School education in different countries. Education system in different countries

There are no two identical educational systems in the world. In each country, the age at which education begins and its duration, the range of subjects and exams, and other characteristics may vary. It is better to start choosing a specific educational institution for your child first of all with existing features education in the country. This will help you make a balanced and thoughtful choice.

UK educational system

Starting age: 5 years

Training stages: Preparatory School (4-11 years old), Secondary School (11-14 years old), GCSE (14-16 years old), A-Levels (16-18 years old)

Higher education: fully paid

The UK educational system is a tradition that has developed over centuries and a quality standard that is recognized throughout the world. British children spend 12 years in school. This is associated with difficulties for Russian graduates in entering a university - they need an additional year of study - Foundation.

At the age of 15-16, schoolchildren take GCSE (General Course of Secondary Education) exams. This completes their mandatory training. Those preparing to enter college study an additional two years of A-Levels. They choose 3-4 subjects to study, to which they devote all their time. Such in-depth training actually corresponds to the level of training in the first years of college.

There are especially many private schools in the UK. Usually these are institutions with a name and history, as well as very high tuition costs. Foreigners are welcomed into British schools with pleasure - a truly international educational environment is created here.

Almost a hundred British universities are included in world rankings - and not only are they included, but they confidently occupy positions within the first two hundred. The most prestigious universities in the country are united in the Russel Group. Higher education in the UK is paid and this pleasure is not cheap. However, the investment quickly pays off, since diplomas are recognized throughout the world.

US educational system

Starting age: 5 years in 3 states, 6 years in 18 states, 7 years in 29 states

Training stages: Junior School (6-11 years old), Middle School (11-15 years old), High School (15-17 years old)

Higher education: paid

There is no unity in the US states on education issues, because each of them has its own educational standard. Thus, studying at school, for example, in California and North Carolina can be completely different. Not only the age at which studies begin differs, but even the dates of semesters and the range of subjects differ.

In the United States, there is no general schedule for schoolchildren. In order to receive a diploma, you need to obtain a certain number of credits (points) in each area. The student chooses the courses for which he will receive these credits. There are also no classes in the usual sense for us - each student has his own set of disciplines. There are many private stakes in the United States, and it is believed that they offer better education compared to public ones. There are many schools that provide only full-time education - in this case, foreign students live with a host family.

The association of prestigious universities in this country is called the Ivy League. The country's educational institutions occupy the top lines of many international educational rankings. For example, most of the best business schools in the world are located in this country, and an MBA program was invented here, which today does not need any special introduction in any country in the world.

Universities also operate a credit system, that is independent choice student in disciplines to study in addition to the required ones. Foreigners, including Russians, can enter educational institutions immediately after graduating from school. For those who need to improve their level of English, as well as certain specialized subjects, there are preparatory programs.

Educational system of France

Starting age: 6 years

Training stages: Primary school: 6-11 years old, College (11-15 years old), Lyceum (16-18 years old)

Higher education: free at public universities

Young French people begin their education at the age of 6, while most of them go to study in public schools - the share of private educational institutions does not exceed 17%. At the age of 15 they take the exam to obtain the National du Brevet diploma. Only students who successfully pass it proceed to the lyceum, and the rest receive a certificate of completion high school and can get a job.

Education at universities in France is free, with the exception of registration fees. They are paid equally by both local and foreign students, but the amounts usually do not exceed several hundred euros. Students from other countries also receive equal social benefits to local students, for example. Compensation for transportation costs and rental housing.

In addition to universities in France, there is also a system of Higher Schools, which often provide even more prestigious education. It is not difficult for a foreigner to enter a university in France, but the procedure for entering a higher school will be much more difficult.

Private universities in France offer many programs taught in English, but education in them will be completely paid, and therefore much more expensive than in a state university in French.

Educational system in Germany

Starting age: 6 years

Training stages: Grundschule (from 6 to 10-12 years old), Secondary school (11-18 years old)

Higher education: depends on the region

In Germany, education is controlled by the state, but most states bring their own characteristics to this process. Secondary schools in Germany are divided into 4 types: Gymnasium - the most prestigious, Realschule - average education in every sense, slightly above the required standard, Hauptschule - a base necessary for those who do not plan to continue their studies. Depending on the choice of school, the duration of study can range from 9 to 13 years. There is also a Gesamtschule, where you can study in any of the three programs listed above.

Education at German universities is no longer universally free for foreigners. Now each region is pursuing a separate policy in this area, but the total number of free programs is constantly decreasing. The most prestigious specialties to study in Germany are technical specialties - German universities in this field are included in the top hundred of many international rankings.

Educational system of Canada

Starting age: 6-7 years

Training stages: Primary school (6-11 years old), Secondary school (11-15 years old), High school (15-17 years old)

Higher education: paid

The Canadian education system generally follows the structure of this process in the United States. A child can go to school at 6 or 7 years old, and the duration of education is 12 years. To evaluate the results of students in Canadian schools, they use percentages rather than scores. A score of 50% in all subjects is a prerequisite for moving on to the next year.

The official language of instruction in Canada can be English or French. Each province determines not only the language, but also the main content of the learning process.

Free Press examines the ongoing education reform in Russia. To analyze the ongoing reforms, the joint venture began publishing articles on education in other countries. This is of interest to everyone who is not uninterested in the fate of our education.
In the first part of the material, we talked about how the education system is structured in leading European countries - Germany, Great Britain, France. Today we will introduce you to schools in other countries. Continuation.

How the education system works in schools in the USA, South Korea, Finland
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 about 5 years of age, American children go to primary school(elementary school), to grade zero (kindergarten). This zero-grade class is optional in some states—nevertheless, almost all American children attend kindergarten. Although translated from German, kindergarten literally means “ kindergarten“, kindergartens exist separately in the USA and are literally called “pre-school”.
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 governed 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 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 give their children a good education. Home prices are rising, and a combination of money and motivated parents is pushing schools even higher. high 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 children different subjects. Many also supplement their lessons with programs distance learning and classes at local colleges. However, critics homeschooling argue that home education 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. Among the academic subjects taught, as a rule, 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. IN Lately sixth grade is increasingly being 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 (high school) - final stage 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 history and government system USA;
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 set of such classes varies greatly in quantity and quality, depending on financial situation school and the inclinations of schoolchildren. 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, there appears new type advanced class. 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
languages
art
music
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. Korean is strikingly different from English in terms of grammar, so mastering English occurs with great difficulty, but with relatively little success, which fact is quite 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 items and more are installed high standards education 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 in the entrance exams were allowed to enroll in more prestigious schools without reference to the district, while everyone else entered the school of “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. Core curriculum is formed:
mathematics
Korean and English
also a number of exact sciences.
"Additional" items include:
various arts
Physical Culture
history
Hancha (Chinese characters)
ethics
running a home economy
computer literacy lessons.
Which subjects and in what quantities are studied by students varies from year to year.
Duration training sessions equals 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 attend additional courses (“hagwon”) after classes, or receive training from private tutors. Special attention focused on English and mathematics. Some of the hagwons specialize in only one subject, while others specialize in all core subjects, which can turn into a second round of schooling with often even greater workload for the student immediately after the end of the first (official) one. And, in addition to this, especially persistent people also attend martial arts clubs or music schools.
They usually return home late in the evening.
Korean schools have a special attitude towards 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 early education elementary 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 training, textbooks, notebooks, basic stationery, meals at school 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 professional 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 their 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 ( GPA 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 international tests- the same PISA - forward for last years countries broke out South-East Asia. 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. Building new school for a country, it will be necessary to combine solutions from all over the world.

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

Academic year 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, and in terms of the level of preparation, knowledge, skills and behavior of 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. In Russia there is state standard education, in the UK there is a national program, but in the USA there is no single 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.

We will look at foreign educational systems using the example of the educational systems of countries whose education is considered the best in quality in the world.

Canada

Canada has two official languages: English and French, but in a number of provinces English is more widely spoken. Foreign citizens have the opportunity to study in both English and French.

Preschool education

In Canada, preschool education begins for children aged 3-4 years (depending on the province of the country), but is not compulsory. Pre-school education is provided free of charge in schools (kindergartens or children's classes in primary schools), and groups of parent, voluntary and private bodies have also been established.

The academic year begins in September and ends in July. It is divided into three semesters. But many kindergartens are open longer. Day care centers are usually open all year round.

School education

Unlike many developed countries, Canada does not have a single government body governing education. The education systems in each province of the country are also different and controlled independently. Each such education system reflects the religion, history and culture of that province.

Professional education

There are approximately 170 public and private colleges in Canada. They are divided into public (Community colleges), technical (Technical institutes). French-speaking Quebec has its own system of colleges of general and vocational education (CEGEPS).

Higher education

Higher education is considered throughout the world to be one of the most optimal in terms of price-quality ratio and ranks second after the United States. The country's government spends more annually on the development of its educational system than any other G8 state. Diplomas from Canadian educational institutions are recognized throughout the world.

Germany

Preschool education

In Germany, children from 3 to 6 years old are educated in kindergartens (Kindergarten). Some of these institutions are located at schools (Schulkindergarten). There is also a network of private kindergartens.

Preschool preparation for children is not compulsory, and attendance is usually optional. An exception in most states is the education of children of the appropriate age who are developmentally delayed.

Children's visits to preschool institutions in Germany are paid for by benefits from local authorities, and are also used own funds institutions, but parents’ investments are also necessary. The size of these investments depends on family income, the number of children or the number of family members.

School education

Each school in Germany is subject to the government of its state. Therefore, programs, rules and even the duration of training vary in different regions of the country. The total duration of study in Germany is 13 years.

The school education system consists of two stages:
1. Elementary School. Training lasts from 4 to 6 years. The educational program at this stage of study is the same for all educational institutions in the country.
2. Secondary schools in Germany vary in type. Their curricula and areas of education differ significantly. That is, already in high school, the student makes a choice of what specialty and level of specialist he wants to become.

Secondary education in Germany is provided in gymnasiums, real schools, basic schools, vocational schools and joint schools.

Higher education

Germany is a country with centuries-old traditions of classical higher education. Today, the higher education system in Germany includes 383 educational institutions. They offer higher education in more than 400 specialties. In addition, there are more than 40 theological universities in the country. The vast majority of universities (98%) are public and subsidized by the government. All of them are open to students regardless of their nationality and ethnicity. There are relatively few private universities, 69 in total.

The influx of foreign students is increasing, so that many German universities offer courses in English and French.

Japan

Preschool education

In Japan, great attention is paid to preschool education. According to tradition, it begins in the family. In kindergartens, little Japanese are gathered into groups (“han”) and given their own “workplace.” Thus, from early childhood they learn to work in a team.

There is a certain system for forming these groups (they number up to 8 people). Groups are formed under the premise that each student in the group must complement the entire group.

School education

Schooling in Japan lasts 12 years, half of which is spent in primary school due to the difficulty of learning the native language.

IN Japanese classes up to 45 children can study. The school year in Japan is long - 240 days. It starts on April 1 and ends on March 1 of the following year. Divided into trimesters: April-July, September-December and January-March. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, the secondary school uses the university assessment system: each student must earn at least 80 credits to receive a certificate of completion of a complete 12-year high school (Kotogakko).

Professional education

Vocational education in Japan is aimed at those who wish to receive a highly technical education. Duration of training - no more than 3 years.

Japanese colleges can be equated in status to our secondary specialized educational institutions. They are divided into:
• juniors,
• technological,
• colleges of special training.

Junior College: These are two-year training programs in the humanities, natural sciences, medicine and technology. Graduates have the right to continue their education at the university from the second or third year of study. Admission to junior colleges is carried out on the basis of high school, students take entrance exams.

College of Technology: study electronics, construction, mechanical engineering and other disciplines. You can enroll after graduating from junior or senior high school. In the first case, the duration of training is 5 years, in the second - two years.

College of Special Training: one-year professional courses for accountants, typists, designers, programmers, auto mechanics, tailors, cooks, etc.

Higher education

Higher education in Japan is included in unified system vocational education and is considered compulsory. The most prestigious public universities are: Tokyo University, Kyoto University and Osaka University. They are followed in the ranking by the universities of Hokkaido and Tohoku. The most famous private universities are Chuo, Nihon, Waseda, Meiji, Tokai and Kansai University in Osaka. There are also many “dwarf” universities with 1-2 faculties and 200-300 students.

Great Britain

Education in the UK is compulsory for all citizens aged 5 to 16 years and is divided into public (free education) and private (paid educational institutions).

It is noteworthy that in Great Britain, in accordance with the administrative division and established traditions, three educational systems coexist:
• England and Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland differ slightly in their education, but the Scottish education system has its own traditional features.

Preschool education

Preschool education in the UK can be obtained in both public and private educational institutions. The preschool system consists of nurseries and kindergartens, which educate about 50% of little Englishmen from 2 to 7 years old. In addition, many children attend preschool playgroups, which are established by voluntary organizations and parents.

At the age of 5, compulsory education begins and children enter infant school. Such schools are usually organized jointly with schools for junior schoolchildren.

School education

Traditional British school education lasts 13 years: from 5 to 18 years of age. There is a huge variety of schools in the UK. There are schools for girls, for boys and mixed schools where both are taught together.

British schools can generally be divided into types:
• Schools full cycle(All-through schools): children of all ages from 2 to 18 years are educated
• Institutions for junior schools: for children from 7 to 13 years old. Here children undergo a special initial general cycle of education various subjects. The course ends with passing the Common entrance examination. Successful passing of such an exam is a prerequisite for admission to high school.
• Institutions for senior schools: for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old. Here they first undergo two-year training to pass GCSE exams, followed by another two-year program: A-level or International Baccalaureate
• University preparation schools (Sixth form): for older teenagers 16-18 years old

Professional education

Vocational education in the UK can be obtained both at the secondary level (according to Russian standards) and at the higher education level. In general, this segment is called Further education (FE).

Vocational training is provided by joint schools, technical (vocational) colleges, industrial training centers and employment centers. College is an intermediate step between school and university.

Currently, polytechnic colleges are the main institutions in the UK that train specialists with vocational education. They provide training in a wide range of occupations - from skilled worker to intermediate level - and are closely linked to industrial training.

Higher education

Traditionally, English higher education is one of the best in the world. Everyone knows the names of the largest elite universities in the UK: Oxford and Cambridge. The British government encourages foreign students to study in its educational institutions: out of 2 million students, about 300 thousand are foreigners. In total, there are 90 universities and 64 other higher education institutions in Foggy Albion. The oldest universities are Oxford (founded in 1167) and Cambridge (1209).

To enter a university in Britain, you must pass the British A-levels exams (in Scottish schools this is called Scottish highers) or successfully complete the European IInternational Baccalaureate program.

The duration of both programs is two years:

A-level is a classic British program.

Includes in-depth study 4 subjects required for admission to the university (the specialty is selected in advance). In Scotland, the system is slightly different: students study in the Scottish highers program for only 1 year, but it is recognized by all universities in the UK. A-level is preparation in 3-4 subjects, which the student chooses from a wide list (20-30 subjects). The set of subjects may vary slightly depending on the school. The student selects all subjects individually.

International Baccalaureate is an international program.

The IB program is recognized in more than 100 countries around the world, and leading British universities have even preferred IB to the national A-level program in recent years. The program involves studying six subjects that the student chooses himself: 3 subjects at an advanced level (240 academic hours) and 3 subjects at a standard level (150 hours). By the end of the program, each student must write a so-called “Extended essay” of at least 4,000 words.

Higher education in Great Britain is built on the classical European model:

First degree: Bachelor. The Undergraduate degree (UG) undergraduate program usually lasts three years. The fourth year of study provides students with the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree with honors. The exception is universities in Scotland, where training lasts 4 years. Moreover, the first year of study at a UG program in the UK is equivalent to the second year of study at a US university.

Second degree: Master. Obtaining a master's degree takes one year at most British universities. Some universities have taken the American standard of study for two years as a model.

Third degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Preparation is more individualized and, depending on the area of ​​scientific research, usually takes three and a half to four years. The degree is awarded after writing and successfully defending a dissertation, which is the result of scientific research.

How can we summarize all of the above? We see that all systems have the same principle, division into stages, first by age, then by direction of study. Everywhere there is the possibility of obtaining higher and vocational education, and preschool and compulsory school education are also available everywhere. But despite the apparent similarity, each country has its own nuances associated with both admission to an educational institution and further studies in it, associated primarily with established traditions and different mentalities. Those. no two systems are exactly alike.