Education
Education
Education is one of the most important things in the world. Nowadays, it is
essential and advantageous to everybody to realize that the more we study the better our lives will be. Education is an effective means for
spreading information, doing away with poverty and improving the livign standard. It also contributes to the health care. Children of all ages should
be educated as well as possible so that they can grow up to be intelligent and well-behaved adult people. Education is not related only to
children but to the adults, too.
Education in Great Britain, Slovakia and in the USA is quite similar, however there
are a few differences.
The educational system in Slovakia has been reformed for several times. Our school system comprises four main
grades:
- the pre-school stage
- the basic /elementary/ grade
- the secondary and higher education
- universities
The pre- school grade provides care for the youngest group of children and is not compulsory. Infants and children up to
3 years visit crechés. Children from 3 to 6 years go to nursery schools or kindergartens. It is suitable when children visit nursery schools one
year before they start basic education.
Basic education is compusory for all children after age of six. Basic education is provided by Primary
schools. At these schools children learn the three R´s – Readin, wRitting, aRithmetic, with the subjects such as Slovak, foreign languages –
usually English, German or French, History, Geography, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physic, Physical Education – PE, Art, Civics. Children who
visit Primary schools are called pupils. They have to attend Primary schools for 9 years.
Boys and girls over 15 are
given Secondary education at Secondary schools such as Secondary Grammar School, Secondary Comprehensive School, Trade School or Art school. These
boys and girls are called students. Tehy have to study hard so that they have good marks. Some of them must pass an entrance examination to be
admitted to a school. They learn general and special subjects such as Economics, Law, Typing, Information technologies and so on. After studying at
Secondary schools students are ready to work in offices, factories and agriculture. They finish their study with the school leaving examination.
Some students decide to continue in their education. They decide for higher education or they study at universities. Those, who want to attend
universities have to study really hard for passing an entrance examination. University education includes the study at Technical Universities,
Economical Universities, Art Academies etc. Universities are usually divided into faculties or colleges. In Slovakia you can study at Comenius
University in Bratislava, the Universtiy of Pavol Jozef Šafarik in Košice, the University of Prešov in Prešov, the Slovak Technical University in
Bratislava and many others. Students take degrees in their field of study after university education /for example Master´s degree/. The most
advanced type of degree is a PhD when postgraduate students study on their own for several years doing research work and writing a dissertation
explaining what they have discovered. Tehy also have to defend their work in fron of a panel of professors.
Most pupils in
Britain schools wear a school uniform. The favourite colours for school uniforms are blue, grey and black. British studnets do not have to
pay to go to university, but do need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students whose parents do not earn a lot of money
are given a grant or they borrow money from the bank. Money must be paid back after they leave university. Some students work during the holidays to
earn some extra money. Not all students study full-time at university and they combine their studies with work. Many companies release their staff
for training several times a week. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in Britain and they have the highest academic reputation.
Eton, Harrow and Winchester Public schools are the most expensive private schools. The largest teaching institution in Britain is the Open
University. Students are taught through television, radio and especially written coursebooks.
The USA – there are
public schools – financed by the state so these schools are free. Private schools are paid by parents. Only those private schools which are
financed by various religious groups are free of charge. The present system of the USA education can be divided into the following stages:
Elementary education – elementary schols – 1st – 6th grade – between the ages of 6 and 12. Secondary education – high schools – 7th –
12th grade – between the ages of 12-18.
Junior high school – 7th – 9th grade- between the ages of 12 and 15
Senior high school –
10th –12th grade- between the ages of 15 and 18
Higher education – colleges, universities
The most famous US schools are Harvard
/Massachussets/, Yale /Connecticut/
Zones.sk – Zóny pre každého študenta