Text. Education Systems in the USA, Great Britain and Ukraine

The tutorial approach to teaching is very popular at universities of the USA and Great Britain. The tutorial model offers one-to-one or small group programmes. A student and a teacher meet to review the work that has been done. On the one hand a student is free in his choice of programmes and tutors. On the other hand a student takes more responsibility for his work. Naturally the tutorial model of teaching is rather expensive. Not every country can afford it.

The second thing that attracts our attention in the educational systems of these countries is the rating model of learning. In this model a student has to do a

-63-

certain amount of work, to cover all the materials required and to present them in the due form and on time without delay. The student’s work is graded. At some

universities and colleges attendance of classes is an obligatory element of the model. A student is to meet all the requirements of the curriculum; otherwise he will lose grades and fail. Self-discipline is of great importance in this model.

One can’t but mention the moral aspect of learning at American and English universities: the greatest sins of students are cheating in exams, plagiarism and using such aids and appliances as a crib and cabbage. A student is sure to be expelled from the university for that.

Speaking about the education system of any country one can’t but take into consideration its moral and cultural values, mentality, living standards. Like it or not, the education system has to meet supply and demand of the society. It is a kind of mirror that reflects the major life objectives of the nation.

Everybody knows what “American dream” means: a large house, a car of the latest model, a considerable account in a bank. This dream has resulted in the negative tendency in the US education system – the growth of number of undergraduate students. About 60% of students are not inclined to continue their education and to take the Master’s degree. They think it is quite enough to have the Bachelor’s degree for their career development and earning a well-to-do living.

There is some common sense in such an approach to education as a means of making bread with butter. But following this way people take risks of reducing to simple-minded consumers. Dominating pragmatism and utilitarianism are the weakest points of the education systems of these countries.

Sociologists work with people, render them a real help in various difficult situations. But for many years even the word “sociology” was outlawed. And it was only in 60-ies that sociological studies were reborn.

How lucky we are to live in the period of openness and renovation. All the bans on obtaining and providing true information have been lifted. The result of this is the development of sociology.

-64-

The Ukrainian education system is undergoing crucial changes. As a new democratic state Ukraine joins the European Economic Community. In the

light of the present day events there appeared new phenomena in the education system of our country. First of all our colleges and universities like European and American can be divided into two groups: higher education establishments which are supported by the state, by the Ministry of Education and Science in particular.

And those who are privately financed, that is students have to pay for their tuition.

Secondary new scientific degrees have appeared in our education system (Bachelor and Master).

Thirdly a number of new specialities have raised in the curriculum of our higher education, such as managers, social psychologists, sociologists etc.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-08