I. Answer the questions.
1. Is school education compulsory in Russia? How long is a child required to stay at school?
2. At what school do the children of Russia study to receive secondary education? Are there both public and private schools?
3. What subjects does the Curriculum of the secondary school consist of?
4. What certificate do young people get after finishing school?
5. What exams do they take to get the certificate?
6. What do young people of your country usually do after leaving school?
7. At what age must Russian young people decide whether to stay at school or to start a training programme?
II. Write a table for your country’s education system. You can refer to the table for the UK educational system in the previous chapter as an example.
III. Give Russian correspondences for the English terms for various subjects typical of Russian school.
Humanities, Russian Language, Literature, Physical Education, Social Sciences, Foreign Languages, Russian History, World History, Economic and Social Geography, Law, Political Science, Economics, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Ecology, Technology, Drawing, Home Economics, Sewing, Cooking, Metal Work, Carpentry.
IV. Scan the text using the vocabulary given below.
Russian Schooling
Russians have always shown a great concern for education. Every citizen of this country has the right to education stated in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is provided by secondary schools, vocational schools and higher education institutions. It is also ensured by the development of extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarships and grants.
The socio-political changes that have been taking place in Russia since 1980s and the transition to a market economy have led to a need to reform the education system. The Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993 and the federal law On Education of 1992 and its 1996 revisions strengthened the right of citizens to education and stimulated the democratization of life in educational institutions. The Federal Programme for the Development of Education, aimed at the encouragement of innovations in all components of the education system, has been designed for the support of educational reforms.
Children start school at the age of 6 (before 1985 at the age of 7). Complete schooling in Russia including primary and secondary stages now comprises 11 years of study (before 1985, ten years). The extension of total duration occurred at the expense of an earlier school enrollment at the age of 6. So students normally finish secondary (complete) general education at the age of 17. There are also twelve-year schools for part-time education and education in the arts.
General education comprises three stages corresponding to the levels of educational programmes:
– primary general education (as a rule, the standard duration is four years);
– basic general education (the standard duration is five years);
– secondary (complete) general education (the standard duration is two to three years).
Primary general education and basic general education are compulsory.
The state requirements to the minimum content of education and the workload of students are submitted in the Basic Curriculum for General Education. It designates the compulsory fields of study: Humanities with a special emphasis on Russian Language, Literature, Social Sciences, and Physical Education; Natural Sciences with priority given to Mathematics and Technology. The Social Sciences can include such subjects as Foreign Languages, Russian History, World History, Economic and Social Geography, Law, Political Science, Economics, etc. The Natural Sciences can cover Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Ecology, etc. Technology normally includes Drawing and a number of disciplines for the imparting of certain professional skills: basic skills of general utility for pupils (Home Economics, Sewing, Cooking, Metal Work, Carpentry, etc.) and, in upper forms, basic skills for the exercise of certain professions.
There are several types of secondary schools: a secondary general school, a lyceum, a gymnasium. In practice, every type of secondary school designs its own curriculum, basing it upon the Basic Curriculum. Apart from compulsory subjects of a «core curriculum» each school provides some optional disciplines being specific to the particular region in which the school is located as well as in accordance with the interests of pupils. Lycei and gymnasia, as a rule, offer a variety of educational programmes at a more advanced level giving deep knowledge in a particular field of study.
In addition to regular secondary schools there exists a large number of specialist schools like schools of music, art or sport for children who are gifted in music (singing or playing some musical instrument), art (painting, drawing, performing arts) or doing different kinds of sport accordingly.
The academic year starts on 1 September and runs through the beginning of June. School examinations are scheduled in June.
On the completion of basic general education (a nine-year programme), students take final examinations and are awarded, if they pass, the Certificate of Basic General Education (Attestat ob Osnovnom Obshchem Obrazovanii). As a result of the State final attestation, students may or may not be encouraged to continue their education. The Certificate entitles its holder to be admitted either to secondary (complete) general education or to vocational education.
The Certificate of Secondary (Complete) General Education (Attestat o Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii) or so-called matriculation certificate is awarded after the completion of an eleven-year school programme and the successful passing of final examinations often conducted in a form of so-called unified state examinations. The number of disciplines subject to final examinations should not be fewer than five: two federal compulsory written examinations and no less than three optional examinations at the choice of the student. The school leaving certificate entitles its holder to pursue professional education: either vocational education, or both non-university and university level higher education.
At present the system of secondary education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are to develop a new financial mechanism, promote the humanization of education, and prepare students for life and work in new socio-political and economic conditions.
The education in this country is free at most schools. All secondary schools until recently have been funded by the state. Alongside the public sector, over the last two decades some 600 private schools have been established providing fee-paying education. These last few years some innovative schools have been set up, among them are charity-funded boarding schools.
However, a lot of problems have emerged in the process of reforming education and become the most disputable items for the discussion in the modern Russian society.
