5.2. Text c. Education in Great Britain

There are about 38,000 schools in Britain.

State Education is free. Children start school from the age of five and stay until they are 15. At first children go to Primary schools. When they are 11/12, there is a choice for them where to go:

1). Secondary modern schools – children receive a general and practical education until they are 15;

2). Grammar schools – they learn until they are 18 and then transfer to places of higher education;

3). Comprehensive schools – all types of secondary education are given, courses are chosen from a wide range of subjects;

4) In some areas there are Middle schools for children from 9 to 13 who then move to senior comprehensive schools.

The school day starts at 9 o’clock and finishes at about 4 o’clock.

Independent schools are payable, fees are charged but there exist government help in providing free places.

Higher education. There are 44 universities in Britain, over 700 technical colleges teaching everything from engineering to satellite communication; many other types of training colleges include art schools, colleges of education for teacher training and commercial colleges.

Universities govern themselves, although they receive most of their money from the Government. Such universities as Oxford and Cambridge are made up of separate colleges where students live and study. The Open University gives education with the help of television, radio and correspondence courses, and a network of viewing centres.

5.3. Read the text for your knowledge. Text d. Drahomanov National Pedagogical University

It was considered till recently, that the history of our university dates from the 15th July 1920, when the Kiev National Education Institute (KNEI) formally appeared, and it was called in the honour of M.P. Drahomanov. But the last decade’s historical-pedagogical researches, scientific conferences and round table meetings admit the fact, that the date of KNEI appearance was falsified. KNEI formation had had more profound historical basis, launched as far back as in 1834 by the Pedagogical Institute of St. Volodymir Kiev University.

In 1920 KNEI inherited from it its premises, its pedagogical and professorial staff, libraries and traditions of teaching personnel.

The date of National pedagogical University foundation is supposed to be the November, 21^st, 1834 (or December, 4th according to the new style.)

Here’s a brief history of the University:

December, 4^th, 1834 (new style) – actual opening of the Special Pedagogical Establishment of St. Volodymir Kiev University;

1858 – Pedagogical Institute had transformed into the Higher two-year pedagogical courses of the St. Volodymir University;

1863 - Kiev Higher pedagogical courses were created on the basis of the Higher two-years pedagogical courses;

1909 - transformation of Kiev Higher pedagogical courses for men into the Teacher Institute;

1920 - inclusion of St. Volodymir Unversity, Higher courses for women (St. Olga University), the Teacher Institute and other establishments to Drahomanov National Pedagogical Institute;

1933 - transformation of Drahomanov KNEI into Gorky Kiev Pedagogical Institute (since 1936);

1935, May – the graduation of the first teachers who were certified by the Pedagogical Institute;

1991 - Kiev State Pedagogical University was created on basis of Gorky Kiev Pedagogical Institute; it received again the Drahomanov title;

1997- The University was given the status of the State University.