Education

It is widely known that education helps to form the personality and prepares one for life. That is why all countries consider the system of education a very important part of national politics.

In Russia, everyone has the right to receive education guaranteed by the Constitution. This right is realized by the broad development of compulsory secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education and also by the development of a system of scholarships, grants, evening and correspondence courses. There is nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a university one has to study two years more. School starts at the age of six for Russian children. But most of them have learned letters in kindergarten which is now part of primary school. Primary and secondary schools together comprise eleven years of study. Every school has a ‘core curriculum’ of Russian, Mathematics, Science, and Physical Education. A variety of elective subjects are taught at lyceums and gymnasiums.

After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Higher education institutions train undergraduate and graduate students in one or several specializations. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of autonomy in higher education institutions, expansion of academic freedoms for faculties and students, development of new financial mechanisms.

Americans also place a high value on education. Universal access to high quality education has been one of the nation’s historic goals. America’s first college, Harward, was founded in 1636. In 1865 education became available to all. The peculiar feature of American education is the absence of central administration. Each of the 50 states controls and directs its own schools. Most states require that children attend schools from the time they reach six or seven years old until they are sixteen or seventeen.

There is no uniform school organization or curriculum throughout the nation. But certain common features exist. Preschool education is part of the elementary school. Elementary I and secondary schools consist of twelve years of classes which meet for about ten months a year, five days a week and five hours a day. Almost every elementary school curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art I and Physical Education. Many schools include classes teaching basic computer skills.

After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. American institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, community colleges, colleges offering four-year bachelor degree programmes and universities which contain one or more colleges and graduate schools offering master’s or doctoral degree programmes. The factors determining an institution’s prestige are the quality of the teaching faculty, quality of research facilities, the number and competence of applicants for admission.

The British system of education has a very long history, but in the past few years there have been many changes in it. British education was traditionally decentralized, but now the Education Reform Act has led to a compulsory National Curriculum for pupils aged five to sixteen in state schools. The Act also aims to give parents a wider choice of schools for their children. Thus they have the right to express a preference for a school.

Boys and girls are taught together in most schools. Nonselective comprehensive education caters for children of all abilities. Most children receive free education financed from public funds. 7% of children attend private fee-paying schools.

At seven and eleven years old (and at secondary school at fourteen and sixteen) teachers measure children’s progress in each subject against attainment targets. For each target there are ten levels of attainment.

The secondary level includes the children from eleven to eighteen. Here they build on the knowledge they have acquired at primary school. And according to the National Curriculum they start to learn a modern foreign language. At the age of sixteen they can get General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications on the basis of examinations and course work.

If pupils are successful they can continue to more advanced education and training. After a further two years of study the General Certificate of Education Advanced level exam is taken at the age of eighteen and can be combined with the Advanced Supplementary level exam to provide a wider range of subjects.

Exercise 2 Answer the following questions.

1.What is the text about? 2. Why is education important? 3. What stages does the education in Russia consist of? 4. What are the main objects of the reforms in Russia? 5. What is the first American college in the USA? 6 What is the peculiar feature of American education? 7. What were the main changes in the British education? 8. When do children receive nursery education in Great Britain? 9. When can children get General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications on the basis of examinations and course work? 10. How many universities are there in Great Britain?