Ukrainian Educational System

The right to education is stated in the Constitution of Ukraine. The Ukrainian educational system is organised into five levels: preschool, primary, secondary, higher and postgraduate education.

The system of secondary education in Ukraine includes primary forms and junior and senior secondary forms. Children usually go to school at the age of 6 or 7. There are some preschool institutions, like nursery schools or kindergartens, but they are not obligatory.

School level. Primary forms comprise 1 to 4 forms. Junior secondary forms comprise 5 to 9 forms. After the 9th form children can enter technical schools of different types. The objective of general schooling is to give younger students knowledge of the arts and sciences, and teach them how to use it practically. The middle school curriculum includes classes in the Ukrainian Language, Ukrainian Literature, a Foreign Language, World Literature, Ukrainian History, World History, Geography, Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Education, Music and Art. At some schools, students also take environment and civics classes. Students attend each class only once or twice a week, however. Part of the school day is also spent in activities such as chess, karate, putting on plays, learning folktales and folk songs, choir and band. After school, students might also have music, or sport lessons.

Those who want to enter higher educational institutions should complete 10–11 forms. Students can also enter higher educational institutions after graduating from specialized colleges or lyceums. They prepare students in different fields, whether the humanities or the sciences. Some of them are organized under the authorities of higher educational establishments.

During grades 9 and 11, which is usually around the age of 15 and 17, students take various exams. The current examination system is undergoing change. At grades 9 and 11 students take IGTs (Independent Government Tests), which allow eleventh graders to enter university without taking separate entrance exams. In 2008 entrance exams were abolished and the IGTs became the standard for determining entrance eligibility. But in 2010 the system was changed again.

Since school year 2009-2010 potential graduates were scheduled to undergo external independent testing after the final state examination, in the following subjects: Ukrainian Language, Ukrainian Literature, Ukrainian History, Geography, Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and one foreign language (of the pupil's choice) in either English, German, French, or Spanish. The results of the testing have the same status as entrance examinations to institutions of higher education.

University level. The system of higher education is presented by universities, polytechnic institutes or specialized institutes. Higher education is generally recognized as preparing individuals to realize more fully their human potential, enrich their understanding of life and make them more productive to society. Future specialists in various fields of science, technology, economies and art get a fundamental general and specialized training, all students regardless of their specialty study foreign languages.

Higher education is either state funded or private. Students that study at state expense receive a standard scholarship if their average marks at the end-of-term exams and differentiated tests is at least 4. In the case of all grades being the highest (5), the scholarship is increased by 25%. Most universities provide housing for out-of-city students. Also, it is common for libraries to supply required books for all registered students. There are two degrees conferred by Ukrainian universities: the Bachelor's Degree (4 years) and the Master's Degree (5–6th year). These degrees are introduced in accordance with Bologna process, in which Ukraine is taking part. Specialist's Degree (usually 5 years) is still granted.

Postgraduate level. Students are also offered postgraduate education and scientific research work. Nowadays due to the state of our national economy not many young people are engaged in the research work. But still in some fields of science there are outstanding discoveries and research papers.

1. Share your experience of studying at school and university. How our studies differ in these two types of educational establishments.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. Does higher education help to develop human potential and enrich your understanding of life?

2. What training do the future specialists get?

3. What can you say about the role of foreign languages in gaining higher education?

4. What is the role of scientific work in training future specialists?

5. What specialists does our country need?

6. How long does the period of studies at higher schools last?

3. Fill in the blanks with the words given below:

the same value, spare, full-time students, to fall into, to carry out, general, specialized.

1. Future specialists in various fields of science, technology, economies and art get a fundamental... and... training. 2. Ukrainian higher schools... a great deal of scientific work in all branches of knowledge. 3. Higher educational establishments of our country... three main types. 4. The first type includes the universities and institutes where there are only...... which receive state grants. 5. Evening schools are for those who study in their... time. 6. The diplomas by the evening faculties and extra-mural higher schools have...... as the diplomas of all other institutes or universities.

4. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. В нашому університеті студенти можуть отримати ґрунтовну загальну та спеціальну підготовку. 2. Незважаючи на спеціалізацію, всі студенти нашого університету вивчають іноземну мову. 3. Деякі студенти поєднують роботу з навчанням. 5. Період навчання в вищій школі триває від 4 до 6 років. 6. На заняттях ми читаємо, перекладаємо англійські тексти, робимо різні вправи. 7. Чи займається твій друг спортом? 8. Ко­ли ми робимо помилки, наш вчитель виправляє нас. 9. Спочатку подумай, а потім скажи. 10. Деякі наші студенти живуть в гуртожитку. 11. В тебе не забере багато часу, щоб дістатись до інституту.

5. Underline the correct item.

1. A new teacher is joining our English part/department section this term.

2. Cookery is a useful subject for girls and boys like/alike, likely.

3. My brother, who speaks fluent French, coached/ studied/practiced me in the subject before the exam.

4. The student paused/stopped/ended before answering the question.

5. Her teaching process/technique/way involves getting to know each student's needs.

6. Fill in the correct word.

1. I could get a job as a secondary school.................... now, but I want to continue studying to become a university............ (teacher/lecturer).

2. History is my favourite................... but today..............wasn't very interesting. (lesson/ subject)

3. My primary school only has 300...............but there are over 5.000................at my brother's university, (pupils/students)

4. Frank got good.................. in all of his school exams, so he was able to go to university to do a................. (grades/degree)

5. There will be no lectures during the last..................of my history............as we are expected to study tor exams then. (course/ term)

6. I got an extra............or remembering the name of Napoleon s horse, so my final.........for the test was 19 out of 20! (point/mark)

7. The.............of the arts faculty used to be the.................of a primary school. (dean /headmaster)

8. When I went to................... I only saw my parents during the holidays, but now that I go to a..................I see them every night, (day school/boarding school)

9. It is necessary to pay school fees in order to go to a.............. whereas a.............is run by the stale and is therefore free, (comprehensive school/private school)

10. My brother and sister go to a....................but I go to a.............where there are only girls, (co-educational school /single-gender school)

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