varies by state. Children begin their education between the ages of 5 and 8 and finish between the ages of 14 and 18.
At the age of about 5 years, American children go to elementary school (kindergarten). This zero-grade class is optional in some states—nevertheless, almost all American children attend kindergarten. Although kindergarten literally means “kindergarten” in German, kindergartens exist separately in the United States and are literally called “preschool”.
Elementary school continues through fifth or sixth grade (depending on the school district), after which the student goes to middle school, which ends with eighth grade. High school is grades nine through twelve, so Americans, like Russians, typically finish secondary education at age 18.
Those who complete a high school education may enroll in community colleges, also called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, which award an associate's degree after two years of study. ) comparable to secondary specialized education. Another option to continue your education is to attend colleges or universities, where you can earn a bachelor's degree, usually in four years. Those who have received a bachelor's degree can study further to obtain a master's degree (2-3 years) or PhD (analogous to the Russian candidate of sciences, 3 years or more). Separately accredited faculties and universities issue degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Law, for which special training is required at the bachelor's level.
Free public schools are administered primarily by democratically elected school boards, each of which has jurisdiction over a school district, whose boundaries often coincide with those of a county or city, and which contain one or more schools at each level. School boards set school programs, hire teachers, and determine program funding. States regulate education within their borders by setting standards and testing students. State funding for schools is often determined by how much their students' test scores have improved.
Money for schools comes primarily from local (city) property taxes, so the quality of schools depends heavily on home prices and how much in taxes parents are willing to pay for good schools. This often leads to a vicious circle. Parents flock to counties where schools have earned a good reputation, eager to provide their children with a good education. Home prices are rising, and the combination of money and motivated parents is taking schools to an even higher level. The opposite occurs at the other end of the spectrum, in poor areas of the so-called “inner cities”.
Some large school districts establish "magnet schools" for particularly talented children living in their jurisdiction. Sometimes in one district there are several such schools, divided by specialty: a technical school, a school for children who have shown talent in the arts, etc.
Approximately 85% of children are educated in public schools. Most of the rest go to fee-paying private schools, many of which are religious. The most widespread is the network of Catholic schools, which was started by Irish immigrants in the second half of the 19th century. Other private schools, often very expensive and sometimes highly competitive, exist to prepare students for admission to prestigious universities. There are even boarding schools that draw students from all over the country, such as Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. The cost of education in such schools is about 50,000 US dollars per year for parents.
Less than 5% of parents decide to homeschool their children for various reasons. Some religious conservatives do not want their children to be taught ideas with which they disagree, most commonly the theory of evolution. Others believe that schools cannot meet the needs of their underperforming or, conversely, brilliant children. Still others want to protect children from drugs and crime, which are problems in some schools. In many places, parents who homeschool their children form groups in which they help each other, and sometimes even different parents teach the children different subjects. Many also supplement their lessons with distance learning programs and classes at local colleges. However, critics of homeschooling argue that homeschooling is often substandard and that children raised this way do not acquire normal social skills.
Primary schools (elementary schools, grade schools, or grammar schools) usually educate children from the age of five until they are eleven or twelve. One teacher teaches all subjects except fine arts, music and physical education, which are taught once or twice a week. Academic subjects taught are usually arithmetic (occasionally elementary algebra), reading and writing, with an emphasis on spelling and vocabulary development. Natural and social sciences are taught little and not in variety. Often social science takes the form of local history.
Often in elementary school, learning consists of art projects, field trips, and other forms of learning through fun. This arose from the progressive education movement of the early 20th century, which taught that students should learn through work and everyday actions and the study of their consequences.
Secondary schools (middle schools, junior high schools, or intermediate schools) typically educate children between the ages of 11 or 12 and 14 years old—grades six or seven through eight. Recently, sixth grade has increasingly been included in secondary school. Typically, in a secondary school, unlike in a primary school, one teacher teaches one subject. Students are required to take classes in math, English, science, social studies (often including world history), and physical education. Students choose one or two classes themselves, usually in foreign languages, arts and technology.
In high school, the division of students into ordinary and advanced streams also begins. Students who do better than others in a given subject may be placed in an advanced ("honor") class, where they cover the material faster and are assigned more homework. Recently, such classes, especially in the humanities, have been abolished in some places: critics believe that isolating high-performing students prevents low-performing students from catching up.
High school is the last stage of secondary education in the United States, lasting from ninth to twelfth grade. In high school, students can choose their classes more freely than before and only have to meet the minimum graduation criteria set by the school board. Typical minimum requirements are:
3 years of natural sciences (a year of chemistry, a year of biology and a year of physics);
3 years of mathematics, up to second year algebra (mathematics in middle and high schools is typically divided into first year algebra, geometry, second year algebra, introduction to calculus, and calculus, and taken in that order);
4 years of literature;
2-4 years of social sciences, usually including US history and government;
1-2 years of physical education.
For admission to many universities, a more complete program is required, including 2-4 years of a foreign language.
Students must choose the remaining classes themselves. The range of such classes varies greatly in quantity and quality, depending on the financial situation of the school and the inclinations of the students. A typical set of optional classes is:
Additional sciences (statistics, computer science, environmental science);
Foreign languages (most often Spanish, French and German; less often Japanese, Chinese, Latin and Greek);
Fine arts (painting, sculpture, photography, cinema);
Performing arts (theater, orchestra, dance);
Computer technology (computer use, computer graphics, web design);
Publishing (journalism, yearbook editing);
Labor (woodworking, car repair).
In some cases, the student may not be enrolled in any classroom at all.
In high school, especially in the last two years, a new type of advanced class has emerged. Students can take classes that are designed to prepare them for the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams. Most universities count a good grade on these exams as entry into the relevant subject.
Grades, both at school and at universities, are issued according to the A/B/C/D/F system, where A is the best grade, F is unsatisfactory, and D can be considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory depending on the circumstances. All marks except F can be appended with “+” or “−”. In some schools, A+ and D− grades do not exist. From these marks, the average (grade point average, abbreviated GPA) is calculated, in which A is considered 4, B is considered 3, and so on. Grades for advanced classes in school are often raised by a point, meaning an A counts as a 5, and so on.
South Korea
Children aged 8 to 14 years attend primary school. The list of subjects studied in primary school includes (but does not exhaust it):
Korean
Mathematics
Exact sciences
Social Sciences
art
Usually all these subjects are taught by one class teacher, although some specialized disciplines may be taught by other teachers (for example, physical education or foreign languages).
Advancement through the levels of the educational system from primary to higher school is not determined by the results of passing various exams, but solely by the age of the student.
Until the late 1980s, English was usually taught in secondary school, but now it begins to be taught in the third grade of primary school. The Korean language is strikingly different from English in terms of grammar, so mastering English occurs with great difficulty, but with relatively little success, which fact is often a topic of thought for parents. Many of them end up sending their children to further education in private educational institutions called hagwons. More and more schools in the country are beginning to attract foreigners for whom English is their native language.
In addition to public primary schools, there are a number of private schools in Korea. The curriculum of such schools more or less corresponds to the state one, however, it is implemented at a higher level: more teachers are offered for fewer students, additional subjects are introduced and higher standards of education are established in general. This explains the natural desire of many parents to enroll their children in such schools, which, however, is stopped by the relatively high cost of education in them: $130 per month of classes. This cannot be compared with the prestigious countries of Europe and the USA, but relative to the income of Koreans this is quite decent money.
Elementary schools are called "chodeung hakkyo" in Korean, which means "elementary school." The South Korean government changed the name in 1996 from the former "gukmin hakkyo", which translates to "civic school". It was above all a gesture of restoring national pride.
Korean school education is divided into secondary and tertiary (secondary and high school education, respectively).
Secondary school entrance examinations were abolished in 1968. In the late 1980s, students still had to take entrance exams (but not against other candidates), and admission was determined either randomly or by location relative to the institution. Schools, whose rank was previously determined by the level of students, were equalized in receiving government support and the number of poor students distributed. However, this reform did not completely level out schools. In Seoul, students who did well on entrance exams were allowed to enroll in more prestigious schools without regard to their district, while everyone else was admitted to a school in “their” district. The reforms were applied equally to public and private schools, admission to which was strictly controlled by the Ministry of Education.
Unlike the United States, where the class number usually increases incrementally from 1 to 12, in South Korea the class number starts from one each time you enter elementary, middle, and high school. To differentiate between them, the class number is usually indicated along with the educational level. For example, the first year of high school will be called "First Year of High School", "chunghakkyo il haknyeon".
high school
In Korean, high school is called "chunhakyo", which literally means "middle school".
There are 3 classes in a Korean high school. Most students enter at the age of 12 and graduate by age 15 (by Western standards). These three years correspond approximately to grades 7-9 in the North American and grades 2 and 4 (form) in the British educational systems.
Compared to elementary school, South Korean high school places much higher demands on its students. Dress and hairstyles are almost always strictly regulated, as are many other aspects of a student's life. As in elementary school, students spend most of the day in the same classroom with their classmates; however, each subject is taught by a different teacher. Teachers move from class to class and only some of them, excluding those who teach “special” subjects, have their own classroom, where the students go themselves. Class teachers play a very important role in the lives of students and have significantly more authority than their American colleagues.
Students in high school have six periods a day, usually preceded by a special block of time in the early morning, and a seventh period specific to each major.
Unlike a university, the curriculum does not vary much from one high school to another. The core of the curriculum is formed:
Mathematics
Korean and English
Also close to the exact sciences.
"Additional" items include:
Various arts
Physical Culture
History
Hancha (Chinese characters)
Managing a Home Economy
Computer literacy lessons.
Which subjects and in what quantities are studied by students varies from year to year.
The duration of training sessions is 45 minutes. Immediately before the start of the first lesson, students have about 30 minutes at their disposal, which can be used at will for self-study, watching programs broadcast by a special educational channel (Educational Broadcast System, EBS) or for conducting personal or class affairs. In 2008, students attended classes full day from Monday to Friday, as well as half a day every first, third and fifth Saturday of the month. On Saturday, students engage in additional activities in some clubs.
In the late 1960s, the government ended the practice of high school entrance examinations, replacing them with a system in which students from the same area were admitted to high school on a random basis. This was done to average out the standard of pupils across all schools, but to some extent differences between rich and poor areas remained. Until recently, most schools were open to one sex only, but recently new secondary schools are accepting children of both sexes and older schools are also becoming mixed.
As in primary school, students move from class to class regardless of their performance, as a result of which the same subject in the same class can be studied by students with completely different levels of preparation. Grades begin to play a very important role in the last year of high school, since they influence the student's chances of entering a particular university, for those who primarily want to pursue a scientific rather than a professional technical career. In other cases, grades are needed simply to please parents or teachers (or to avoid their righteous anger). There are several standard examination forms for certain subjects, and teachers of "science" subjects are required to follow the recommended teaching aids, however, usually secondary school teachers have more authority over the course program and teaching method than teachers in universities.
Many high school students also take additional classes ("hagwon") after school or are tutored by private tutors. Particular emphasis is placed on English and mathematics. Some hagwons specialize in only one subject, while others specialize in all key subjects, which can turn into a second round of school classes with often an even greater load on the student immediately after the end of the first (official) And, in addition to this, especially persistent ones also attend martial arts clubs or music schools.
They usually return home late in the evening.
Korean schools pay special attention to technical support. By 2011, according to the declarations of the Korean government, the country's schools completely switched from paper textbooks to electronic ones.
Finland
In Finland, every child has the right to pre-primary education, which generally begins one year before the start of compulsory education, that is, in the year in which the child has his sixth birthday. Pre-primary education may be received at a school or kindergarten, family kindergarten or other suitable location. This is decided by the municipality.
A child begins compulsory education the year he turns seven and continues until he is 16 or 17 years old. The state guarantees free basic education. This includes tuition, textbooks, notebooks, basic stationery, and school meals are also free.
In the 3rd grade, the study of English begins; in the 4th grade, the child chooses an optional foreign language (French, German or Russian). Compulsory Swedish begins in 7th grade.
Second stage
Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio
After receiving basic education, students are faced with a choice:
Receive vocational education, after which start working in your specialty. Training takes place in vocational schools (Finnish: ammatillinen oppilaitos): in particular, a vocational school (Finnish: ammattiopisto), or you can also opt for on-the-job training under a contract (Finnish: oppisopimuskoulutus).
Continue your studies at the lyceum, where serious preparation for entering higher school is underway. Students who go to the lyceum must show a fairly high degree of preparedness (the average score of grades received in basic school will be this definition). In Finland, lyceum graduates are applicants - they apply to higher school while still lyceum students.
It is interesting that, like in Russia, “hidden fees” for some types of secondary education are practiced in Finland. So, if in a general school textbooks are provided free of charge, then in a gymnasium you need to buy them - this is about 500 euros per year, and you need to pay the entire amount at once. As for private schools, you will have to spend 30 - 40 thousand euros per year on training there.
Which system is more suitable than others as a guide for Russian secondary education? Irina Abankina, director of the Institute for Educational Development at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), briefly spoke about this for SP:
This is a very difficult question. In short, perhaps no system suits us completely. On the one hand, the historical roots of our education system go to Germany, this is well known. At the same time, in Germany itself there is now an active reform of secondary schools. In the UK, their traditional model is now also being changed - Michael Barber is doing this. Despite the fact that these are magnificent and prestigious systems, there are still many questions there.
On the other hand, according to the results of international tests - the same PISA - the countries of Southeast Asia have taken the lead in recent years. Shanghai, the vanguard of Chinese education, showed miracles and impressed Taiwan; Previously, South Korea and Japan rushed forward no less actively.
This means that the Eastern model of education is also worth taking an interest in. And this eastern model, frankly speaking, is not as pleasant for the observer as the European or American one. These are full classes - up to 40 people! This is strict discipline, reminiscent of the golden years of the Soviet school. But this is also a factor that was missing in our old school - universal tutoring, that is, tutoring. Without individual - paid - lessons, it is very difficult to prepare a student there well. According to Professor Mark Breir, who works at Shahnai University, the size of the tutoring market in Shanghai reaches 2.5% of GDP. In the budgets of most families, expenses for additional educational services are a significant item.
As for Russia, I repeat, none of the existing systems in the world are suitable for us without adaptation. When building a new school for the country, it will be necessary to combine solutions from all over the world. ""
Http://www.svpressa.ru/society/article/40314/
How the education system works in different countries of the worldI'm terribly interested...
The Russian secondary education system will be radically reformed in the coming years. Discussion of this reform has been the most popular topic on the Russian agenda since the end of 2010, only high-profile disasters, revolutions and military actions are more popular. Meanwhile, neither the public, nor officials, nor experts can clearly and clearly talk about what kind of school Russia needs in 10 years.
Classical education or emphasis on high technology? Uniformity for the sake of national unity - or a kingdom of blossoming complexity? Free education of a good level - or will parents have to pay for almost everything except the notorious “physical education and life safety”? There is not only no consensus, but also no clarity about all this in Russian society: even experts, when speaking “to the public,” prefer to speak in long, meaningless phrases.
It may be easier to understand the desired direction of reform if we take a brief look at the most famous school systems in the world. These are the most developed European countries, former metropolises of the great colonial empires - as well as the current world leader of the United States and representatives of the two fastest growing educational systems in the world. ""
In a series of two publications, SP presents a brief overview of the national school traditions of France, Germany, Great Britain, the USA, South Korea and Finland.
The current secondary education system in France consists, like most European systems, of three levels - primary (ecole primaire, from 6 to 11 years) and senior (college, college - from 11 to 15 years, then lycee, lyceum - from 16 to 15 18). This is a fairly conservative system that has existed with minor changes for more than 100 years - since the 1890s. State-standard education is compulsory for children from 6 to 16 years of age (the lyceum, as an analogue of Russian grades 9–11, mainly prepares students for admission to universities). At the same time, education is free in public schools, but there are also private alternatives.
Private schools - mostly tuition fees for students, but less constrained by government restrictions - also provide their graduates with state-issued diplomas. There are two types of such schools, based on their relationship with the state: subsidized (sous contrat) and unsubsidized (hors contrat). In the first of them, the government pays salaries to teachers, and schools follow the national program and standard curriculum, in the second, there are no subsidies from the government, but there is an opportunity to educate children according to non-standard programs.
Among state-subsidized schools, there are also two categories: “contrat simple” and “contrat d’association”. Contrat simple: The school meets government requirements for curriculum and examinations while receiving subsidies for teachers' salaries. Contrat d'association: In addition to the contrat simple, the school is partly controlled by the state in terms of pedagogical methods and the selection of teachers, receiving funding for operating expenses and salaries. To receive funding under such a contract, schools must prove that they have a certain philosophy that is missing in the state system. Typically, private schools have a religious (Catholic) orientation. This system has been in effect in France since 1959 (the so-called Debray laws).
The cost of studying at private schools depends on many factors, but, in general, is not particularly prohibitive by European standards. Thus, education in one of the oldest and elite schools - Ecole de Roches - in 2008 cost 27,320 euros per academic year.
Let us also note that 80% of schools in France are public, and the smallest category is non-state-subsidized institutions; there are only about 20% of them in the country (less elementary, about 9%, secondary, just over 30%). There are also more teachers in public schools than in private ones - but in terms of the number of schools, non-state institutions win.
Non-state schools in France include almost all religious (Catholic) educational institutions, as well as schools for children with disabilities, etc. In other words, those schools that educate obviously non-standard people or do it in non-standard ways are being pushed into the private sector.
Primary school in France is not much different from the advanced version of Russian school - small classes, a playful approach to subjects, no grades in most schools. But at the age of 11, having completed primary school, young Frenchmen enter college, which is considered the first stage of secondary education. In college, grades are counted in reverse order: the student enters the sixth grade and four years later finishes the third. Then comes the final – and, unlike Russia, compulsory for everyone – stage of the lyceum, which takes two years. There are two main types of lyceums - general educational (general) and technological (technologique), but within each category there are many profiles and specializations - approximately what they are now trying to teach Russian schoolchildren to do.
The second grade of the lyceum (that is, the first in chronological order) is general education, here it does not yet reach specializations. The first grade already has many directions - branches of study leading to different types of bachelor's degrees (this is the name of the exam for an analogue of our matriculation certificate, in fact the first specialized work or project of the student). Some lyceums even offer programs such as astronautics or aeronautics as profiles.
Among the differences between French specialization and Russian projects is the special status of the French language as a subject. Everyone without exception takes the state language test after first grade. The score for this test is taken into account when taking the bachelor's degree exam.
The bachelor's exam itself is preceded by the last, “diploma” class, also known as the “terminal”. Preparation for the final exam is extremely serious, since its results are taken into account when entering universities. In general, during the three years of lyceum, the French have time to both decide on their future specialty and demonstrate their level to others and submit a kind of application for a future career.
Germany
Based on the same Prussian education system as the Russian school, the education system in Germany these days is much more diversified and, according to some analysts, less democratic. Critics of the German school system usually point to the fact that the main choice of a child’s future is made in elementary school - later, if the family’s capabilities initially did not allow them to choose a good school, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to break into the ranks of the elite.
So, primary school in Germany educates children from 6 to 10 years old (or up to 12 years old in Berlin and Brandenburg). In it, children learn to read, count, write, and study natural history. The differences among primary schools are mainly in the availability and quality of extracurricular activities. Then comes the turn of high school - from 10 to 19 years old. And here specialization and social stratification among schools becomes apparent.
The choice of the type of school, as German laws state, occurs individually for each student in accordance with the recommendation of the school, the wishes of the parents, the level of school grades, and the result of the entrance exams. Since the level of development and the availability of recommendations is related to the primary school the child attended, the choice of school often depends on the capabilities of the family.
The types of secondary schools in Germany are as follows: basic school (Hauptschule) - designed for 5-6 years of study and involves subsequent training in a vocational school; real school (Realschule) - designed for 6 years of study, and a high score obtained based on the results of studying in a real school allows you to enter the senior class of a gymnasium, and then to a university; finally, the most thorough education is provided by gymnasiums (Gymnasium) - where education lasts 8-9 years.
As a rule, a gymnasium specializes in three main areas: humanitarian (languages, literature, art), social (social sciences) and technical (natural sciences, mathematics, technology). Upon completion of training, a diploma of secondary education (Abitur) is issued. The German Abitur is the equivalent of the Russian certificate of complete secondary education and the British A-level diploma. Gymnasiums are aimed at entering the University.
In addition to these three types, there are also general schools (Gesamtschule) - they combine various features of a gymnasium and real schools, allowing you to receive both a humanitarian and technical education at the same time.
In addition to public schools, private educational institutions also issue state-issued certificates. These are, as a rule, religious, elite, closed schools. The range of educational services provided by private companies is wider than the state one - for example, only in such schools can a foreign student receive a German certificate.
Private schools in Germany (public education is expected to be free) charge more for tuition than French schools - for example, in prestigious German schools the full cost of the academic year is about 40,000 euros.
Great Britain
The British secondary school is perhaps the most distinctive education system in Western Europe. And, at the same time, perhaps the most prestigious - regardless of tests like PISA, British schools magnetically attract students from all over the world, not excluding Russians.
“Many people teach, we educate gentlemen,” this phrase is attributed to the director of one of the most prestigious British schools. In fact, this is the essence of the carefully built brand of British secondary education.
Education in the UK is compulsory for all citizens aged 5 to 16 years. There are two sectors of education: public (free education) and private (paid educational institutions, where a year costs 40 - 50 thousand US dollars). In addition, there is a big difference between the education systems of different parts of Britain: one system has developed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the second in Scotland.
One of the most characteristic types of secondary school in the United Kingdom is the Boarding School, whose tradition dates back to the early Middle Ages. Initially, these schools appeared at monasteries, in particular Benedictine ones. Although monastery boarding schools were charitable, British boarding schools have been fee-paying for half a millennium.
Now boarding schools have a reputation as “aristocratic” - the fact is that once upon a time it was schools of this type that raised several generations of British people who subjugated half the world. And now some of the boarding houses that have existed for many hundreds of years under one roof and one name can be called clubs for the descendants of the most aristocratic families of the former empire.
Apart from these schools, there are many other types of educational institutions in the kingdom. According to the age of the students, they are divided into full-cycle schools (All-Through schools), this is an approximate analogue of our educational complexes “from kindergarten to graduation”; and for schools for each individual age: preparatory schools - nurseries, from 2 to 7 years, in which, in addition to regular kindergarten classes, they also teach reading and writing, junior schools - primary schools, from 7 to 13 years, ending with a special exam Common Entrance Examination, without which the path further is closed. In addition, there is an alternative system - Primary School from 4 to 11 years old, with a further transition to the Secondary School stage.
Next after Junior comes the high school, Senior School - teenagers from 13 to 18 years old study there. Here, children first undergo two years of training to pass GCSE exams, followed by another two-year program: A-Level or International Baccalaureate.
In a parallel system, this age is “closed” by Secondary school, which teaches children aged 11 years and older. An analogue of the Russian gymnasium, Grammar school is an education for children aged 11 years and older according to an in-depth program. Graduation classes for those entering universities in Britain are called Sixth Form, these are 2 senior years of study (16 - 18 years old).
In Britain, the tradition of separate education for boys and girls is still strong. This is especially noticeable in the world of traditional boarding schools, of which the majority are “separate”. However, schools of the “new formation” are mostly, on the contrary, mixed.
In terms of ownership, both private and public schools are widely represented in the UK. Free secondary education is, of course, guaranteed by the state, however (similar to Germany) for a successful career you need to graduate from the “right” school. And such schools are traditionally private (this was the prevailing form of ownership until the twentieth century) and are quite expensive for parents.
Compulsory education in Britain applies to children up to 16 years of age. Then (after receiving A-Levels) the system of educational loans begins to operate. Moreover, a university graduate begins to pay them only when he gets a job with earnings of at least 21 thousand pounds a year. If there is no such work, there is no need to repay the debt. USA
The length and age at which children begin compulsory education in the United States varies by state. Children begin their education between the ages of 5 and 8 and finish between the ages of 14 and 18.
At the age of about 5 years, American children go to elementary school (kindergarten). This zero-grade class is optional in some states—nevertheless, almost all American children attend kindergarten. Although kindergarten literally means “kindergarten” in German, kindergartens exist separately in the United States and are literally called “preschool”.
Elementary school continues through fifth or sixth grade (depending on the school district), after which the student goes to middle school, which ends with eighth grade. High school is grades nine through twelve, so Americans, like Russians, typically finish secondary education at age 18.
Those who complete a high school education may enroll in community colleges, also called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, which award an associate's degree after two years of study. ) comparable to secondary specialized education. Another option to continue your education is to attend colleges or universities, where you can earn a bachelor's degree, usually in four years. Those who have received a bachelor's degree can study further to obtain a master's degree (2-3 years) or PhD (analogous to the Russian candidate of sciences, 3 years or more). Separately accredited faculties and universities issue degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Law, for which special training is required at the bachelor's level.
Free public schools are administered primarily by democratically elected school boards, each of which has jurisdiction over a school district, whose boundaries often coincide with those of a county or city, and which contain one or more schools at each level. School boards set school programs, hire teachers, and determine program funding. States regulate education within their borders by setting standards and testing students. State funding for schools is often determined by how much their students' test scores have improved.
Money for schools comes primarily from local (city) property taxes, so the quality of schools depends heavily on home prices and how much in taxes parents are willing to pay for good schools. This often leads to a vicious circle. Parents flock to counties where schools have earned a good reputation, eager to provide their children with a good education. Home prices are rising, and the combination of money and motivated parents is taking schools to an even higher level. The opposite occurs at the other end of the spectrum, in poor areas of the so-called “inner cities”.
Some large school districts establish "magnet schools" for particularly talented children living in their jurisdiction. Sometimes in one district there are several such schools, divided by specialty: a technical school, a school for children who have shown talent in the arts, etc.
Approximately 85% of children are educated in public schools. Most of the rest go to fee-paying private schools, many of which are religious. The most widespread is the network of Catholic schools, which was started by Irish immigrants in the second half of the 19th century. Other private schools, often very expensive and sometimes highly competitive, exist to prepare students for admission to prestigious universities. There are even boarding schools that draw students from all over the country, such as Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. The cost of education in such schools is about 50,000 US dollars per year for parents.
Less than 5% of parents decide to homeschool their children for various reasons. Some religious conservatives do not want their children to be taught ideas with which they disagree, most commonly the theory of evolution. Others believe that schools cannot meet the needs of their underperforming or, conversely, brilliant children. Still others want to protect children from drugs and crime, which are problems in some schools. In many places, parents who homeschool their children form groups in which they help each other, and sometimes even different parents teach the children different subjects. Many also supplement their lessons with distance learning programs and classes at local colleges. However, critics of homeschooling argue that homeschooling is often substandard and that children raised this way do not acquire normal social skills.
Primary schools (elementary schools, grade schools, or grammar schools) usually educate children from the age of five until they are eleven or twelve. One teacher teaches all subjects except fine arts, music and physical education, which are taught once or twice a week. Academic subjects taught are usually arithmetic (occasionally elementary algebra), reading and writing, with an emphasis on spelling and vocabulary development. Natural and social sciences are taught little and not in variety. Often social science takes the form of local history.
Often in elementary school, learning consists of art projects, field trips, and other forms of learning through fun. This arose from the progressive education movement of the early 20th century, which taught that students should learn through work and everyday actions and the study of their consequences.
Secondary schools (middle schools, junior high schools, or intermediate schools) typically educate children between the ages of 11 or 12 and 14 years old—grades six or seven through eight. Recently, sixth grade has increasingly been included in secondary school. Typically, in a secondary school, unlike in a primary school, one teacher teaches one subject. Students are required to take classes in math, English, science, social studies (often including world history), and physical education. Students choose one or two classes themselves, usually in foreign languages, arts and technology.
In high school, the division of students into ordinary and advanced streams also begins. Students who do better than others in a given subject may be placed in an advanced ("honor") class, where they cover the material faster and are assigned more homework. Recently, such classes, especially in the humanities, have been abolished in some places: critics believe that isolating high-performing students prevents low-performing students from catching up.
High school is the last stage of secondary education in the United States, lasting from ninth to twelfth grade. In high school, students can choose their classes more freely than before and only have to meet the minimum graduation criteria set by the school board. Typical minimum requirements are:
3 years of natural sciences (a year of chemistry, a year of biology and a year of physics);
3 years of mathematics, up to second year algebra (mathematics in middle and high schools is typically divided into first year algebra, geometry, second year algebra, introduction to calculus, and calculus, and taken in that order);
4 years of literature;
2-4 years of social sciences, usually including US history and government;
1-2 years of physical education.
For admission to many universities, a more complete program is required, including 2-4 years of a foreign language.
Students must choose the remaining classes themselves. The range of such classes varies greatly in quantity and quality, depending on the financial situation of the school and the inclinations of the students. A typical set of optional classes is:
Additional sciences (statistics, computer science, environmental science);
Foreign languages (most often Spanish, French and German; less often Japanese, Chinese, Latin and Greek);
Fine arts (painting, sculpture, photography, cinema);
Performing arts (theater, orchestra, dance);
Computer technology (computer use, computer graphics, web design);
Publishing (journalism, yearbook editing);
Labor (woodworking, car repair).
In some cases, the student may not be enrolled in any classroom at all.
In high school, especially in the last two years, a new type of advanced class has emerged. Students can take classes that are designed to prepare them for the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams. Most universities count a good grade on these exams as entry into the relevant subject.
Grades, both at school and at universities, are issued according to the A/B/C/D/F system, where A is the best grade, F is unsatisfactory, and D can be considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory depending on the circumstances. All marks except F can be appended with “+” or “−”. In some schools, A+ and D− grades do not exist. From these marks, the average (grade point average, abbreviated GPA) is calculated, in which A is considered 4, B is considered 3, and so on. Grades for advanced classes in school are often raised by a point, meaning an A counts as a 5, and so on.
South Korea
Children aged 8 to 14 years attend primary school. The list of subjects studied in primary school includes (but does not exhaust it):
Korean
Mathematics
Exact sciences
Social Sciences
art
Usually all these subjects are taught by one class teacher, although some specialized disciplines may be taught by other teachers (for example, physical education or foreign languages).
Advancement through the levels of the educational system from primary to higher school is not determined by the results of passing various exams, but solely by the age of the student.
Until the late 1980s, English was usually taught in secondary school, but now it begins to be taught in the third grade of primary school. The Korean language is strikingly different from English in terms of grammar, so mastering English occurs with great difficulty, but with relatively little success, which fact is often a topic of thought for parents. Many of them end up sending their children to further education in private educational institutions called hagwons. More and more schools in the country are beginning to attract foreigners for whom English is their native language.
In addition to public primary schools, there are a number of private schools in Korea. The curriculum of such schools more or less corresponds to the state one, however, it is implemented at a higher level: more teachers are offered for fewer students, additional subjects are introduced and higher standards of education are established in general. This explains the natural desire of many parents to enroll their children in such schools, which, however, is stopped by the relatively high cost of education in them: $130 per month of classes. This cannot be compared with the prestigious countries of Europe and the USA, but relative to the income of Koreans this is quite decent money.
Elementary schools are called "chodeung hakkyo" in Korean, which means "elementary school." The South Korean government changed the name in 1996 from the former "gukmin hakkyo", which translates to "civic school". It was above all a gesture of restoring national pride.
Korean school education is divided into secondary and tertiary (secondary and high school education, respectively).
Secondary school entrance examinations were abolished in 1968. In the late 1980s, students still had to take entrance exams (but not against other candidates), and admission was determined either randomly or by location relative to the institution. Schools, whose rank was previously determined by the level of students, were equalized in receiving government support and the number of poor students distributed. However, this reform did not completely level out schools. In Seoul, students who did well on entrance exams were allowed to enroll in more prestigious schools without regard to their district, while everyone else was admitted to a school in “their” district. The reforms were applied equally to public and private schools, admission to which was strictly controlled by the Ministry of Education.
Unlike the United States, where the class number usually increases incrementally from 1 to 12, in South Korea the class number starts from one each time you enter elementary, middle, and high school. To differentiate between them, the class number is usually indicated along with the educational level. For example, the first year of high school will be called "First Year of High School", "chunghakkyo il haknyeon".
high school
In Korean, high school is called "chunhakyo", which literally means "middle school".
There are 3 classes in a Korean high school. Most students enter at the age of 12 and graduate by age 15 (by Western standards). These three years correspond approximately to grades 7-9 in the North American and grades 2 and 4 (form) in the British educational systems.
Compared to elementary school, South Korean high school places much higher demands on its students. Dress and hairstyles are almost always strictly regulated, as are many other aspects of a student's life. As in elementary school, students spend most of the day in the same classroom with their classmates; however, each subject is taught by a different teacher. Teachers move from class to class and only some of them, excluding those who teach “special” subjects, have their own classroom, where the students go themselves. Class teachers play a very important role in the lives of students and have significantly more authority than their American colleagues.
Students in high school have six periods a day, usually preceded by a special block of time in the early morning, and a seventh period specific to each major.
Unlike a university, the curriculum does not vary much from one high school to another. The core of the curriculum is formed:
Mathematics
Korean and English
Also close to the exact sciences.
"Additional" items include:
Various arts
Physical Culture
History
Hancha (Chinese characters)
Managing a Home Economy
Computer literacy lessons.
Which subjects and in what quantities are studied by students varies from year to year.
The duration of training sessions is 45 minutes. Immediately before the start of the first lesson, students have about 30 minutes at their disposal, which can be used at will for self-study, watching programs broadcast by a special educational channel (Educational Broadcast System, EBS) or for conducting personal or class affairs. In 2008, students attended classes full day from Monday to Friday, as well as half a day every first, third and fifth Saturday of the month. On Saturday, students engage in additional activities in some clubs.
In the late 1960s, the government ended the practice of high school entrance examinations, replacing them with a system in which students from the same area were admitted to high school on a random basis. This was done to average out the standard of pupils across all schools, but to some extent differences between rich and poor areas remained. Until recently, most schools were open to one sex only, but recently new secondary schools are accepting children of both sexes and older schools are also becoming mixed.
As in primary school, students move from class to class regardless of their performance, as a result of which the same subject in the same class can be studied by students with completely different levels of preparation. Grades begin to play a very important role in the last year of high school, since they influence the student's chances of entering a particular university, for those who primarily want to pursue a scientific rather than a professional technical career. In other cases, grades are needed simply to please parents or teachers (or to avoid their righteous anger). There are several standard examination forms for certain subjects, and teachers of "science" subjects are required to follow the recommended teaching aids, however, usually secondary school teachers have more authority over the course program and teaching method than teachers in universities.
Many high school students also take additional classes ("hagwon") after school or are tutored by private tutors. Particular emphasis is placed on English and mathematics. Some hagwons specialize in only one subject, while others specialize in all key subjects, which can turn into a second round of school classes with often an even greater load on the student immediately after the end of the first (official) And, in addition to this, especially persistent ones also attend martial arts clubs or music schools.
They usually return home late in the evening.
Korean schools pay special attention to technical support. By 2011, according to the declarations of the Korean government, the country's schools completely switched from paper textbooks to electronic ones.
Finland
In Finland, every child has the right to pre-primary education, which generally begins one year before the start of compulsory education, that is, in the year in which the child has his sixth birthday. Pre-primary education may be received at a school or kindergarten, family kindergarten or other suitable location. This is decided by the municipality.
A child begins compulsory education the year he turns seven and continues until he is 16 or 17 years old. The state guarantees free basic education. This includes tuition, textbooks, notebooks, basic stationery, and school meals are also free.
In the 3rd grade, the study of English begins; in the 4th grade, the child chooses an optional foreign language (French, German or Russian). Compulsory Swedish begins in 7th grade.
Second stage
Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio
After receiving basic education, students are faced with a choice:
Receive vocational education, after which start working in your specialty. Training takes place in vocational schools (Finnish: ammatillinen oppilaitos): in particular, a vocational school (Finnish: ammattiopisto), or you can also opt for on-the-job training under a contract (Finnish: oppisopimuskoulutus).
Continue your studies at the lyceum, where serious preparation for entering higher school is underway. Students who go to the lyceum must show a fairly high degree of preparedness (the average score of grades received in basic school will be this definition). In Finland, lyceum graduates are applicants - they apply to higher school while still lyceum students.
It is interesting that, like in Russia, “hidden fees” for some types of secondary education are practiced in Finland. So, if in a general school textbooks are provided free of charge, then in a gymnasium you need to buy them - this is about 500 euros per year, and you need to pay the entire amount at once. As for private schools, you will have to spend 30 - 40 thousand euros per year on training there.
Which system is more suitable than others as a guide for Russian secondary education? Irina Abankina, director of the Institute for Educational Development at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), briefly spoke about this for SP:
This is a very difficult question. In short, perhaps no system suits us completely. On the one hand, the historical roots of our education system go to Germany, this is well known. At the same time, in Germany itself there is now an active reform of secondary schools. In the UK, their traditional model is now also being changed - Michael Barber is doing this. Despite the fact that these are magnificent and prestigious systems, there are still many questions there.
On the other hand, according to the results of international tests - the same PISA - the countries of Southeast Asia have taken the lead in recent years. Shanghai, the vanguard of Chinese education, showed miracles and impressed Taiwan; Previously, South Korea and Japan rushed forward no less actively.
This means that the Eastern model of education is also worth taking an interest in. And this eastern model, frankly speaking, is not as pleasant for the observer as the European or American one. These are full classes - up to 40 people! This is strict discipline, reminiscent of the golden years of the Soviet school. But this is also a factor that was missing in our old school - universal tutoring, that is, tutoring. Without individual - paid - lessons, it is very difficult to prepare a student there well. According to Professor Mark Breir, who works at Shahnai University, the size of the tutoring market in Shanghai reaches 2.5% of GDP. In the budgets of most families, expenses for additional educational services are a significant item.
As for Russia, I repeat, none of the existing systems in the world are suitable for us without adaptation. When building a new school for the country, it will be necessary to combine solutions from all over the world. ""
Http://www.svpressa.ru/society/article/40314/
Classical, with an emphasis on hi-tech or culture, paid and free education - we figure out how and what is taught abroad
Source: libre.life
The French secondary education system, like in many other European countries, consists of three levels: primary school (ecole primaire), which children attend from 6 to 11 years old, senior school (college), designed for teenagers from 11 to 15 years old, and, finally, the lyceum, where students study from 16 to 18 years old. State-standard education is compulsory for all children aged 6 to 16 years old and is provided free of charge - in fact, it is an analogue of Russian grades 9–11, where students are prepared for entering universities.
At the same time, in France there are also private educational institutions, which are mainly paid.
Primary school in France is not much different from its modern Russian counterpart - the same small classes, a playful approach to subjects. Differences begin to appear later - in college, where an 11-year-old child ends up after the first stage of education. For example, here the classes are counted in reverse order: the child enters the sixth grade and four years later finishes the third. Then the college is replaced by a lyceum, compulsory education in which lasts two years - and then the teenager goes through a “diploma” class (terminal).
Source: libre.life
In this country, academic literacy begins at the age of 6. The program as a whole is standard: children learn to read, count, write, study natural history, and the main differences lie in the quality of additional classes.
After studying for four years (in Berlin and Brandenburg - 6 years), the child graduates from primary school and moves on to the next stage - secondary general education, the duration of which is from 4 to 6 years. In this case, the student can choose one of the options: basic school, real school or gymnasium. As a rule, these educational institutions separate grades from 5 to 10, and the difference is determined by the content of the program. For example, in the basic school a lot of attention is paid to work skills - so it can be compared with Russian vocational schools. The certificate awarded upon completion is usually used to continue education in the workplace or at higher level evening vocational schools.
Source: libre.life
Italian children begin their path to knowledge at the age of six, entering primary school, the first two levels of which (scuola elementare 1 and scuola elementare 2) are free for everyone. The compulsory program of this stage includes general education subjects, and only the study of religion can be chosen at will.
At the end of five years of study (the first two levels), schoolchildren pass written and oral exams and receive a primary school certificate, in order to then move on to secondary school, where young researchers will study until the age of 14. At the end of each year, secondary school students face exams on a pass/fail basis. If a student fails the test, he or she repeats the second year.
At the age of 18, schoolchildren continue their studies at lyceums. There are three types of the latter: classical and technical lyceums, as well as with specialization in the natural sciences. The curriculum of all lyceums includes Italian literature, Latin, mathematics, physics, natural sciences, philosophy, and history. Graduates pass an exam and receive a certificate of maturity, with which they can enter the university.
Source: libre.life
This is not the first year that British schools, like a magnet, attract students from all over the world. “Many people teach, we educate gentlemen,” in fact, this phrase from the director of one of the prestigious educational institutions explains the advantages of education received in the UK.
The country provides compulsory free education, which can be received by any child aged 5 to 16 years, regardless of nationality, race and social status of parents. Moreover, it includes two stages: primary school education - for children from 4 to 11 years old (up to 7 years old, the child goes to a school for children, and from 7 to 11 years old - to a junior school), and secondary school - provided for adolescents 11–11 years old. 16 years.
Secondary schools have their own gradation. Thus, “grammar” institutions are focused on the academic general education component - with the expectation of further study at a university. “Modern” schools are characterized by an applied focus and allow you to quickly acquire professional qualifications. The most popular "unified" schools combine these two characteristics.
Parents who wish to homeschool their child must first obtain permission from their local board of education. The fact is that the “home” conditions of education must comply with accepted standards, including compulsory religious education.
The education system is a kind of hierarchical structure of educational institutions that allows a person to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities in the learning process.
The education system is individual for each country. In this article we will try to provide information about the main systems that exist in the modern world. We hope that this information will be useful and will help you choose a quality study program abroad.
Education system in Australia
Australia's education system is built on the British model. Educational institutions in this country offer courses that can satisfy any needs. The Australian education system has a good reputation throughout the world, which is the result of careful control over all educational institutions in the country. Currently, foreign citizens have the opportunity to study at any level of the Australian education system except preschool education.
Australians go to school for 12 years. In Australia, public schools predominate. 70% of schoolchildren study in public schools, the rest in private schools. School graduates receive a state certificate called Year 12. To enter the most prestigious universities, a child not only needs to speak English but also pass entrance exams. Australians study at government TAFE colleges. Higher education can be obtained at a university. The learning process is divided into 2 parts, a bachelor's program and a master's program.
UK education system
The British education system has the right to be called the most traditional and highest quality. Having developed many centuries ago, the education system in Britain has not changed today. By law, all British children are required to study from 5 to 16 years of age. Education at school begins with pre-preparatory school, after a year, two students move to primary school, where education continues until the age of 11-13. After this, the secondary school stage begins, which ends with the passing of exams for the GCSE certificate of secondary education. This is where compulsory secondary education ends, so you can then go to work or go to college. In order to enter the university, students need to pass A-level exams. The IB program is becoming increasingly popular in British schools. The English education system ends with higher education, which, like most countries, is divided into a bachelor's program (3-4 years) and a master's program (1-2 years).
Education system in Ireland
Education in Ireland at all levels is one of the highest quality in the world. School education in Ireland, as in other countries, consists of three stages: primary, middle and high school. At the last stage, 6-8 selected subjects are studied in depth, in which, ultimately, matriculation exams are taken. This certificate is similar to the British A-level or IB. Higher education consists of 2 levels: bachelor's degree, master's degree. Upon completion of the master's program, students can receive an academic degree.
The education system in Europe varies by country
Education system in Poland
Secondary education in Poland lasts 12 years, the first 8 grades are the basic level, and the four upper grades are the lyceum. There are two types of lyceums - general education and technical.
The higher education system, as in many countries, consists of universities and vocational colleges. The program of colleges and academies is designed for 3-4 years, upon completion a diploma of a licentiate, engineer or bachelor is issued - depending on the educational institution and specialty. Complete university education leads to a master's degree. The doctorate degree is awarded after passing certain exams and defending a dissertation.
Education system in the Czech Republic
The Czech education system is similar to other European countries. Czechs begin education at the age of 6-7 and study in basic school until the age of 10. When children turn 11 years old, they move to the school. The gymnasium program includes compulsory disciplines and elective subjects. General education continues until the age of 16. After this, schoolchildren either go to special colleges or stay in the gymnasium to receive a diploma and enter the university.
After finishing school, most students enter universities.
Education system in Japan
Schooling in Japan lasts a full 12 years, more than half of which is spent in primary school due to the extreme difficulty of learning the native language. At a minimum, each student must master 1850 characters (these requirements were established by the Japanese Ministry of Education). Throughout their education, children not only learn their own language, they also have to spend a lot of time studying the history of their native country.
After studying in secondary school, students enter higher education. For foreign students, studying in English is provided at universities in Japan. The Japanese education system is adapted for foreign students. Educational institutions in this country offer not only Japanese language learning programs but also bachelor's and master's degree programs.
Chinese education system
The education system in educational institutions of the People's Republic of China includes: - preschool education, primary school, junior high school, senior high school, university, graduate school.
The education system in China begins with preschool education. Kindergartens accept children aged 3 years and older. Primary education in China starts at age 6 and lasts for 6 years. The main subjects of study are: Chinese language, mathematics, science, foreign language, moral education, music, etc. Sports education is considered an important part of primary education.
Secondary education in China has three levels. The first stage is free, students have the opportunity to study the following subjects: mathematics, Chinese, foreign languages, physics, chemistry, moral education, computer science, etc. The second stage is three years of study. The third stage, the final one, consists of 2 years of study. At the last stage, schoolchildren study in vocational and specialized schools.
Students from Ukraine have the opportunity to receive a diploma of secondary education of an international standard, which is taught in English. Chinese is studied as an elective. In China there are three types of higher education: courses with special curricula (course duration 2-3 years), bachelor's degree (4-5 years), master's degree (additional 2-3 years). Recently, China has been actively developing international cooperation in the field of education. Universities in China are actively accepting foreign students and adapting teaching.
Education system in the USA
Historically, America has not had a unified national education system. Each of the 50 American states has its own department of education, which sets educational standards in the state. The education system is highly decentralized. According to the 10th Amendment to the Constitution (“the rights not delegated by the Constitution to the Government of the United States, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States”), the federal government does not have the power to establish a national educational system, determine policies and curricula for schools, and universities Decisions on these issues are made at the state or county level.
And yet, educational programs in the 50 states are very similar. Americans explain this as a result of such general factors as the social and economic needs of the country, the frequent movement of students and teachers from one part of the country to another, and the role of national agencies.
The American education system is organized around three basic levels: primary (including preschool and primary school), secondary and higher. It is compulsory at age seven in 29 states, at age six in 18 states, and at age five in three states.
In total, there are about two and a half thousand four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Almost 15 million students study there. Along with private higher education in the United States, there is a state form in the form of public (public) universities and colleges. Each of the 50 states has at least one public university and several colleges. Just 40 years ago, half of school graduates entered universities.
There are four academic degrees in the USA: Associate's- this degree is awarded to a graduate of a secondary specialized educational institution or technical school; Bachelor's- bachelor degree; Master's- master's degree; Doctorate- doctor degree.
In order to obtain a specialty at a college or university, you need to take a certain number of compulsory subjects and several electives. The education system in America is adapted for students from Ukraine. School graduates can directly enter the first year of university by submitting an English language exam and a certificate of secondary education. If the level of English is not enough to start studying, students can take a preparatory program at a university or college.
Education system in Spain
Spain is a country not only of warm seas, passionate flamenco and famous paella. This is also a prestigious European education. Every year, thousands of students from all over the world come to Spain to receive a prestigious Spanish education. Every year thousands of students come to Spain to receive higher education. Higher education in Spain meets high European standards and is very affordable.
In the process of obtaining higher education in Spain, special emphasis is placed on professional orientation in training. Subjects directly related to the future specialty are studied from the 1st year. Public universities in Spain are the oldest academic traditions combined with modern teaching methods, including the most advanced technologies. Huge scientific libraries and high-quality laboratories.
Education system in Switzerland
Switzerland is a small country in the very center of Europe. Despite its small territory, it borders on five European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Such a convenient location attracts many tourists here, as well as those wishing to receive a European education. Approximately 8% of the country's population are foreigners.
Secondary education: In addition to the inevitable close communication with speakers of the main European languages, a healthy climate, and opportunities to engage in any kind of sports, Swiss boarding houses can be considered the most comfortable in Europe. Children live here in rooms for one or two people, have a varied and tasty diet (French, Swiss, Italian cuisine, and, if necessary, kosher food). This is probably why studying in a Swiss boarding school is 30% more expensive than in the UK.
Switzerland is Europe in miniature. Is it any wonder at the variety of school programs and certificates of secondary education offered there: from the Swiss Matura to the English A-level, from the German Abitur, Italian Maturita and French Baccalaureat to the International Baccalaureate program, while all programs include the study of 2-3 foreign languages .
Higher educationSwitzerland: There are 12 official higher education institutions in Switzerland (10 cantonal universities: in the German-speaking part of the country: in Basel, Berne, Zurich, St. Gallen, Lucerne; in the French-speaking part of the country: in Geneva, Lausanne, Friborg, Neuchatel; in Italian-speaking part of the country: in Ticino - and 2 federal institutes of technology: in Zurich and Lausanne).
Turkish education system
The education system in Turkey is identical to education in Ukraine. Primary education in Turkey, as in Ukraine, lasts 8 years, and secondary education 10 years. Thus, our Ukrainian students can receive higher education in Turkey, since our graduation certificate meets their university requirements.
Today in Turkey the most prestigious is the scientific lyceum, which trains future doctors, engineers, scientists, and researchers. Usually successful students choose it. There are also a number of other lyceums: translation, polytechnic, lyceum training computer technology specialists and others.
After graduating from school or lyceum, students take an entrance exam to the university where they want to study. If they achieve a passing grade, the state pays for their studies.
In Turkey, higher education is two-stage: bachelor's and master's degrees. Upon graduation, students receive a bachelor's or master's degree.
Today, specialties such as engineering, medicine, teaching and lawyers are in great demand in Turkey.
The organization that helps foreign students enroll in Turkish universities is called OSYM (Orgenci Sceme re Yerlrestime Merkeri). You can find the necessary information on the organization’s website (oysm.gov.tr).
Education system in Austria
Austria is a country of traditional winter tourism. Along with Switzerland, this country is a kind of ski “Mecca” for Europeans. Today, tourism is the main source of income for Austria, covering the traditionally negative trade balance.
In Austria, a tourist service system has long been formed and streamlined. Many towns and villages, such as Bad Gastein, Millstatt, Ischgl or Mayrhofen, have become the largest European resorts, and former villagers are engaged in the hotel business. Ski tourism has changed Austria and the Austrians - today for them it is life and hope for the future.
The Austrian education system has a high degree of freedom and offers a wide range of educational programs. Education at universities in Austria was free until 2001, the same year accreditation of private universities began. The largest universities are Vienna (the oldest university in Austria, founded in 1367), Vienna Economic University, Graz University, Innsbruck University, and Salzburg University. Since 2009, education at public universities in Austria is free. To enter universities in Austria, Ukrainian students must provide a Matura certificate of secondary education, as well as pass the OSD German language test (level C1 and C2).
Canadian education system
In Canada you can get an excellent education, enjoy a beautiful and tranquil environment, and learn a lot about this fascinating country. Canadian schools are known around the world for their academic excellence, career preparation, cutting-edge technology and exceptional English or French as a second language programs.
Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world. In addition, this country is famous for its clean environmental friendliness and safety. The UN has repeatedly ranked Canada first in the ranking of countries in the world in terms of quality of life.
Canada has more than 350 universities and colleges offering a wide range of degrees and diplomas. Canada's universities are renowned for their academic and research programs, and the colleges are superior to other colleges in the world in the use of advanced technology and in meeting the latest requirements of industry and commerce. The degree, diploma or certificate you earn in Canada will help open doors to the best companies in the world.
Canadian universities are known throughout the world for the high quality of both teaching and research. They vary in student numbers from a few hundred to 50,000 and offer a full range of degrees, from bachelor's to doctorate in a variety of disciplines.
Education system in Greece
Education in Greece is public or private and is coordinated by the Ministry of National Education.
The oldest universities in Greece are Athens (founded in 1837) and Thessaloniki (founded in 1925). Athens is also home to the Athens Polytechnic Institute and a number of other higher education institutions, including the Graduate School of Economics and Business and the School of Political Science. However, classical universities are still quite closed to foreigners.
However, for foreign students wishing to study hospitality and tourism management, Greece provides an excellent opportunity to obtain an international diploma and paid internship in the best cruise companies in the world.
Education system in New Zealand
Thousands of students choose to study in New Zealand because of its unique nature. New Zealand not only offers high-quality educational programs, but also a magnificent environment.
New Zealand is almost the same size as the UK, but has only 3.8 million inhabitants. Stunning beauty, a temperate climate and a relaxing atmosphere make this country ideal for students and tourists.
New Zealand offers international students a complete education system, where every student will find their own program.
The New Zealand education system was created on the basis of the British one. New Zealand has 8 national universities and 20 polytechnics.
New Zealand offers a wide choice:
- English language courses
- preparatory courses for entering universities
- university undergraduate programs
- postgraduate programs
Each university uses its own timetable, but in general, the academic year begins in late February or early March and lasts until October.
Each year is divided into two semesters with a break in July. Some universities offer 'summer courses' from November to February, which will help you prepare for university or brush up on your language skills before starting your next stage of study.
The academic year at polytechnics usually runs from February to June and from July to November. Some six-month courses may begin in July.
Language schools offer a wide variety of courses, which can last from a few weeks to one year
Education system in Holland
The Netherlands is a prosperous industrialized country, and its education system was not borrowed from any state, but appeared and developed in Holland itself and is associated with all the traditions and customs of the country.
The public education system in Great Britain began to take shape in 1870, and in 1944 a system of free compulsory primary and secondary education was established. Public schools in England are publicly funded and run by local educational organizations. Private schools in England are also called "independent" and "public". They exist solely on the money that parents pay for their children's education.
The national program is developed by the state and is mandatory for all schools. Most private schools follow the national curriculum, but have the right to vary the teaching of subjects. The national program includes the following subjects: · English · Technology and design · Geography · Mathematics · Computer science · Music · Natural science · Foreign languages · Art · Phys. Preparation · History
School education in England includes two modules: Primary - for children aged 4 to 11 years (up to 7 years old - in an infant school, and from 7 to 11 years old - in a junior school) Secondary - for children from 11 to 16 years. There are three main types of junior high schools: "grammatical" schools "modern" schools "Integrated" schools
The academic year is from September 1 to August 31. Typically, the academic year is divided into semesters: autumn (until Christmas), spring (until Easter) and summer (until the end of June). Schools are usually open from 9.00 to 16.00, the school week is usually 5 days. There are no parent meetings. The parents of each child are given 5–10 minutes for individual communication with the teacher. School uniform is required. Much attention is paid to charity in educational institutions. From an early age, children are taught to help those who need it. Pupils in many British schools are required to undertake social work, for example at petrol stations or in nursing homes.
There is no unified state education system in the United States; each state has the right to determine its structure independently. School boards set school programs, hire teachers, and determine program funding. States regulate education within their borders by setting standards and testing students.
Preschool institutions where children aged 3-5 years are educated; primary school (grades 1-8), which educates children aged 6-13 years, secondary school (grades 9-12), with the task of educating boys and girls aged 6-13 years; educational institutions of the last level of education that are part of the higher education system.
An elementary school is an independently existing educational institution where one teacher conducts all classes with the class, but often there is also an assistant teacher. A characteristic feature of an elementary school is that classes are assigned according to the abilities of the students. After determining the “IQ”, groups A, B and C appear - “gifted”, “normal” and “incapable” and training is differentiated.
High school in the USA is usually divided into two levels - junior and senior, each lasting three years. There is also a four-year secondary school, based on the eight-year elementary school. In the 8th grade, a system of choosing subjects appears. There are different types of secondary schools: “academic”, “vocational” and “multidisciplinary”.
A – 15% of students – constantly high level of readiness, deep knowledge and originality (excellent). B - 25% of students - a level that is frankly higher than average (good). C – 35% of students – average level of task completion (average). D – 15% of students – minimum level of knowledge (below average). F – 10% of students – unsatisfactory results or complete ignorance of the educational material.
The school year continues in American school days; children study 5 days a week. The duration of training sessions per day is 5-6 hours (from 8.30 to 15.30). The composition of the class changes every year to make them approximately equal in both gender and racial composition, as well as in the level of preparation, knowledge, skills and behavior of the students. Teachers are highly specialized: a 1st grade teacher spends his entire professional life teaching only 1st grade children, a 5th grade teacher only teaches 5th grade children, etc.
Graduates must have completed credit in 16 academic courses during their final four years of study. Each such course consists of one lesson daily for 18 or 36 weeks. For the last four years, compulsory study of modern achievements in five “basic disciplines” is recommended: English (4 years), mathematics (3 years), natural sciences (3 years), social sciences (3 years), computer literacy (0.5 years) In addition, students wishing to continue their studies at a higher education institution must take a 2-year foreign language course.
In these countries, the state guarantees free secondary education. All school education systems are divided into several levels: primary school, basic and high school. However, the distribution of teaching time is different. Russia has a state standard of education, the UK has a national program, and the USA does not have a unified state program. However, in all countries there is a mandatory list of subjects to study. In all countries, school education ends with written exams. Along with public schools, there are private ones, where education is provided on a fee basis.
