III. Further education and training

II. HIGHER EDUCATION

I. SCHOOLS

Over 9,5 million children attend 34,200 state and private schools in Britain. About 93 per cent receive free education financed from public funds, and 7 per cent attend independent schools paid for by fees from parents. There are over 500,000 teachers and pupil-teacher ratio in schools is about 17 to 1. Boys and girls are taught together in most schools. About 90 per cent of pupils in state secondary schools in Great Britain attend mixed ability comprehensive schools. Secondary schools in Northern Ireland are largely selective.

Most state school education in Great Britain is the overall responsibility of education authorities, which are part of the local government system.

Although there is no statutory requirement to educate under-fives, nearly 55 per cent of three-and four-year-olds in Britain attend nursery schools or classes. The Government is introducing a voucher scheme to provide a pre-school place for every four-year-old whose parents wish to take it up.

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During the last period of time higher education, consisting of degree and equivalent courses, experienced a dramatic expansion. The number of higher education students in Britain almost doubled between 1979 and 1993 to 1.5 million, so that today around 30 per cent of young people enter full-time higher education.

There are some 90 universities, which enjoy academic freedom. First degree courses are mainly full time and usually last three years, with longer courses in subjects such as medicine. Universities offer courses in a broad range of academic and vocational subjects, including traditional arts subjects, the humanities, and science and technology. The Government encourages young people to choose degree courses in subjects, or combinations of subjects, that provide the knowledge and skills required by a technologically advanced economy.

About 3.8 million students are enrolled in further education. Much of this is work-related and vocational. Students often attend part time, either by day release or block release from employment or during the evenings. Courses are run by nearly 580 institutions of further education, many of which also offer higher education courses.

A new framework of vocational qualifications, designed mainly for people in work is established. The qualifications are based on national standards that define the competence, knowledge and understanding that employers need.

Exercise 3. Answer the following questions:

1) What must all children and young people between the ages of 5 and 16 receive?

2) What types of schools can you name?

3) Boys and girls are taught together in most schools, aren’t they?

4) Is there any statutory requirement to educate under-fives?

5) What do you know about nursery schools?

6) At what age do English schoolchildren have the main school examination?

7) What do you know about first degree courses?

8) What does the Government encourage young people to do?

9) How many students are enrolled in further education?

10) What opportunities do they have?

11) A new framework of vocational qualifications was established, wasn’t it?

12) What do you know about our school system?

Дата добавления: 2014-12-17