Educational System of Ukraine

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Educational System of Ukraine

Education in Ukraine is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 6 and 17. There are three stages of education: pre-school education, secondary education and further, higher education.

Pre-school education is from 3 to 6 years of age and it is not compulsory. Parents may give their children to the kindergarten or may leave them at home with their grandparents.

Secondary education is from 6 to 17 years of age. A secondary school is subdivided into a primary school for children aged 6 to 10, a lower (middle) school for children aged 10 to 15 and an upper school for children aged 15 to 17. Primary school comprises grades 1-4. In Primary School children learn reading, writing, mathematics, natural history, music, art, labour, physical training and the English language.

After four years of primary school children go to a secondary school. Lower secondary (middle) school comprises grades 5-9. It has to give the young generation profound and solid knowledge of the fundamentals of sciences. After finishing the 9th grade pupils receive a Certificate of Incomplete Secondary Education and can go to a college of further education to study for more practical (vocational) diplomas relating to the world of work or can stay at school and continue their education in the upper grades for entering a university.

Three types of institutions offer a secondary school curriculum for the upper grades 10-11: the general academic schools; the secondary vocational-technical schools (colleges) and the specialized secondary schools. The core curriculum is similar in all three; however, the present vocational education system covers both general secondary and vocational programmes. In Ukraine there are 778 vocational institutions for more specialized needs, such as agriculture, heavy and light industry, building, services, economy and law. Many Ukrainian children attend gymnasia and lyceums. These schools major in humanities or science. The majority of the schools in Ukraine are financed by the state. Private schools are few in number.

Upper secondary school comprises a 2-year general school (grades 10-11). After finishing the 11th grade students receive a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education which is leading to the Matriculation Examination, giving successful students access to university.

Universities of higher education accept students from 17 basing on their final tests results. Generally, universities award three kinds of degrees: the Bachelor, the Specialist and the Master. Higher education institutions offer a 5-year programme of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course, he or she writes a thesis receives a candidate's degree or a doctoral degree.

In Ukraine there are 232 universities. The most famous Ukrainian universities are Kyivo-Mohylyanska Academy, the Kyiv’s oldest university; Shevchenko Kyiv National University, which contains the National Scientific Library and the Main Astronomical Observatory; and Kyiv Poly­technic University, the largest Kyiv’s university. Of these, Kyivo-Mohylyanska Academy is the oldest outright, having been founded as a theological school in 1632, however the Shevchenko University, which was founded in 1834, is the oldest in continuous operation.