The system of education in Russia

     The system of education in Russia.

     With a literacy rate close to 100%, Russia shows its great concert about education. According to the constitution, russian education is free and compulsory. It lasts for 9 years, from the age of 7 up to the age of 16.

     Education in Russia is split into a compulsory Basic Education and ongoing Higher Education.

     A  compulsory Basic Education includes: pre-school, elementary, basic and secondary  general education.

     First is Pre-school education. Children from the age of 2 up to the age of 7 attend kindergarten. They are taught the basic knowledge of writing, reading and counting, as well as music and drawing.

     At the age of 7, children enter primary school which lasts for 4 years, from the the 1^st to the 4^th grade. By the end of the 4^th grade children get elementary general education. It has to be mentioned that if parents want their child to get a high standard of knowledge they can send him/her to the private school. But for this type of education parents will have to pay their money.

     Then they enter secondary school which lasts from the 5^th to the 9^th grade.During these 5 years students are getting the basic general education. Graduates of this level have an option of continuing their education at a senior high school or going to the vocational school. Vocational School is PTU (Professional'no-technicheskoe uchilische), it offers 1,5 to 2 years of  professional education. Those who decided to stay at the senior high school will  get secondary general education, which leads to the award of the Certificate of Secondary Complete General Education. It lasts for 2 years from the 10^th to the 11^th grade. At the end of the 11th grade, all students must take an exam called Unified State Exam including mathematics, Russian, literature and 2 others subjects chosen by the applicants.

     Having graduated from school, students may get a higher education. They may apply for entrance to a higher education institution, like an institute or university. It is significant to know that today the system of higher education is changing because Russia has entered the Bolonian process not so long ago. That is why today basic higher education includes the Bachelor's degree program. It lasts for 4 years and includes professional and special courses in Science, Social-economic disciplines, professional training, completion of a research project and passing State final exams. Having obtained the Bachelor's degree, students may apply to enter the Master's degree program. The Master's degree is awarded after successful completion of two years of full-time study. Students must carry out a year of research, prepare and defend a thesis.

     After a Master's degree, students can get a post-graduate education, studying towards a doctoral degree: Kandidat Nauk degree (the first level, equivalent to doctor of philosophy) and Doktor Nauk degree (the second, highest level, equivalent to Professor).

            In conclusion I want to say that whatever type of education person chooses, this education cannot be taken away from him- it becomes a part of the person and changes him, bringing self-confidence, curiosity, joy, creativity, and responsibility.