Education system in Belgium Education in Belgium is

Education system in Belgium

Education in Belgium is regulated and for the larger part financed by one of the three communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. All three communities have a unified school system with small differences from one community to another.

Education in Belgium is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 18 or until one graduates from secondary school.

Pre-school Free pre-primary schooling (Dutch: kleuteronderwijs; French: enseignement maternel; German: Kindergarten) is provided to every child from the age of 2 years 6 months. In most schools the child can start in school as soon as they reach this age, so class size for the youngest children grows during the year.

Primary school (Dutch: lager onderwijs; French: enseignement primaire; German: Grundschule) consists of six years and the subjects given are generally the same at all schools. Primary schooling is free and age is the only entrance requirement.

Primary education is divided into three cycles: First cycle (year 1 and 2) Second cycle (year 3 and 4) Third cycle (year 5 and 6)

School usually starts about 8: 30 and finishes around 15: 30. A lunch time break is usually provided from 12: 00 to 13: 30.

Secondary education When graduating from primary school around the age of 12, students enter secondary education. Here they have to choose a course that they want to follow, depending on their skill level and interests.

Secondary education consists of three cycles: First cycle (year 1 and 2) Second cycle (year 3 and 4) Third cycle (year 5 and 6)

Secondary school is divided into four general types. Each type consists of a set of different directions that may vary from school to school. The general types are as follows: § General Secondary Education A very broad, general education, preparing for higher education. §Technical Secondary Education • Vocational Secondary Education Very practical and very job specific education. §Art Secondary Education These schools link general and broad secondary education development with active art practice, ranging from performance arts to display arts.

Higher education In Belgium anybody with a qualifying diploma of secondary education is free to enroll at any institute of higher education of their choosing. The 4 major exceptions to this rule are those wanting to pursue a degree in: Medicine/Dentistry Arts Engineering Sciences Management Sciences

Education system in Bulgaria

THE STRUCTURE The structure of the educational system in Bulgaria comprises the following levels Pre-school education Basic School education Higher education Secondary education

According to the type of instruction and the educational level, schools are: ü Primary: grade 1 through grade 4; ü Lower secondary: grade 5 through grade 8; ü Basic: grade 1 through grade 8; ü Upper secondary schools, also called high schools: grade 9 through grade 12; ü Specialized upper secondary schools/Specialized high schools; ü Secondary general schools, grade 1 through grade 12; ü Vocational upper secondary schools - grade 8 or 9 through grade 12 or grade 13; ü Vocational schools: from grade 7 or grade 9 with a three-year training course; from grade 9 with a four-year training course; and profesionalni kolezhi (vocational colleges) with a course of study of up to two years; ü Sports schools; ü Arts schools; ü Special schools.

According to the way of funding, schools are: üState- State schools, which are of national importance and are funded by the national budget üMunicipal - Municipal schools are of local importance and are funded by the municipal budget üPrivate - Private schools are not funded by the state or municipal budget and pupils pay fees for their education.

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION Pre-primary education embraces children between 3 and 6/7 years old. Optional kindergarten education is provided for children between three and six years old. However, prior to starting school, children must attend a one-year pre-school program.

BASIC EDUCATION Basic education (1 -8 grades) in Bulgaria comprises: ü primary school (grades 1 -4) ü pre-secondary school (grades 5 -8). Within the framework of the same educational level additional vocational qualification could be obtained by running vocational-technical programmes upon completion of grades 6, 7 or 8. Learning resources /text books/ are free and are provided by the school. After successful completion of grade 4, a Certificate of Primary Education is issued. A Certificate of Basic Education is issued after successful completion of grade 8.

SECONDARY EDUCATION Secondary education in Bulgaria can be divided into secondary general /comprehensive and profile-oriented/ and vocational.

GRADING SYSTEM Usual grading system in the school Full Description: 2 -6; 6: otlichen (excellent); 5: mnogo dobur (very good); 4: dobur (good); 3: sreden (sufficient); 2: slab (poor). Highest on scale: 6 Pass/fail level: 3/2 Lowest on scale: 2

HIGHER EDUCATION The types of higher education institutions are Universities, Colleges and Specialized Higher Schools. The university type of higher education is provided at the universities and the specialized higher schools – academies, institutes. It includes the followings stages: First stage – a course of study of at least 4 years, leading to a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation; Second stage – a course of study of at least 5 years, or 1 year following a Bachelor’s degree, leading a Master’s degree upon graduation; Third stage – a three-year course of study upon obtaining a master’s degree, leading to a Doctor’s degree.

School system in Italy

ITALIAN SCHOOL STRUCTURE nursery school (scuola dell’infanzia) Age 3 -5 primary school (scuola primaria o elementare) Age 6 -11 lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado o media) Age 11 -14 upper secondary school (scuola secondaria di secondo grado o superiore) Age 14 -19 university (università)

Nursery school § § The scuola dell'infanzia is the first stage of the education (children from three to five years ) and training system and it is not compulsory. Pre-primary education is offered free of charge. Families are asked to pay a sum for transport and canteen services. Families with low incomes are exempted.

Primary school (scuola primaria o elementare) § § Primary school, begins at age six and continues for five years. Class sizes generally run about twenty five children per class with a minimum of ten students. In villages with not many people there are pluriclassi, or mixedlevel classes, that have between six and twelve students. Schooling and textbooks are free. Students with special needs are integrated into mainstream education and specialist support is provided.

Lessons must be spread on no less than 5 days a week. Schools have autonomy in the organisation of the daily timetable § § § Starting from the first grades of primary schools, families choose among the following models of weekly timetables: 24 hours a week; 27 hours a week; up to 30 hours a week, including teaching activities additional to the 27 -hour timetable 40 hours a week, the time devoted to canteen included, corresponding to the so called 'full timetable'. The timetable is chosen by parents at enrolment.

lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado) § § § Lower secondary school is attended by students from eleven to fourteen years old. Formerly at age fourteen, compulsory education was considered complete. Nowadays compulsory education last until sixteen years. While the schooling is free, books must be purchased at the secondary level. Class size is about 20 students per class but in large cities there are eve 30 - 35 students per class. Together with compulsory primary school, lower secondary school makes up the first cycle of education which lasts eight years

In the lower secondary school curriculum includes: religion, italian language, english language, a second foreign language, history, geography, science, math, technology, information technology, art and drawing, music and physical education. Students must take and pass an exam before moving up to upper secondary school

Upper secondary school last 5 years and is addressed to students from 15 to 19 years of age. Upper schools are currently divided in the following way: § Classical upper secondary school § Scientific upper secondary school § § Liceo Classico Liceo Scientifico Linguistic upper secondary school Liceo Linguistico Upper secondary school with a sociological and pedagogical orientation Liceo Psico-pedagogico § Art school Liceo Artistico

Licei are more academic and usually prepare students to the university studies. Istituti are essentially divided in Technical school Istituti Tecnici Vocational school Istituti Professionali Technical school prepare students to work in agriculture, industry, commerce, administration and marketing Vocational school offers vocational training for various jobs. (enology , gastronomy, tourist promotion, social health

After completing upper secondary school, students must pass another exam in order to receive their Diploma di Maturità. Once they have their diplomas, they either begin their careers in their professions or move on to the University.

Education system in Poland

COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN POLAND LASTS 12 YEARS; FROM AGE 6 TO 18 The Polish education system is based on three stages: primary, secondary and higher education

Structure of educational system 1 • Pre-school education 2 • Primary school 3 • Gymnasium 4 • Secondary schools 5 • Post secondary and higher education

The school year (ten months) is divided into two semesters. One lesson lasts 45 minutes Grades: 1 niedostateczny, insufficient 2 dopuszczający, passing 3 dostateczny, sufficient 4 dobry, good 5 bardzo dobry, very good 6 celujący, excellent

Primary School Length of program in years: 6 Age level from: 7 to: 13 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia szkoły podstawowej - Certificate of Completion of Primary School Education Primary School ends one exam from science and arts objects.

Two cycles of primary education grades 1 -3 • the first cycle at which beginning learning is offered, • In the lower grades one teacher teaches all subjects grades 4 -6 • the second cycle at which systematic learning is provided. • In the higher grades each subject has a different teacher

The main components taught at the lower level of the primary school are: -Polish language, -social and natural environment, -mathematics, -crafts and technology, -art and music, -physical education.

Gymnasium (Lower Secondary School / Junior High School) Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 13 to: 16 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia gimnazjum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Gymnasium) They must write in third class three examinations (Polish and History, Maths and Science and Foreign Language).

After gymnasium After completing elementary school pupils can choose different secondary education, which is free of charge. General secondary schools provide graduation certificate of general education. Those who have passed the final examination called „matura” (maturity exam) may apply to universities. Those who do not want to study at university and those who have not taken the „matura” examination may continue their education in post-secondary vocational schools.

Basic Vocational School Length of program in years: 2 Age level from: 16 to: 18 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia szkoły zasadniczej (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Basic Vocational School)

Technical Secondary School Length of program in years: 4 Age level from: 16 to: 20 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości technikum (Maturity Certificate of the Technical Secondary School) or świadectwo ukończenia technikum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Technical Secondary School)

General Lyceum (Upper Secondary school / Grammar School / High School) Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 16 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości liceum ogólnokształcącego (Maturity Cetificate of the General Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum ogólnokształcącego (Certificate of Completion of Education in the General Lyceum)

Specialized Lyceum Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 16 to: 19 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzałości liceum profilowanego (Maturity Certificate of the Specialized Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum profilowanego (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Specialized Lyceum

Higher education After secondary school students can take higher education. There are various types of higher education institutions in Poland: -universities, -polytechnics, -economic academies, -agricultural academies, -others. Day studies in state higher schools are free of charge.

The structure of studies Since 2007/2008 academic year Polish higher education system has been divided to three stages: Bachelor (Licencjat, Inżynier) Master (Magister) Doctor (Doktor) This system applies to all fields of education except Law, Pharmacy, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Dentistry, which are still based on two-stage system (Master and Doctor).

Financing of public schools National government (Ministry of Finances) Local government (Municipalities, Poviat, Voivodship) Schools

Education in Portugal

Portuguese Educational System The Portuguese educational system is structured in four levels Pre-school - not compulsory and for children from the age of 2 to 5 Basic - organized in three cycles 1 st Cycle - 4 years of schooling 2 nd Cycle - 2 years of schooling 3 rd Cycle - 3 years of schooling Secondary - 3 years of schooling Higher Children start school at the age of six years old Minimum schooling of 12 years - leaving at 17 years old Schooling is universal, compulsory and free

Portuguese Educational System Pre – School Education from 3 to 5 years old children can attend : public, private or co-operative schools the attendance is optional

BASIC EDUCATION 1 st Cycle 6 to 9 years old 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th grades Providing a rounded education, with students taught by a single teacher (who may be assisted by others in specialist areas). Marks are given in the form of written report (25 hours a week) SUBJECTS * Portuguese Language * (Physical and Social) Environment Study * Mathematics * English (compulsory starting from 2005 -2006) * Other Subjects like Physical Education, Musical Education, Catholic Moral and Religious Education, (or other confessions) are taught too, but are noncompulsory and according to school resources

BASIC EDUCATION 2 nd Cycle 10 to 12 years old 5 th 6 th grades The learning process is organised into interdisciplinary areas (basic level), mostly with one teacher for each subject or group of subjects. Marks are given on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 the worst * 5 the best) (31 hours a week) SUBJECTS * Portuguese Language * Mathematics * History and Geography of Portugal * Foreign Language I / English or French (levels 1 and 2) * Natural Sciences * Visual and Technological Education (Arts and Crafts) * Physical Education , * Musical Education * Personal and Social Development or Catholic Moral and Religious Education (or other confessions) –facultative * Project Work , Guided Study, Civic Education

Organised around a unified curriculum, including a variety of vocational areas, with one teacher for each subject or group of subjects. Marks are given on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 the worst * 5 the best) BASIC EDUCATION 3 rd Cycle 13 to 15 years old 7 th 8 th 9 th grades SUBJECTS * Portuguese Language * Mathematics * Foreign Language I / English or French (levels 3 and 4) * Foreign Language II / French, Spanish, German or English (levels 1 and 2) * Natural Sciences * History * Geography * Physics and Chemistry * Arts * Another artistic subject ( Music, Theatre, Dance. . . ) * Technological Education (Crafts) * Physical Education Personal and Social Development or Catholic (or other confessions) Moral and Religious Education - Facultative Project Work * Guided Study * Civic Education 9 th Year -same subjects, plus: Information and Communication Technologies. Option between Arts, Music/Theatre or Dance and Technological Education.

Through Basic Education When a student is in danger of having to repeat the year students must have a “recovery plan“ and extra lessons ( facultative) Students fail the school year if they obtain a mark less than 3 in more than three subjects ( final of each Cycle). They fail (in the final of each year ) if they get less than 3 in Portuguese and Maths

SECONDARY EDUCATION 10 th grade 11 th grade 12 th grade higher education-oriented - general secondary courses work-oriented - technological secondary courses Both courses share the following subjects known as General Formation * Portuguese Language * Philosophy * Physical Education (compulsory only in Portugal and the UK) * Foreign Language I or II (10 th and 11 th grades) * Information and Communication Technologies (10 th year) * Personal and Social Development or Catholic Moral and Religious Education (or other confessions)-facultative

higher education-oriented - general secondary courses 5 areas * Sciences and Technologies * Social and Human sciences * Socio-Economic Sciences * Languages and Literature * Visual Arts. work-oriented - technological secondary courses * Civil Construction * Electronics * Computing * Equipment Design * Multimedia * Marketing * Administration * Environment and Territory Order * Social action * Sport

HIGHER EDUCATION University Education Polytechnic Education * Post Graduation Courses * Master’s Degrees * Doctorate

EDUCATION IN TURKEY

Formal Education The new system of 4+4+4 has been implemented on 12 April 2012 5 years-old: Primary School (ilkokul) begins. School attendance compulsory. 9 years-old: Secondary School (orta okul) begins. Students asked to make pathway choices. School attendance compulsory. Religious high school an option. 12 years-old: Tertiary School (lise) begins. Distance education, religious high school an option.

Pre-primary Education Pre-Primary education includes the optional education of children between 36 -72 month who are under the age of compulsory primary education. Pre-Primary education institutions, independent nurseries are opened as nursery classes and practical classes within formal and non-formal education institutions with suitable physical capacity. The purpose of Pre-Primary education is to ensure physical, mental and sensory development of children and the acquisition of good habits, to prepare children for primary education, to create a common atmosphere of growth for those living in inconvenient circumstances and to ensure that Turkish is spoken correct and well.

SBS EXAM (Level Placement Exam) When students start studying the 6 th grade, they start preparing themselves for the national level placement test. At the end of 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade, each student take this exam and at the end of 3 rd year, according to the total marks of their SBS exams, students choose which high school they would like to study at. After primary education, students have a lot of different choices about the high school that they can go.

After the SBS exam, according to their wish and of course the total marks of their exam results, they may choose to study at; General High scools Vocational High Schools Anatolian High schools Science High schools.

EDUCATION SYSTEM AND TRANSITIONS HIGHER EDUCATION DIPLOMA GRADE 11 GRADE 10 GRADE 9 (COMMON) CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 VOCATIONAL EDUCATION GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION GRADE 12 GRADE 11 Make-up Training L A B O R Opportunit y of changing field GRADE 10 CERTIFICATE M A R K E T CERTIFICATE GRADE 9 (COMMON) PRIMARY SCHOOL ADULTS

General High Schools (High School / Lycee) The purpose of secondary education is to give students a minimum common culture, to identify individual and social problems, to search for solutions, to raise awareness socio-economic in order to contribute to the and cultural development of the country and to prepare the students for higher education, for profession, for life and for business in line with their interests and skills.

In these schools, the system of one teacher for each class changes to a specialist teacher for each subject. Students can choose one foreign language from English, French or German. Religious Education lessons, depending on the present government’s policy, is often optional, and is actually a comparative study of religions rather than only of Islam. They have a 4 -year curriculum and prepare children for future higher education.

Anatolian High Schools These were established for the purpose of teaching students at least one foreign language, which they can utilize to further their education in the best possible manner. The educational period inclusive of secondary schooling covers 5 years with a one year preparatory course. (preparatory is up to students’ level of foreign language) Aside from foreign language lessons the normal lycee programme is implemented with science and mathematics lessons given in English

Science High Schools They give 4 - year education on the fields of Science and Mathematics. Students who got the top points from SBS exam, can be placed in these schools.

Vocational High Schools The tuition period is five years including a oneyear preparatory course. Students are taught a minimum of one foreign language in addition to the lessons included in the Science Lycees. The professional industrial training prepares them for higher education and their future work. The programmes in these lycees include training in computers, electricity courses, journalism, construction, mechanics, remote control methods, electronics in medicine, aircraft engines and architecture