We will consider foreign educational systems on 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 English is more widely spoken in a number of provinces. Foreign citizens have the opportunity to study in both English and French.

Preschool education

In Canada, pre-primary education starts at the age of 3-4 (depending on the province of the country), but is not compulsory. Pre-school education is provided free of charge in schools (kindergartens or classes for children in primary schools), and groups of parents, voluntary and private bodies have also been established.

The academic year starts 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 that manages education. Education systems in each province of the country are also different and controlled by them independently. Each such education system reflects the religion, history and culture of that province.

Professional education

There are about 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 all over 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 annually spends more on the development of its educational system than any other G8 state. Diplomas from Canadian educational institutions are recognized all over the world.

Germany

Preschool education

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

Pre-school preparation of children is not mandatory, attendance is usually optional. An exception in most states is the education of children of the appropriate age who are lagging behind in development.

Attendance by children of preschool institutions in Germany is paid for by allowances from local authorities, the institutions' own funds are also used, but parents' investments are also required. The size of these investments depends on the income of families, the number of children or the number of family members.

School education

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

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

Secondary education in Germany is given in gymnasiums, real schools, basic, vocational and unified schools.

Higher education

Germany is a country with a centuries-old tradition of classical higher education. Today, the higher education system in Germany unites 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 are subsidized by the government. All of them are open to students regardless of their citizenship and ethnicity. There are relatively few private universities, only 69.

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

Japan

Preschool education

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

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

School education

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

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

Professional education

Vocational education in Japan is aimed at those who wish to receive a highly technical education. The term of study is no more than 3 years.

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

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

College of Technology: study electronics, construction, mechanical engineering and other disciplines. You can enter after graduating from an incomplete or complete high school. In the first case, the training period is 5 years, in the second - two years.

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

Higher education

Higher education in Japan is part of the unified system of vocational education and is considered compulsory. The most prestigious public universities are: Tokyo University, Kyoto University and Osaka University. They are followed by the universities of Hokkaido and Tohoku. Of the private universities, the most famous 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.

United Kingdom

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

It is noteworthy that in the UK, 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

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

Compulsory education begins at the age of 5, and children go to a toddler school. Such schools are usually organized in conjunction with schools for younger students.

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 in general can be divided into types:
• All-through schools: children of all ages from 2 to 18 years old are studying
• Institutions for younger students (Junior schools): for children from 7 to 13 years. Here, children go through a special initial general cycle of learning various subjects. The course ends with the Common entrance examination. Successful passing of such an exam is a prerequisite for admission to high school.
• Senior schools: for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old. First, a two-year training for passing the GCSE exams is held here, 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 level of secondary (according to Russian standards) and at the level of higher education. In general, this segment is called Further education (FE).

Vocational training is carried out by integrated schools, technical (vocational) colleges, vocational training centers at work and employment centers. College is an intermediate step between school and university.

At present, polytechnic colleges are the main institutions in the UK that train specialists with vocational education. They provide training in the widest range of occupations, from skilled worker to intermediate specialist, and are closely linked to on-the-job 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 the education of foreign students in its educational institutions: out of 2 million students, about 300 thousand are foreigners. In total, there are 90 universities and 64 other higher educational 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 it 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 an in-depth study of 4 subjects required for admission to the university (specialty is selected in advance). In Scotland, the system is slightly different: they study under the Scottish highers program for only 1 year, but it is recognized by all universities in the UK. A-level is a preparation in 3-4 subjects that the student chooses from a wide list (20-30 subjects). The set of subjects may vary slightly depending on the school. All subjects are chosen individually by the student.

International Baccalaureate is an international program.

The IB program is recognized in more than 100 countries around the world, and in recent years leading British universities even prefer the IB to the national A-level program. The program involves the study of 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" (Extended Essay) with a minimum of 4000 words.

Higher education in the UK is built according to the classical European model:

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

Second degree: master (Master). A master's degree takes one year in 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 individual and, depending on the field of research, usually takes from 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 you sum up 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 an opportunity to receive both higher and vocational education, as well as pre-school and compulsory school education everywhere. But despite the apparent similarity, each country has its own nuances associated with both admission to an educational institution and further education in it, primarily associated with established traditions and a different mentality. Those. There are no two absolutely identical systems.

Classical, with a bias in hi-tech or culture, paid and free education - we understand how and what is taught abroad

Source: libre.life

The French system of secondary education, as in many other European countries, consists of three levels: primary school (ecole primaire), which children attend from 6 to 11 years old, the senior - college (college), designed for teenagers from 11 to 15 years old, and, finally, the lyceum (lycee), which teaches from 16 to 18 years. State education is compulsory for all children aged 6 to 16 and is provided free of charge - in fact, this is an analogue of Russian grades 9-11, where students are prepared for entering universities.

At the same time, there are also private educational institutions in France, which are mostly paid.
Primary school in France is not much different from the modern Russian counterpart - the same small classes, a playful approach to subjects. Differences begin to appear later - in college, where an 11-year-old child enters after the first stage of education. For example, here the classes are counted in reverse order: the child enters the sixth grade and four years later finishes the third. Then the college replaces the lyceum, where compulsory education lasts two years - and then the teenager passes the "diploma" class (terminal).

Source: libre.life

In this country, they begin to comprehend academic literacy from the age of 6. The program as a whole is standard: children learn to read, count, write, study natural history, and the main differences are as additional classes.

After studying for four years (in Berlin and Brandenburg - 6 years), the child graduates from elementary school and moves on to the next stage - secondary general education, the duration of which is from 4 to 6 years. In this case, the student can choose one of the options: basic, real school or gymnasium. As a rule, these educational institutions allocate from the 5th to the 10th grade, and the difference is determined by the content of the program. For example, in the basic school, a lot of attention is paid to work skills - so it can be compared with Russian vocational schools. The certificate issued at the end is usually used to continue education in the workplace or in evening vocational schools at a higher level.

Source: libre.life

Italian children begin their path to knowledge at the age of six, entering primary school, the first two stages of which (scuola elementare 1 and scuola elementare 2) are free for everyone. The compulsory program of this stage includes general education subjects, and only the study of religion can be chosen at will.

At the end of five years of study (the first two stages), students take written and oral exams and receive a primary school certificate, in order to then move on to secondary school, where young researchers will study until they are 14 years old. At the end of each year, secondary school students are expected to pass-fail exams. If the student does not pass the test, he stays for the second year.

At the age of 18, students continue their education in lyceums. There are three varieties of the latter: classical and technical lyceums, as well as those with a specialization in the natural sciences. The program of all lyceums includes Italian literature, Latin, mathematics, physics, natural sciences, philosophy, history. Graduates take an exam and receive matriculation certificates with which they can enter the university.

Source: libre.life

Not for the first year, British schools, like a magnet, attract students from all over the world. “They teach - many, we - educate gentlemen”, - in fact, this phrase of the director of one of the prestigious educational institutions explains the advantages of education received in the UK.

The country provides for compulsory free education, which can be received by any child aged 5 to 16, regardless of nationality, race and social status of parents. At the same time, it includes two stages: primary school education - for children aged 4–11 years (up to 7 years old the child goes to a school for toddlers, and from 7 to 11 years old - to a junior school), and secondary education is provided for adolescents 11–11 years old. 16 years.

Secondary schools have their own graduation. Thus, "grammatical" institutions are focused on the academic general education component - with the expectation of further education at the university. "Modern" schools are applied-oriented and allow you to quickly acquire professional qualifications. The most popular "unified" schools combine these two characteristics.

Parents who wish to homeschool their child must first obtain permission from the local board of education. The fact is that "home" learning conditions must comply with accepted standards, including compulsory religious education.

On the first of September the whole world opened the school doors. Numerous streams of students rushed to their classes, friends, teachers. In our country, we often hear dissatisfied speeches about domestic education. Yes, the Russian education system does not occupy a leading position in the world rankings, occupying 34 positions. I wonder how training is organized in countries higher than us?

30th place. China

On the 30th place is the Chinese education system. For the average Chinese, getting an education opens up great opportunities. Most of them strive to enter universities, where the number of applicants for one place can exceed two hundred.

The academic year is 11 months, so in the summer the children continue to study, going on vacation only in August. However, the vacation period is not for idleness. August is dedicated to self-training, accompanied by a large number of preschools.

School classes are held from 8:00 to 16:00. But after 16:00 rest does not come: students will have additional classes until nine in the evening. To withstand such a load, especially for kids, is quite difficult. Therefore, in elementary school, daytime sleep is practiced - at noon. Usually, a separate room is allocated for rest, but if it is absent, then the children are located in their “working” places - on the desks.

Russian schoolchildren are accustomed to complaining about the psychological discomfort caused by the exam. This is probably because they did not compare themselves to their Chinese peers. Failure at Gaokao (the USE in our country) is akin to a betrayal of the family - examinees in China experience such a responsibility.

20th place. Japan

According to tradition, in Japan, children under 6 years old are pampered, literally everything is allowed. Freedom ends after entering a 12-year school. The process of annual training is divided into three semesters, after each exams are taken. Breaks between semesters are devoted to preparing for examinations.

School age starts at 6 years old. The main requirements for them are diligence and discipline.

17th place. France

French babies are probably the luckiest. They study only four days a week, getting an extra day off on Wednesday. Evaluation is carried out from 1 to 20 points. To score 15 points means to do the work in good faith, and above 17 points - to show a creative approach. Schoolchildren should carry out all big changes in the air, not lingering in classrooms or corridors.

Secondary education can be obtained by studying at a college or lyceum.

6th place. Finland

Education in Finland is considered the most effective. The main condition of the system is the equality of everyone and everything. For example, all schools have the same base, any subject chosen by a child is important, there are no good and bad students among students and teachers - they are just different.

The individuality of the child is put at the forefront: if he is not strong in mathematics, no one will make him a great techie: they will help him reorient himself in specialization. The education system in Finland is called the "Finnish miracle". Children learn without infringement of the nervous system, relaxed, absorbing knowledge according to their desires, capabilities and abilities. In addition, schools do not require uniforms, and lessons are held in a free format.

1st place. USA

The process of education in the United States is recognized as the most democratic. High school students, called students, gain points in several areas: exact, humanitarian, natural and others. The task of training is to gain as much knowledge as possible in the chosen specialization. Items that are not related to the student's future profession are simply ignored.

In addition to a clear focus, deepening in the “necessary and useful” sciences does not exclude the existence of strict, and even unusual rules in schools, for example:

• to visit the toilet during the lesson, you need to get a pass card from the teacher and put a mark on it from the adult on duty for the toilet;
• movement along the corridor takes place along clearly defined lanes;
• You can leave the building only in special cases.

But the atmosphere of classes is free and direct!

The system of public education 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 funded by the state 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 the education of their children.

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 language · Technology and design · Geography · Mathematics · Informatics · Music · Natural sciences · Foreign languages ​​· Art · Physical. Preparation · History

School education in England includes two modules: Primary - for children aged 4 to 11 years (up to 7 years old - in a toddler school, and from 7 to 11 years old - in elementary school) Secondary - for children from 11 to 16 years. There are three main types of junior high schools: "grammar" schools "modern" schools "Unified" schools

The academic year is from September 1st to August 31st. As a rule, the academic year is divided into semesters: autumn (before Christmas), spring (before Easter) and summer (until the end of June). Schools work, as a rule, from 9.00 to 16.00, the school week is usually 5 days. There are no parent meetings. Parents of each child are given 5-10 minutes for individual communication with the teacher. School uniform is obligatory Great attention in educational institutions is given to charity. From an early age, children are taught to help those in need. Students in many British schools are required to do social work, such as at gas stations or in nursing homes.

In the United States, there is no unified state education system, 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 examining students.

Pre-school institutions where children aged 3-5 years are brought up; elementary school (grades 1-8), in which children aged 6-13 study, secondary school (grades 9-12) with the task of teaching boys and girls at the age of 12; educational institutions of the last level of education that are part of the higher education system.

An elementary school is an independent educational institution where one teacher leads all classes with the class, but often there is also an assistant teacher. Characteristic for an elementary school is the acquisition of classes according to the abilities of students. After the definition of "i-q", groups A, B and C appear - "gifted", "normal" and "incapable" and training is differentiated.

High school in the United States is usually divided into two levels - junior and senior, each for three years. There is also a four-year secondary school, based on an eight-year elementary school. In the 8th grade, a system for choosing subjects appears. Secondary schools are of different types: "academic", "professional" and "multi-disciplinary".

A - 15% of students - a constantly high level of readiness, deep knowledge and originality (excellent). B - 25% of students - a level frankly higher than average (good). C - 35% of students - the average level of assignments (medium). D - 15% of students - the minimum level of knowledge (below average). F - 10% of students - unsatisfactory results or complete ignorance of the educational material.

The academic year continues at 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 the same in terms of gender and race, as well as in the level of training, knowledge, skills and behavior of students. Teachers are highly specialized: a 1st grade teacher teaches only 1st grade children all his professional life, a 5th grade teacher only teaches 5th grade children, etc.

Graduates must receive credits in 16 academic courses during the last 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 educational institution must complete a 2-year foreign language course.

In these countries, the state guarantees free secondary education. All school systems are divided into several levels: primary school, basic and high school. However, the distribution of study time is different. In Russia there is a state standard of education, in the UK there is a national program, and in the USA there is no single state program. However, in all countries there is a mandatory list of subjects for study. In all countries, school education ends with written exams. Along with public schools, there are private schools where education is paid.

On the eve of the new academic year, Izvestia studied the education systems in Europe, the USA and Asia, comparing them in a number of ways - from the duration of study to the subjects that are included in the program.

Where summer holidays last no more than 10 days, why students in Italy are forced to change schools, and what distinguishes prestigious British education - in a special article by September 1.

Europe

Photo: Global Look Press/ZB/Patrick Pleul

Age

In most cases, children here go to school earlier than in Russia: European first-graders are usually six years old. In Italy, parents can decide when to send their child to school - teachers are required by law to accept even five-year-olds.

Class Schedule

Schoolchildren in Europe study longer than in Russia: sometimes they stay at school for eight hours. However, this time includes an hour break for lunch, walks on the street, excursions, games, sports. In addition, they are not given voluminous homework assignments.

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Most often, more complex subjects - for example, mathematics or the native language - are put on the schedule for the first half of the day, especially in the lower grades. The standard set - mathematics, languages, exact sciences, history and social studies - is present everywhere, but the accents are placed in different ways. For example, in Italy, it is believed that literature is too difficult a subject for 13-14-year-old students, so very few hours are allotted to it in the program.

Beginning of the year

In most European countries, the school year starts at the beginning of autumn, and the exact date may vary depending on the characteristics of the region - in hot areas, for example, students may be given an extra week of rest in the fall to make up for it in the winter.

Photo: Global Look Press/Matarazzo/Photogramma/Ropi

Grading system

Throughout Europe, the grading system is different, but everywhere the scale has more than Russian five points. In France, the work of students is evaluated according to a 20-point system. In Italy - by 10 points when it comes to each individual subject. At the final exams, a 100-point system is introduced, and the student is also awarded points for additional activity: sports success, performance at competitions. Therefore, an excellent student who is actively involved in sports or other extracurricular activities may end up with a mark of 110 points. Germany is closest to the Russian system - there a student can get from 1 to 6 points.

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In most European countries, schoolchildren study for 13 years, while compulsory education is designed for 10 years - followed by college or targeted preparation for entering the university.

So, for example, the system works in Italy or France: children go to primary school at an early age - at five or six years old. This is followed by high school, and most often the transition is accompanied by a change of class. In Italy, this is generally a prerequisite - primary schools there are in no way connected with secondary schools, and children, having studied in the lower grades, change their educational institution. It is believed that in this way they learn to better adapt to changing life circumstances.

After graduating from high school in Italy and France, those who wish can enter the lyceum, but from that moment on, education becomes paid. The choice of a lyceum - creative, humanitarian, natural science or with an emphasis on vocational education - depends on the student's plans for the future. In Italy, teenagers will decide their future plans at the age of 14-15.

In Germany, schooling lasts the same as in France and Italy, but the separation here occurs even earlier. After graduating from primary school, children who are less inclined to study are sent to a five-year education - after which they can receive professional specialties that do not require high qualifications. More capable students take a six-year course in a real gymnasium, after which they can additionally complete the 11th and 12th grades of the gymnasium. The 13th grade is considered very difficult and is needed only for those who plan to enter the university.

United Kingdom

Age

British children start school at age five, however this is a preparatory school where the focus is on play and socialization. In the primary school itself (primary school), the main subjects appear in the program. The emphasis at this time is on project work to help children make friends.

Class Schedule

The time that a student spends at school can vary depending on the institution - it also depends on whether he studies in a boarding school or in a regular school, and whether it is private (which is very common in the UK) or public. Lessons start at 8:30 or 9 o'clock, there is an hour break for lunch. And after classes, in most cases, children are waiting for extracurricular activities - for example, sports or work on joint projects.

Beginning of the school year

Usually students go to school in early autumn, but the date may vary depending on the educational institution - sometimes, for example, lessons start even before September 1st. The school year is divided into three semesters - in summer, schoolchildren rest for six weeks, in winter and spring - for 2-3 weeks.

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The main subjects - mathematics, natural science, sports, language - appear in the program even in elementary school. French is the most commonly used second language in the UK. Closer to the senior classes, students get the opportunity to choose some of the subjects depending on their plans for the future and thus create an individual schedule for themselves - as a result, the composition of the class often changes from lesson to lesson.

Grading system

Estimates in the UK are put on a 100-point scale. At the same time, there is a special classification that allows you to correlate the number of points received with the level of the student. Scores from 70 points and above are equated to the domestic five, from 60 to 69 points to the four with a plus, from 50 to 59 points to the four, from 40 to 49 to the three, from 30 to 39 points to the two with a plus, and that's it. below 30 is an absolute failure.

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Due to the prestige of its education, England stands apart from a number of European countries, although the basic principles here are very similar to the pan-European ones. Education is divided into three stages: primary and secondary schools, as well as the most difficult, pre-university years.

Much attention, especially in primary school, where children stay until the age of 11-12, is given to the socialization of students and sports.

In the UK, more than in other countries, boarding houses are common, in which students study and live throughout the week. In addition, separate education for boys and girls is popular in the country - it is assumed that in this way it is possible to achieve greater equality: children have to fulfill all the duties, and not divide them according to gender, and there are no difficulties in classes due to the fact that girls in this age are often more assiduous and receptive to knowledge than boys.

USA

Photo: Global Look Press/ZUMA/Alex Garcia

Age

Americans begin to study at the age of six, but in the primary grades, the set of subjects is limited - children learn to write, read, study arithmetic. Most often, students in classes are distributed according to the level of knowledge - based on the results of the tests that they pass at the very beginning.

Class Schedule

Pupils are at school for seven hours - on average, lessons last from 08:30 to 15:30. The entire academic year is designed for 180 days and is divided not into quarters, but into semesters. The remaining 185 days fall on weekends and holidays - there is no single system here, they are determined separately in each state and each school.

Beginning of the school year

As in Europe, the US school year begins in late August/early September, and the exact date may vary from state to state.

Items

As in the UK, American students can make their own program, choosing subjects that suit their future goals, abilities or interests: in junior high school this is usually no more than five subjects, in high school you can already choose most of the subjects to study on your own. The compulsory ones for all include mathematics, natural sciences, English and an analogue of domestic social science. For each subject, a certain number of “credits” is assigned - the student must draw up the program himself in such a way that at the end of the semester in total he has the required number of these points.

Grading system

Grades are given in letters, there are five of them - A, B, C, D, E. However, they are still calculated according to a 100-point system. So, A - an analogue of our five - is set for 93 points or more, and less than 63 points is already E, the lowest possible rating. At the same time, school grades in the United States are not disclosed to anyone except the student and his parents.

Photo: Global Look Press/ZUMA/Sandy Huffaker

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American children go to school from the age of six and study until about 17: the school system includes 12 grades. Children begin to prepare for school in the older groups of the kindergarten or in the preparatory school, where they enter at the age of five.

Education in elementary school is designed for 6-7 years, depending on the educational institution, after which children move on to secondary school, where they remain until the ninth grade. Secondary schools may be multidisciplinary, academic or vocational. This is followed by the so-called senior secondary school - grades 10-12, but they are primarily attended by those who would like to enter the university after their studies.

Formally, school education is public, but the authorities of individual states can make their own changes to the general system - therefore, the life of schoolchildren may differ from state to state.

Asia

Photo: Global Look Press/DanitaDelimont.com

Age

The Japanese and Chinese begin to study at the age of six, not counting the kindergarten and preparatory groups, the programs of which are much richer than in Europe.

Class Schedule

In China, school starts at 8-9 am, but it is assumed that by this time the student has already devoted at least an hour to self-study. Lessons end at about 4, after which the child spends a few more hours in additional classes and, if he has enough strength, devotes some time to independent study in the evening. The weekend schedule is not much different from weekdays.

In Japan, the schedule for children is about the same - classes last from 8 am to 6 pm, while, as in Europe, they have an hour break in the middle of the day. In the evening, children go to tutors or study at home on their own. And vacations are used as a chance to improve knowledge in individual subjects.

Beginning of the school year

In Japan, the school year begins in April and is associated with the beginning of a new cycle in nature. In China, it is tied to the global system - students go to school on September 1st. The study is divided into six months - the second begins on March 1, and summer holidays often last no more than 10 days.

Photo: Global Look Press/ZUMA/Zhao Yuguo

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Most of the time at school is spent on the native language and mathematics, followed by generally accepted subjects - history, natural sciences, social studies. It is mandatory to study a foreign language, most often English.

In Japan, at the same time, schoolchildren study not only modern Japanese, but also ancient and medieval. As a bonus, most schools have good sports grounds and music rooms equipped with a variety of modern instruments.

Grading system

In Japan, as in the United States, grades are given by letters - five letters in total, from A to E - each letter corresponds to a certain result on a 100-point system. China also has an alphabetical grading system.

However, the highest point of tension and the most important assessment for Chinese and Japanese schoolchildren are the results in final exams and entrance exams to universities. The Chinese national gaokao entrance exam, for example, lasts for three days and is a real test of endurance. The final exams are no less stressful for the Japanese - their results are published on special scoreboards, in front of which applicants gather.

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In the East, and primarily in China and Japan, the school system differs from the European and American in its demands on students. If in the West the emphasis is on the social adaptation of children, their individual development and sports, then in Japan, for example, children begin to learn arithmetic in kindergarten.

There they also learn self-government, when four-year-olds are appointed in turn to be senior duty officers in the group.

In both China and Japan, vacation time for children is extremely limited, and most of their free time, even on school days, they spend on self-study, trips to tutors and in special out-of-school study groups. The same applies to short holidays, during which they use their free time to complete more additional tasks and further improve their level of knowledge.

As in other countries, school education here is divided into three stages: primary, secondary and graduation, in total it consists of 12 classes, and nine are compulsory. Moreover, parents have to pay for education in grades 10-12.

Latin America

Photo: Global Look Press/ZB/Peter Zimmermann

Age

Primary education in Argentina is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 12. A similar system operates in Cuba, where every child between the ages of 6 and 11 is required to complete a basic school course. In Brazil, primary education lasts 8 years, while in Argentina and Cuba it lasts 6 years, excluding preschool. As for secondary education, in Cuba it is divided into basic secondary lasting 4 years and complete secondary lasting 2 years. At the same time, in Brazil, secondary education can be obtained in 3 years, and in Argentina - in 5–6 years. In Mexico, children enter first grade at the age of 6. After 6 years they go to junior high school. After studying for another two years, students decide whether to continue their studies or go to work.

Class Schedule

In Argentinean schools, there is a regular five-day week. In elementary school, classes usually start at 8:30, while in middle school, the first lesson may start an hour earlier, at 7:30. Morning training lasts there, as a rule, until 13:00, and evening - from 13:00 to 17:00. With a difference of half an hour to an hour, studies begin in most other countries of Latin America. The academic year there lasts an average of 180 to 190 academic days.

Beginning of the school year

Since winter in Latin America begins at a time when it is summer in Russia, the start of the school year falls on other months. For example, Brazilians, Argentines and Costa Ricans go to school in the first week of February. And in Chile and Uruguay, students go to school in March. The exception is Mexico. There, the academic year begins in September and lasts until June 30, with holidays in December and April.

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Education in Cuba consists of several levels. From the first to the fifth, children study mathematics, computer science, natural history, receive artistic education and attend physical education classes. At the sixth step, several more subjects are added: English, Cuban history, Cuban geography and labor education. It is also worth noting that earlier in Cuba, from 30 to 45 people studied in one class, but after the modernization of the education system, the number of students in one group decreased to 15 people.

In Argentina, for example, bilingual schools are popular. There, the school day consists of two shifts, while the second shift takes place in a foreign language. In ordinary schools in Argentina, the second language is taught from the fourth grade. In addition to English, children can also choose French and Italian. Particular attention is paid to musical and theatrical education. Students have the right to choose a direction in education, one of which is devoted to art. Among the most popular clubs are gymnastics, choir and dance.

In addition, the literary program of Latin American countries attracts attention. The works that are studied in Russia in higher educational institutions are included in the compulsory school curriculum in Colombia. You can't go to university there without reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "The Classics Game" by Julio Cortazar, the poetry of Pablo Neruda, "The Humble Hero" by Mario Vargasa Llosa and other works by the masters of "magical realism".

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Grading system

Estimates are put on a 10-point scale. At the end of each trimester, students receive a score, which is calculated from the results of intermediate tests. A passing mark is 7. But even if the student does not pass all the subjects, he can continue his studies. However, he will not receive a certificate of completion of high school until he closes the debt.

Some schools have a 5-point grading scale. Such institutions are found in Colombia. According to the local scoring system, 0 to 2.9 is unsatisfactory, 3.0 to 3.4 is acceptable, 3.5 to 3.9 is good, and 4.0 to 5.0 is excellent.

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In recent decades, the level of education in Latin America has risen sharply. Against the general background, Cuba stands out in particular. Back in the mid-1950s, about 1 million children were not in school at all. Now Cuba spends on public education, according to some reports, 10% of the budget, ahead of both the United States and Great Britain in this indicator.

Nevertheless, the palm for the quality of higher education belongs to Brazil. According to the ranking of the best universities in Latin America, the first place is occupied by the University of Sao Paulo, and the second line is the State University of Campinas, which is also located in Brazil. The top three is closed by the Catholic University of Chile.

At the same time, the focus of training, depending on the countries, varies greatly. In Brazil, about 60% of universities are liberal arts. At the same time, applicants' interest in nuclear energy is growing in Argentina, although medicine continues to be the leading field of science there.

In addition, most universities in Latin America provide free education. The only exception is Chile: there the state pays only primary education, while the cost of education in Chilean universities is second only to the United States in terms of value.