Education in Our Life

Education plays a very important role in our life. It is one of the most valuable possessions a man can get in his life.

During all the periods of human history education ranked high among people. Human progress mostly depended upon well-educated people. We get our knowledge of this world and life through education. Many famous discoveries would have been impossible if people were not interested in learning something. Self-education is very important for the development of human’s talents. Only through self-education a person can become a harmonically developed personality.

A person becomes a highly qualified specialist after getting some special education. And professionalism can be reached only through it. Even highly qualified specialists from time to time attend refresher courses to refresh their knowledge. 

Education develops all sides of human personality, reveals his abilities. Besides, it helps a person to understand himself, to choose the right way in this world. The civilized state differs from others in the fact that it pays much attention to the educational policy. John Kennedy said: “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education”. But it doesn’t concern only one particular nation. We know that science and art belong to the whole world. Before them the barriers of nationality disappear. So education brings people closer to each other, helps them to understand each other better.

Education In Ukraine

Every country has its own established system of education. Education in Ukraine receives special attention from government and other state or private educational institutions. It is free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 15. Most children start attending a primary school at the age of 6. However, there are a number of pre-school opportunities. Some busy parents take their children to the nursery, starting from 2 years old. There is also a chance to attend private kindergartens before going to school. They usually require a certain fee. Next step is primary education, which lasts for 4 years. At the age of 10 they can proceed to the secondary school, which lasts for 5 years. It’s a compulsory level. At the end of this stage children have to pass a number of state exams. This usually includes Ukrainian language and literature, Maths, foreign languages and natural sciences. The third level of school education lasts for two years and is optional. Some children choose to go to vocational schools or colleges. Such education may last for 3-4 years and require additional fee. Most Ukrainian teenagers today choose to continue their studies at the higher education institutions. Tertiary education may last up to 6 years. Universities in the country are either privately or state funded. Students from rural areas are allowed to get subsidized housing. Postgraduate education is also available in Ukraine. Those, who wish to continue studying after they’ve obtained a Master’s or a Specialist’s Degree, can enter the postgraduate school, called aspirantura. 

The Educational System in Ukraine

Ukraine has got rather developed system of education. General secondary education is free and compulsory. There are many gymnasiums, lycees and private schools in Ukraine. The secondary school must secure a uniform level of knowledge necessary for each student. Post-secondary education is provided by technical schools, colleges and institution of higher learning: universities, academies and institutes. At each institute or university there is a post-graduate course with postgraduates working for their scientific degrees.

There are many scientific, educational and academic centres in Ukraine. Kyiv with its famous National University named after T. Shevchenko, Polytechnic University, Kyivo-Mohylyanska Academy which resumed its work in 1991. There are three faculties in the Academy now: the humanities, social and national sciences. Lviv is the leading scientific and cultural centre of Western Ukraine. It has a number of research institutes of high level.

Kharkiv University has 10 faculties: mechanics-mathematics, physics, physics-technology, radio-physics, chemistry, biology, economics, history, philology and foreign languages. Ukraine numbers a total of 1.5 million college and university students. Graduates from the Ukrainian institution of higher learning become famous writers,prominent diplomats, economists, chemists, mathematicians and others.

Questions:

1. The general educational school Ukraine has three stages, hasn"t it?

2. The education is free, isn"t it?

3. What is Kyiv famous for?

4. What is the leading scientific centre of Western Ukraine?

5. How many faculties are there in Kharkiv University?

Vocabulary:

free — безкоштовний

compulsory — обов"язковий

uniform level — єдиний рівень

humanities — гуманітарні науки

to resume — відновлювати

post-secondary education — вища освіта