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THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN BELARUS
I. Vocabbox. Crèche [kreò], to be available, respectively, completion, primary stage, junior secondary school (basic school), senior secondary school, lyceum, vocational school, technical school, legislative basis, to comprise, advanced college, additional course, to be entitled, to perform, according to something, postgraduate study, thesis, to award, full-time study program, to take examinations, requirement, applicant, to be matriculated, to fail, tuition fee. II. Read the text and translate it into Russian. School education. Crèches and kindergartens are available for children ages 1 to 2 and 3 to 5 years, respectively. Compulsory school education begins at the age of 6 or 7 and comprises 9 years. After the completion of a four-year primary stage, pupils may attend a junior secondary school (basic school) for 5 or 7 years. Several types of schools providing further education are available for leavers of the junior secondary school: *senior secondary schools lasting 2 years, *lyceums lasting 2 years and offering general senior secondary education as well as specialized vocational training, *vocational schools lasting 3 years and providing general senior secondary education as well as vocational training, *technical and specialized schools as well as colleges lasting 3 or 4 years and offering specialized senior secondary education. Higher education. The legislative basis for the higher education system in Belarus is provided by the Education Act adopted on the 24th of December 1991, and other legislative rules. Belarus’ higher education system comprises four different types of higher education institutions. At present, there are 38 state higher education institutions including 15 universities, 8 academies, 13 institutes and 2 advanced colleges. Four of the universities offer a traditional wide range of subjects: the State University of Gomel, the State University of Grodno, the Byelorussian State University in Minsk and the State University of Novopolotsk. More specialized universities and other higher education institutions provide education in technology (11), education and teacher training (5), medicine (4), arts and music (3), sports (1), foreign languages (1) and economics (2). Furthermore, there are military and militia higher education institutions. Besides the state higher education system, a sector of private higher education institutions has been active since 1991. Control of quality standards of state and private higher education institutions is performed by the State Inspection of Education Institutions Department within the Ministry of Education and Science. Courses and degrees. At present, a reform of the system of higher education is being carried out with respect to academic degrees and disciplines. According to the new two-tier system, study programmes will be organized as follows: Level 1 will comprise a four- to five-year study programme, which leads to a diploma of higher education or to a Bachelor’s degree, if an additional course is taken. Level 2 will comprise one- to two-year advanced study programs, which lead to a Master’s Degree. Universities and academies are entitled to award diplomas of higher education, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, while institutes award diplomas of higher education and Bachelor’s degrees. At advanced colleges, only a diploma of higher education may be obtained. Postgraduate study programs lasting 3 years comprise research and the preparation of a thesis. After the public presentation of their thesis, a student is awarded the academic degree of Candidate of Sciences, which entitles the holder to admission to doctoral studies. The Doctor of Sciences is obtained by performing appropriate independent research. Besides full-time study programs, the higher education institutions also offer education by evening and correspondence courses. Foreign students are, however, only admitted to full-time study programs. The official languages of instruction are Byelorussian and Russian, courses, however, are usually held in Russian. Some of the higher education institutions offer special courses – in mathematics and physics, in foreign languages. Academic year. The academic year is divided into two terms with the first running from the 1st of September to the end of January (25th–30th) and with the second starting mid February (10th–15th) and ending in late June (20th–30th). There is a vacation between the terms. Students must take examinations at the end of each term. Admission requirements. Admission to higher education is provided by a general certificate of secondary education. The applicants must take competitive entrance examinations. Higher education at state institutions is free for those candidates who pass the entrance examinations, win the competition and are matriculated. Applicants who achieve fairly high marks at the entrance examinations, but fail the competition, may be admitted, but must pay tuition fee. The admission procedure for foreign applicants intending to pursue a complete study program in Belarus is as follows – Applicants must submit the following documents: 1) a notarized copy of the applicant’s certificate of secondary education; 2) medical certificate; 3) a notarized copy of the birth certificate; 4) six 3X4 cm photographs. After arriving in Belarus, a foreign applicant signs a contract with the higher education institution. The applicant must show his/her passport (or an equivalent document) and entry visa and fill in a questionnaire. Financial assistance. Byelorussian students may receive financial assistance with regard to social criteria amounting to about USD 6 per month or on the basis of achievement-oriented criteria amounting to USD 8 per month. SOCIAL ASPECTS Student catering. Higher education institutions have student refectories and lunchrooms. Cultural life and leisure. Higher education institutions in Belarus support students’ cultural activities. Students may join music, dance and folklore groups or choirs. Furthermore, higher education institutions provide such sports facilities as gymnasiums, sports fields and swimming pools. There are such cultural facilities as theatres, museums, exhibitions and cinemas in Belarus’ cities. Students are granted discounts on museum & theatre tickets. Foreign students have the right to organise friendly associations of people coming from the same country. Services for special needs students. Specific facilities and equipment for special needs students are not available. Services for students with children. Facilities for students with children are not available for persons with foreign citizenship.
III. Answer the following questions. 1. When does compulsory school education in Belarus begin? 2. What types of schools providing further education are there in Belarus? 3. What is the legislative basis for the system of higher education in Belarus? 4. What study programmes will be organized? 5. What degrees are universities and academies entitled to award? 6. The official languages of instruction are Byelorussian and Russian, aren't they? 7. What are the admission requirements? 8. Can Byelorussian students receive financial assistance?
IV. Complete the following sentences. 1. Compulsory school education begins … 2. Several types of schools providing further education … 3. The legislative basis is provided by … 4. Belarus' higher education system comprises … 5. Study programmes will be organized … 6. Universities and academies are entitled … 7. The official languages of instruction … 8. Admission to higher education is provided by … 9. Applicants must submit the following documents … 10. Byelorussian students can receive financial assistance … 11. Higher education institutions in Belarus support …
V. Define the main problems, which convey the basic information given in the text.
VI. Try your hand in writing an article about actual problems in the system of education in Belarus. Good education helps young people develop their personalities and make their way in society. Opinions on what kind of school provides the best education differ in Belarus. Alongside with state education, private education still plays an important role in Belarus today. What do you think of a school system in Belarus? (Spend a few moments individually thinking over the arguments you will use to bank up your opinion. Use the following words and expressions: no doubt, it seems to me; as for as I see; sure that …; I feel … Now discuss the opinions with your partners)
VII. Speak on one of these topics: a) Education should be freely available. Give your reasons. b) Describe the system of education in Belarus.
VII. Problem Chart. What is the modern system of education in your opinion?
Date: 2015-01-29; view: 1240
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