Education in Russia

Every citizen of our country has the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not only a right but a duty, too. Every boy or girl must get secondary education. They go to school at the age of six or seven and must stay there until they are 14-17 years old. At school pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, a foreign language and others.

After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people continue their education in the 10th and the 11th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession. A college gives general knowledge in academic subjects and a profound knowledge in one or several subjects.

After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school or a college, young people can start working or enter an institute or an university. Institutes and universities train specialists in different fields. A course at an institute or a university usually takes 5 years. Many universities have evening and extramural departments. They give their students an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. Institutes and universities usually have postgraduate courses, which give candidate or doctoral degrees.

Education in this country is free at most schools. There are some private primary and secondary schools where pupils have to pay for their studies. Students of institutes and universities get scholarships. At many institutes and universities there are also departments where students have to pay for their education.

Answer the questions:

1. What does the phrase "the right to education" mean?

2. Why is education a duty, too?

3. What subjects do pupils study at school?

4. What can young people do after finishing the 9th form?

5. What subjects do young people study at technical schools and at colleges?

6. What can young people do after finishing the 11th form?

7. What departments are there at institutes and colleges?

8. Do children and people in this country have to pay for education?

Translate into English:

1. Право на образование в России гарантируется конституцией.

2. В средней школе ученики изучают академические предметы.

3. После окончания 9 класса средней школы молодые люди могут пойти в техникум или ПТУ.

4. Там они изучают академические предметы и получают специальное образование

5. Молодые люди могут продолжить образование в 10 и 11классе или колледже, дающим углубленные знания по одному или нескольким предметам

6. Молодые люди, поступившие в институт или универси­тет, учатся там 5 лет.

7. Студенты вечернего и заочного отделений могут получить образование, одновременно работая.

8. Начальное и среднее образование бесплатно в большин­стве школ.

9. В частных школах и на некоторых отделениях институтов и университетов нужно платить за образование.

1. It is never late to learn.

2. God helps those who help themselves.

3. You never know what you can do till you try.