Educational system in Russia

Educational system in Russia and GB.

Russians have always shown a great concern for education. The right to

education is stated in the constitution of the Russia Federation. It’s

ensured by compulsory secondary schools, vocational schools and higher

education establishment. It is also ensured by the development of

extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarship and

grants.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. The

stages of compulsory schooling in Russia are: primary education for ages 6-

7 to 9-10 inclusive; and senior school for ages 10-11 to 12-13 inclusive,

and senior school for ages 13-14 to 14-15 inclusive. If a pupil of

secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must stay

at school for two more years. Primary and secondary school together

comprise 11 years of study. Every school has a «core curriculum» of

academic subjects, such as…

After finishing the 9th form one can go on to a vocational school which

offer programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in a

technical field, or a profession.

After finishing the 11th form of a secondary school, a lyceum or a

gymnasium one can go into higher education. All applicants must take

competitive exam. Higher education institution, that is institutes or

universities, offer a 5-years programme of academic subjects for

undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course and

writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidates degree or a doctoral

degree.

Higher educational establishments are headed by Rectors. Protectors are

in charge of academic and scientific work. An institute or a university has

a number of faculties, each specializing councils which confer candidate

and doctoral degrees.

The system of higher and secondary education in Russia is going trough

a transitional period. The main objectives of the reforms are: to

decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial

mechanism, to give more academic freedom to faculties and students. All

secondary schools, institutes and universities until recently have been

funded by the state. Now there is quite a number of private fee-paying

primary and secondary schools, some universities have fee-paying

departments.

All British children must stay at school from the age of 5 until they

are 16. Many of them stay longer and take final examination when they are

17 or 18. Before 1965 all children had to go through special intelligence

tests. There were different types of state secondary schools and at the age

of 11 children went to different schools in accordance of with the results

of the tests.

State schools are divided into the following types:

- Grammar schools. Children who go to grammar schools are usually those who

show a preference for academic subjects, although many grammar schools

now also have some technical courses.

- Technical schools. Some children go to technical schools. Most courses

there are either commercial or technical.

- Modern schools. Boys and girls who are interested in working with there

hands and learning in a practical way can go to a technical schools and

learn some trade.

- Comprehensive schools. These schools usually combine all types of

secondary education. They have physic, chemistry, biology laboratories,

machine workshops for metal and woodwork and also geography, history and

art departments, commercial and domestic courses.

There are also many schools which the State doesn’t control. They are

private schools. They charge fees for educating children and many of them

are boarding schools, at which pupils live during the term time.

After leaving school many young people go to colleges or further

education. Those who become students at Colleges of Technology (called

“Techs”) come from different schools at different ages between 15 and 17.

The lectures at such colleges, each an hour long, start at 8,15 and end at

4,45 in the afternoon.

From the end of World War II the state in the United Kingdom provides a

full range of free educational facilitates. Those parents who send their

children to private institution, and could afford it, are free to do so.

The organization of state schooling is not centralized as in the most

European countries. Firstly, there is no prescribed curriculum. Secondly,

the types of school available and the age rangers for which they cater vary

in different parts of country. In each area Local educational Authority is

responsible for education. At any publicly-manicured school no tuition fees

are payable. State schooling in the UK is financed partly by the

Governmental and partly by local rates.

Schooling is voluntary under the age of 5 but there is some free

nursery school education before that age. Primary education takes place in

infant schools for pupils ages from 5 to 7 years old and junior schools

(from 8 to 11 years). Some areas have different systems in which middle

schools replace junior schools and take pupils ages from 9 to 11 years.

Secondary education has been available in Britain since 1944. It is

compulsory up to the age of 16, and pupils can stay at school voluntarily

up to three years longer.

Until 1964 children took an “eleven plus” exam at the age of 11. At

this exam they were selected, or «streamed» according to their current

level of academic course for the top 20 percent; modern schools provided a

general education with a practical bias. There were also a few technical

schools-academic equals of grammar schools but specialized in technical

studies.

In 1965 non-selective comprehensive schools were introduced. Most local

education authorities were have now completely changed over to

comprehensive schooling.

At the age of 16 pupils take school-leaving examinations in several

subjects at the Ordinary level. The exam used to be conducted by eight

independent examining boards, most of them connected with the university.

This examination could also be taken by candidates at a further education

establishment. This exam was called the General Certificate of Education

(GCE). Pupils of comprehensive school had taken the examination called the

Certificate of Secondary Education either with or instead of the GCE.

A GCE of Advanced (“A”) level was taken two years after the Ordinary

level exam. It was the standard for entrance to university and to many

forms of professional training. In 1988 both examinations were replaced by

the more or less uniform General Certificate of Secondary Education.

The private sector is running parallel to the state system of

education. There are over 2500 fee-charging independent schools in GB. Most

private schools are single-sex until the age of 16. More and more parents

seem prepared to take on the formidable extra cost of the education. The

reason is the belief that social advantages are gained from attending a

certain school. The most expansive day or boarding schools in Britain are

exclusive public schools like Eton college for boys and St. James’ school

for girls.

There are over 90 universities in GB. They are divided into three

types: the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities),

in the 19th century universities, such as London and Manchester

universities, and the new universities. Some years ago there were also

polytechnics. After graduating from polytechnic a student got a degree, but

it was not a university degree. 31 formers polytechnics were given

university status in 1992.

Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Art or Science.

Most degree courses at universities last three years, language courses 4

years (including year spent aboard). Medicine and dentistry courses are

longer (5-7 years).

Students may receive grants from the Local Education Authority to help

pay for books, accommodation, transport, and food. This grant depends on

the income of their parents.

Most students live away from home, in flats of halls of residence.

Students don’t usually have a job during term time because the lessons

called lectures, seminars, classes of tutorials (small groups), are full

time. However, many students now have to work in the evenings.

University life is considered «an experience». The exams are

competitive but the social life and living away from home are also

important. The social life is excellent with a lot of clubs, parties,

concerts, bars.

There are not only universities in Britain but also colleges. Colleges

offer courses in teacher training, courses in technology and some

professions connected with medicine.