Vypracovala: Mgr. Gabriela Cifrová
Most people realise that a good qualification is very important for a successful career. Educational systems and types of degrees differ quite a lot from country to country and each state is responsible for its own educational system.
There have been some serious changes in the educational system in Slovakia in the last few years. The National Curriculum has been changed, a new school-leaving exam has been introduced at secondary schools and many students are taking advantage of studying abroad.
In Slovakia school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16 and parents can decide whether they’ll send their children to a state, church or private school.
There are several stages of education. Pre-school education is voluntary and it includes crèches and kindergartens. It is not only a place where babies and young children are looked after while their parents are at work but it also prepares children for primary education.
After pre-school education, children start to attend primary schools at the age of 6. Primary schools provide children with a general education, with pupils studying languages, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Arts, Religion or Ethics and Physical Education.
When children are in their final year at primary school, they have to choose what type of secondary school they want to attend. Every primary school student has to apply and pass entrance exams before moving on to secondary school.
There are different types of secondary schools in Slovakia: the best students apply for study at a grammar school called gymnasium, which prepares for university study, but business and hotel academies, technical schools and medical schools are also popular. These types of schools last 4 or 5 years and end with a school-leaving exam. Vocational schools and their training centres prepare students for different kinds of professions and study at these schools lasts either 3 years and it ends with achieving a skill certificate or 5 years which ends with a school-leaving exam. At some secondary schools, students graduate after passing final examinations in both theoretical and practical subjects.
Students’ schedule and school subjects differ from school to school. At some schools, there are both compulsory and elective subjects. Vocational school students must also take some practical lessons outside their schools, called the practice.
The school year at primary and secondary schools starts the first week of September and finishes the last week of June. In between, there are a few days off (for example the All Saint’s Day, Easter or the May days). There are winter holidays, which last about two weeks and spring holidays, which last one week. The summer holidays are the longest and last two months. Students get school reports at the end of January and June and are assessed by marks from 1 to 5 (one being the best, five being the worst). If a student gets a 5 in June from 1 or 2 subjects, he can take a make-up exam to try once again to pass.
Extracurricular activities are very popular in the afternoons. There are many different clubs and sports teams at schools, which meet after the classes. Many schools publish their own student newspapers and some have their own radio stations. Most schools in Slovakia have their own gym, school canteen and sometimes a swimming pool, school playground and language schools.
After finishing study at secondary schools, students can get a job or apply to study at university. In most cases, they have to take an entrance exam to get in. Students can enrol in three-year courses for bachelor’s degrees or five-year courses for master’s degrees. A study at university takes 5-6 years and finishes with graduation where graduates are given diplomas to their majors.
Použitá literatúra:
Bérešová, J. a kol.: Nová maturita z angličtiny, Aktuell, 2005
Billíková, A., Preložníková, S. Angličtina – nová maturita – základná úroveň. Enigma, 2008.