THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SPAIN
The education system in Spain is divided in several stages:
Infant education is aimed at little children from 0 till 6 to contribute to their physical, affective, intelectual and psychological development. It comprises two different cycles:
1. From 0 till 3 years. There are more private than free kindergartens. It isn’t compulsory, so not all the little children go there.
2- From 3 till 6 years. Free education. At school.
Compulsory education
Primary school
Children go to primary school during sixdifferent courses (6-11 years). It is compulsory and free, excepting if they go to private schools where they have to pay each month.
It’s divided in three different cycles (two years each one).
This education emphasizes teaching Spanish language (mainly reading, writing and speaking), maths, social and natural sciences, foreign language (English), arts, P.E, music and religion.
It’s taught by primary teachers (they studied a three years degree to become a teacher and took an exam to become teacher and to obtain a position in the educational system).
Each primary teacher doesn’t teach only a subject but an area, excepting these cases: music, foreign language, PE or special needs education, which are taught by specific teachers.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Students move to a high school once they are 12 years old and they receive here compulsory education until they are 16 years old.
Here, they are taught by specialist teachers. That is, each teacher has studied a different degree. For example:
English- English Philology/ Spanish-Spanish philology/ French- French
Philology/ HistoryHistory/ Maths. or other science degree/ sciencebiology / chemistchemist/ musicmusic…
All the students study at least a foreign language (English is the most usual one).
Those students, who are bilingual, also receive other subjects teaching in English (50% of the subject) and they also study French.
To be bilingual, we teach in English, at least, three different subjects.
These autonomous communities which have coofficial languages (Catalonia, Galicia, Euskadi) teach also their own languages to their students.
The Spanish and Andalusia autonomies want to promote languages and mainly a communicative approach to them. So, we are working not only in grammar but also in skills. It has changed a lot during the last years since time ago English teachers taught mainly grammar.
There is also a promotion of new technologies since they are an essential element to motivate students, So Andalusia students receive a free laptop the previous year before coming to secondary school.
We also have digital boards, but only in the first and second year classes.
Finally, we are learning how to teach key competences and we have to evaluate in agreement with its fulfillment grade. So, we don’t only evaluate exams but other things such as projects, speaking presentations, group work, writing and reading tasks..and we sometimes collaborate with different subjects to make common projects (interdisciplinary work).
During the first years all the students learn almost the same subjects but later, they can choose different subject (science, humanities, or social sciences subjects).
Students can fail two subjects to pass to the following course but they have to pass it the following years in order to obtain
their secondary certificate at the end of the stage. However, each course can only be repeated once. This is one of the controversial topics about our system, because some students can get relaxed that year (otherwise, they think they are going to pass the year, which is true, but they don’t think they need to pass every subject to finish the stage.
Students have different options once they are 16 and have the secondary grade:
• 1. They study upper secondary to go to University during two years: they can choose arts, music,social sciences, sciences or humanities. All the options have common subjects such as Language, English, French (only in the first course), religion, philosophy, PE, Sciences for contemporary world and Spanish History. However, each option adds their own subjects.
Upper secondary is also taught at the high school. Once they finish upper secondary, they need to pass all the subjects and to do an exam (Selectividad) with specific tests created by universities and they will enter into the different degrees with attending to this Selectividad mark and their upper secondary medium mark.
2. Second option- Once they finish secondary school,they can study a grade to develop a future profession. They usually need to change to a different high school or even to a different town in order to study which they want because the access to these studies depends on their secondary mark.
They study things like mechanics, electronics,… These studies have a duration of two years and the second year includes practices in enterprises. Once they finish, they can continue studying a Superior grade and they can go to university.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN TURKEY
The Turkish Education System is organized on the legal basis of Education and Training Laws and National Education Council together with Government Programs. Basically, educational intuitions are open to everyone without being difference of language, race, religion etc. All state schools are free. The structure of the Turkish Education is to increase prosperity and happiness of Turkish citizens and society, to support the economic, social and cultural development, and to raise awareness of the national unity and integrity, so on. The Turkish Education System is divided into four levels, and there is a compulsory education lasting 12 years, from 6 to about 18 ages.
Preschool Education is optional and covers children who have not yet reached school age which is 6-year-old. The education concerns physically, mentally and emotionally development of the children, and finally they prepare the children for primary education.
Primary Education consists of four years schooling. In Turkey, children in age from 6 to 13 must attend primary school. It provides children with basic knowledge and ensures their physical, mental and moral development together with national objectives. It includes different programs such as Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music etc.
Secondary Education consists of two categories of educational institutions, namely general high schools and vocational-technical high schools where four years of schooling is implemented after primary education. The aim of secondary education is to provide students, through various programs, with general culture and to prepare them for higher education, life and business according to their interests and talents.
*General high schools are educational institutions, which prepare students for institutions of higher learning. Students are between 15 and 17 years ages.
*Vocational-technical high schools provide specialized instruction with the aim of training qualified personnel. The organization and periods of instruction of these schools are different. Some of them have a four-year program in which case the schooling age is 15-18.
Higher Education: The purpose of higher education is to train manpower within a system to meet the needs of the country. It provides high-level specialized education in various fields for students who have completed their secondary education. Universities comprising several units are established by the state and by law as public corporations having autonomy in teaching and research.
As for English Language teaching in Turkey, we start teaching foreign language very early, at the age of seven. In some schools we have special classes for language. They have more language classes than the others. Most of our schools have smart boards so both teachers and pupils can use technology as well. Our education ministry send our books to school and they organize the curriculum for all branch. We have to follow it. In most schools we teach both English and another foreign language such as German, Russian, French and Arabic. We have two main holidays in a year. One is in summer, July and August; the other one is in winter, at the end of January and first week of February.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ITALY
The education system in Italy is organized as follows:
• kindergarten for children from 3 to 6 years;
• first cycle, lasting a total of eight years, divided into:
- Primary school (5 years) for children from 6 to 11 years;
- Secondary school of first degree (3 years) for children between 11 and 14 years;
• the second cycle of education consists of two types:
- state secondary school of second degree which lasts five years, for students from 14 to 19 years. High schools (licei),technical and vocational institutes belong to this kind of school;
- three-year courses and four-year vocational education and training (IFP) of regional competence;
• higher education offered by the universities, High art and music education (Afam), and Higher Technical Institutes (ITS).
Compulsory education lasts ten years, from 6 to 16 years, and includes the eight years of the first cycle of education (five years of primary school and three years of secondary school of first degree) and the first two years of the second cycle.
At the conclusion of the period of compulsory education, in case of non-continuation of school, the student is issued a statement attesting compulsory education fulfillment and skills acquired, which constitute training credit for the attainment of professional qualification.
After passing the upper secondary school exam (esame di Stato), there can be access to tertiary education (universities, Afam and ITS). Specific admission conditions are within the competence of the Ministry of Education and / or the individual institutions of the university sector and Afam sector.
The three-year or four-year professional qualification, obtained in education and vocational training at the regional courses, provide access to vocational education courses or post-qualification / post diploma courses, which can also be accessed after obtaining the upper secondary school leaving certificate.
Private education
Private schools can issue certificates with the same legal value as those of state schools and they are free to choose their cultural orientation and didactic- pedagogical plan.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN POLAND
The education system in Poland is being transformed now. However, until now children aged 7 start education obligatorily. They learn for 6 years and then go to junior high schools where they stay for three years (then they are 16 years old). Next they can continue their education in secondary schools where they learn for 3 years obtaining general education or they go to technical schools for four years. At the end of education they pass their final exams which are at the same time the entrance exams to universities. 16-year-old students can also choose two-year-vocational schools but after finishing these schools they cannot go to universities.
The reforms in our country are aimed at returning to eight-year- elementary schools without junior high schools. After elementary school students will go to secondary schools for 4 or 5 years respectively.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN PORTUGAL
The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for the entire Portuguese education system, and is supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity in providing pre-school education.
Pre-School Education: Pre-school education for children between the ages of three and five is still optional. It is provided by kindergartens, which are run by a variety of State organisations, charitable institutions, private schools and cooperatives, unions and other organisations.
Compulsory Schooling - Basic Education
Basic education is compulsory and free and lasts for twelve years, covering children and young people between six and 18 years of age. It comprises three consecutive cycles: the 1st cycle (four years) provides a general education, with a single teacher (sometimes supported in specialised areas), the 2nd cycle (two years), the 3rd cycle (three years) are taught by a single teacher per subject or multidisciplinary educational field and the secondary level which comprises three years of education (10th, 11th and 12th years of schooling), geared towards anyone who intends to continue studying or to join the labour market. It includes science and humanities and specialised artistic, technological or professional training courses, and is provided by secondary schools and professional schools.
Higher Education
Higher education in Portugal involves universities and polytechnics. The academic year generally begins in October. The academic qualifications of Graduate (1st cycle), Master (2nd cycle) and Doctor (3rd cycle) can be obtained by university and polytechnic students. Undergraduate courses last for three years on average, and Masters from one to two years. Admission to higher education institutions depends on the number of vacancies available, which is regulated by the national entrance exam organised by the Direção Geral do Ensino Superior [Directorate-General for Higher Education]. Applications are normally submitted in July and early August to the admission services in the applicant’s area of residence or through the Internet (electronic applications available via the website of the Direcção Geral do Ensino Superior [Directorate General for Higher Education]. In order to be accepted, EU/EEA nationals must present an academic qualification equivalent to the 12th year of schooling.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FRANCE
In france, the children have to go to the school from 6 to 16 years. But in realty they go there from 3 to 18 years and more. From 3 to 11 years they go to the primary school (in french : école maternelle from 3 to 6 years and école primaire from 6 to 11). After they go to secondary school. From 11 to 15 years the french name of the school is "collège". Next we have high school for pupils from 15 to 18 years who french name is "lycée". In this school the pupils have 4 choice. The first choice is a general fiedl who stutends learn general subject (Literature, economy, science). The second choice is technology fiedl, the students learn subject more specific (Trade, accounting, drawing...). The third choice is professional fiedl, this the class of my students. They learn more professional subjects (learn job) and they must be going in company about 2 month per years in 2 times for learn the job. Finally, students can make apprenticeship who they have about 50% of time in company and 50% in school.
In 18 years they take the high school diploma and after they can go to the univertsity or high school more specialized like trade school.
We have from 25 to 30 pupils by class in primary school, about 30 pupils in collège and 35 to 40 pupils in lycée. I have an half section then there is only 18 pupils in this class. I posted a plan about the french educatif system in the file images
THE SYSTEM OF SCHOOLING IN HUNGARY
In Hungary, the general phase of education lasts until the age of 16. Education is compulsory between the ages of 3 and 16. All children must complete 8 years of elementary school plus two more years in one of the schools below.
Pre-primary education
This educational level is considered as a crucially important integrated part of the school system. Nurseries accept children from 20 months to age three, and kindergartens from age three to six or seven. In the September after a child turns 3, the local kindergarten has to provide a place, and a child has to attend kindergarten for at least four hours a day.
Kindergarten prepares children for school. Since 2015, participation in pre-primary education at this level is compulsory from age 3 (before 2015 only the final year - beyond age 5 - was compulsory), although exceptions are made for developmental reasons. Most kindergartens are state-funded. Kindergarten teachers are required to have a diploma.
Primary Education
Children start primary school when they reach school-maturity, usually in the year in which they have their 6th birthday (7th if they were born after August 31). Primary education can last for 4, 6 or 8 years. 8-year education is the most widespread; the other two options were introduced in the early 1990s.
Education programmes at this level are typically designed to provide students with fundamental skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Subjects include literature, grammar, mathematics, music, art, physical education, environmental studies (from 1st to 5th grade), biology (from 6th grade), geography (from 6th grade), history (from 5th grade), history of art, physics (from 6th grade), chemistry (from 7th grade), one or two foreign languages (usually English, German or French). Every elementary school offers an after-school programme until 16:00. This is a very basic supervised childcare with no teaching.
After completing the regular 8 years of primary education, students can choose from three different secondary school programmes.
Secondary Education
Secondary education usually lasts for 4 years. In a secondary grammar school, it can also last for 5, 6 or 8 years depending on how many years the student spent in primary school.
There are three kinds of secondary schools:
- Grammar schools (non-vocational) prepare students for higher education and teach them at least 2 foreign languages.
- Secondary vocational schools also provide a "secondary school leaving examination”.
- Vocational schools offer so-called "bridge" programs to help low-achieving students in primary school to catch up and join the usual vocational school curriculum.
1. Secondary grammar schools admit children from the age of ten to 19, which means that some children attend secondary school for four years, some six, and others eight. Some of the schools have an entrance examination, and sometimes there is an extra year, for teaching a foreign language, or a trade.
This secondary education ends with the maturity exam, which students must be passed in order to apply to a university or other institutions of higher education. Hungarian students have to take an exam of Hungarian literature and grammar, Mathematics, History, one foreign language and one subject of the student's choice (this can be anything that they have learned before for at least 2 years).
2. Vocational high schools admit children from the age of 14, until they are 18 or 19. Students are taught the skills needed for a particular job, for example cooks, joiner or car mechanics.
Vocational schools without ‘maturity’ exam became much less popular. By the end of the ’90s, the vocational training school changed to a four‐year programme, in which the first 2 years (grade 9–10) are devoted to general education, while during the second 2 years students will be prepared for a trade. These schools also end with a central exam in general subjects, as well as in the particular trade.
Grading System
There are five grades: 1 is considered a fail and 5 is the top grade. Instead of grades, teachers can give a description of a child's performance, for example, “good” at the first two years of primary education.
Higher education
Hungarian higher education has represented academic excellence for more than 600 years. The first university in Hungary was founded in 1367 in Pécs in the southern part of Hungary. Today there are 67 higher education institutions in Hungary ranging from top research universities to minor colleges. These universities and colleges are financed either by the state, private organisations or a church. Hungary joined the Bologna Process in 1999 by signing the Bologna Declaration with 28 other countries.
The degree structure of higher education is based on three cycles. Nearly all study fields lead first to a Bachelor’s degree (usually 3 years), and after a further study period to a Master’s degree (2 years). However, there are some exceptions: medicine, pharmacy, dental and veterinary studies, architecture, law, teacher training, and certain arts-, crafts- and design-related study programmes, which retain a long single-cycle structure of 5 or 6 years of study.
The first-cycle programmes last 6–8 semesters (3–4 years) and lead to a Bachelor’s degree. The second cycle, leading to a Master’s degree, lasts 2–4 semesters (1–2 years).
Most of the students chose economic sciences, followed by engineering, teacher training, IT, medical and health sciences.
A four-year doctoral programme is a post-graduate course to follow any Master’s or equivalent qualification.
Before students get their degree, they must pass an intermediate level language exam in the foreign language of their choice. English and German are the most popular. The number of Spanish-learners has been growing in the last few years. Recently a high number of students chose Esperanto and Romani languages.
Admission
According to the Higher Education Act, the admission for Bachelor’s degree programmes and some long-term Master’s degree programmes is selective. The minimum requirement for admission to these degree programmes is a secondary school leaving certificate. There are a few programmes where practical examinations or tests are also required. Higher education studies are financed either by the state or by the students themselves.
Foreign students in Hungary
Hungary attracts foreign students from both EU and non-EU countries. Among the countries sending most students are Germany, Iran, Norway, Israel and Sweden, while the majority of guest students are from the neighbouring countries. Studying Hungary has a lot of advantages:
- Hungary offers affordable tuition fees and living costs;
- Number of Nobel Prize Winners and scientific inventors got their education here;
- Easier admission procedure and fewer documents for getting acceptance;
- Hungary offers different type of scholarships for foreigners;
- Lots of education programmes are offered in English and German.