10 а (тема 1)

EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

Education plays a vital role in people's lives. Its main purpose is to prepare young people physically, mentally and socially for the world of everyday life and work.

The majority of schools in Ukraine are free and they are financed by the state. Private schools are few in number. Parents pay for these schools. State schools provide the pupils with all the necessary books and equipment for their studies.

Children start primary school at the age of 6. At primary school they get basic elementary knowledge in major sciences. After 4 years of primary school children go to secondary school and begin to study a range of subjects which will form the basis of their education. They study Algebra, Geometry, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, foreign languages and other subjects. All the subjects are important and they all must be paid much attention to. There are also schools which are specializing in various subjects, for example, in Mathematics or in foreign languages.

The school year begins in September and finishes in May. The school year is divided into four terms called quarters. Each quarter is followed by holidays. The scale of evaluation exists in the system of education. It helps to see the level of pupil's knowledge and consider the perspective of their future activity. Parents receive regular information about the progress in studying of their child.

At the end of the 9th form pupils take the exams. They can leave school if they wish and go to a college of further education to study for more practical diplomas relating to the world of work, such as typing, mechanics, hairdressing, etc.

At the end of the 11th form pupils take the final exams and the results of these exams influence for entering the university.

As for me, my favourite subject is English. Nowadays it is impossible to do without foreign languages because of expanding economic and cultural ties of the country with other countries of the world. To my mind, a person can't be a learned and well-educated person if he doesn't know at least one foreign language. I like studying. My favourite proverb is, 'Live and learn'.

My opinion is that the educational system in Ukraine fulfills the main purpose of education. Every year thousands of pupils finish schools with good results and many of them enter higher educational establishments to continue studying. Due to the knowledge the students get while studying, they become skillful specialists in different spheres and make a contribution to the development of their country and society.