Education

Slovakia, Great Britain, The USA

1. Slovak educational system

• Pre-school education:

creches, nursery schools (age 2-3ys )

kindergartens (age 3-6ys)

• Primary education(elementary, basic): has 2 stages: –the first from 1st to 4th class

– the second from 5th to 9th class

• Secondary education – 4 – 5

classes

• Post-secondary education

• Higher education: Bachelor´s degree lasts 3

years (3 courses)

Master´s degree lasts 2 more

years(2 courses)

1.1.Types of schools in Slovakia

• Public schools

• Private schools

• Church schools

• All types of schools are financed from the state ( private schools have fees that´s they are not completely financed by the state)

Types of secondary schools

• Grammar schools (gymnasium) – provide general education, prepare students for university study(graduation exam)

• Vocational schools:hotel and bussines academies, technical, nursing, agricultural, performing and fine arts schools – prepare students for their future professions(GE)

• 3-year vocational schools – prepare students for practical jobs (final exams)

Types of high schools

• Universities

• High schools

• Colleges

Students can study law, business, economics, managment,journalism, languages, engineering, agriculture, etc.

To gain some of academic degrees (diploma) they must complete and defend a thesis in their field of research and pass the oral state exam

1.2. Subjects and lessons

• Primary schools/general education in subjects: Slovak language,Modern foreign languages, Civics,History, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Religion/Ethics, Physical education,Arts

• Secondary schools/general and professional education. Besides the mentioned subjects they offer the study of specific subjects like Economics,Psychology,Managment,Languages

and others.

• The school year (10 months) is divided onto two halves when pupils and students are given the half year or final year report.

• Students have usually 28 – 30 lessons per week, in elementary school they have about 20 lessons on the 1st stage and 25 on the 2nd stage

• In elementary school pupils must pass the MONITOR tests from Slovak language and Mathematics in their final (9th)year. The results are given to the chosen secondary school instead of doing the entrance exams.

• Some secondary schools have still the entrance exam

• Students are assesed by marks from 1(the best) to 5(the worst)

• They can take a make-up exam in August if they fail in two subjects or repeat the class if they fail in more than two subjects.

• The lesson lasts 45 minutes, the break is usually 5,10 or 15 minutes.

• Students have holidays in October(2 days), December(2 weeks), January(1 day), February(one week), April(about 5 days) and 2 months in July and August

• Compulsory school attendance is 10 years

2.British educational system

• Compulsory education is from the age of 5 to 16• Parents have the law to educate children at home• Types of schools:state,private(called public in GB),

church• Pre-school education:kindergartens(3-4ys old)• Primary schools have 2 stages: Infant School(5-7ys

old) and Junior School(7-11 ys old)• Teachers have usually an assistent in an infant school• Subjects are given by the National Curriculum and

include:English,Mathematics,Science, Technology,History,Geography,Art,Music and PE

• Secondary schools - at the age of 11• There are no special apprentice/vocational

schools• Pupils have to study modern foreign

languages(French or German usually)• At 14 they can drop some subjects and choose

others• Compulsory are:English,Maths,Science,

Foreign language• At 16 all pupils take GCSE exams(O-level)in 5

to 8 subjects• At 18 students(who want to study at the

university) take advanced level (A-level)exam in 3 subjects

• The school year is divided into 3 terms:Autumn, Spring and summer term

• The lessons start at 9am end end between 3:30 or 4pm with an hour break at noon

• Children have to wear a uniform• If pupils cheat or they fail an exam, the might be in

serious problem and even be expelled• Schools have extra-curricular

activities(football/netball,hockey, cricket teams, drama clubs and choirs

• To get into Oxford or Cambridge University you must have good A-level results and pass an Oxbridge entrance exam

• Polytechnic schools provide education in more vocational and practical field(secretarial courses, personnel managment, etc.)

3.Education in the USA• The USA does not have a national system of education- each

state is responsible for its own educational system• there are both public and private schools(the private ones are

supported by church groups or private funds(pupils pay tuition) • There are 3 levels in American school system: A)elementary

(kindergarten -6th grade) B)middle school(6th – 8th grade) C)high school(9th – 12th grade)• At high school students have compulsory subjects: English,

Modern Language, Maths, Chemistry,Biology and elective subjects: Music, Art, PE

• The lessons are from 8am to 4pm, but the meeting to class teacher is at 7,30am every day

• Many schools have sport clubs, drama groups, an orchestra or their own radio station

• The students are assesed by marks from A to F• At the end of high school final year students take a

nationwide test called the Scholastic Achievment Test(SAT) in all subjects

• Students who graduate can continue their study at colleges and universities

• All the universities are payed(about 20.000dollars a year) but you can be given a scholarship(excellent students and sportsmen)

• The most famous and expensive universities are: Harvard University(Massachusets),Yale University(Connecticut),Princeton University(New Jersey),the University of Chicago(Illinois), Stanford University(California)

• Anglická škola

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