Digest on “Profile Education”
By the year 2010 the Ministry of Education and Science is planning to to into Russian
schools a new system of secondary education. There will be 4 variants of curricula:
scientific-mathematical, humanities, social-economics and technical. However, schools will
have an opportunity to choose other areas of study instead of these four. Some specialists
affirm that several schools have already started to apply of this type of education
focused on other areas, for example: medicine, pedagogic, agriculture, etc..
The chief aim of this reform is to prepare the students of the final grades for their
future professions. This means that during the last two years of school children will not
just study standard blocks of subjects, but will have an opportunity to get a deeper
knowledge in special subjects – their areas of study.
The practice of this so-called “profile education” is well-known in
different countries all over the world. But educational standards differ from country to
country. Russia wants to follow the Western direction and implement a new system of
education. But which of the countries should it follow? It’s a very serious and
difficult question. To answer it, I will analyze the systems of education of a few
countries.
The USA
In the USA each pupil of a high school has a certain number of required
courses, such as mathematics (algebra or geometry or trigonometry), one scientific subject
(physics/chemistry/biology), English, a foreign language and the history of the USA. Also
pupils have to choose at least one supplementary subject (World Literature, Economics,
Photography, Arts, Drama, and Music). That is why there are no fixed classes, as in Russia
– the students always study with different people.
Those students who want to continue their education in a college or a
university have to choose a special curriculum with a certain profile, which means that
they’ll have more subjects focused on the chosen profile.
Sweden
Sweden has a very original system of education. Children are obliged to
go through secondary education from 7 to 16 years. If a child reaches the highest results
earlier – he may skip to another level of education, even if he is under 16 years old.
The reason for such opportunities is that classes in Sweden are formed not according to
age, but to the level of knowledge. A child may attend classes of PE with the children of
the same age and at the same time he may be in a math class with people who are 3-4 years
older. This child will be enrolled in a university based on his math results. So it is not
surprising to meet a 14-year old person in a university in Sweden. This system applies to
all subjects, including arts, drama, music.
France
In France, secondary education occurs in two stages. First, the collйges
cover the first four years (ages 11-15), then the lycйes provide an additional 3
year course leading to a baccalaurйat at age 18. The lycйes are divided
into three streams: 1) general (with 3 options – natural sciences, economics +
social sciences, and literature + languages, as a stepping-stone to university degrees; 2)
technological (with 8 specialities from health and social services to agriculture
and environmental science to music and dance techniques); 3) professional
(vocational) for those not going to university (offering a 2-year first diploma, a 3-year
BEP diploma, or a 3-year final Baccalaurйat Professionel).
The college curriculum is typically 26 hours a week. French and
literature, followed by mathematics, have the most allocated time.
Germany
After leaving primary school in Germany children have to select a
certain type of a secondary program. At this moment they have to choose an area of study.
This decision might influence their future lives, because the curricula is very different
in classes of different areas of study. For example, if a person studies in the humanities
class, then he will study maths on a very simple level. If he wants to enter a university,
then all in all he has to spend 13 years at school.
Italy
Secondary education in Italy consists of two levels: basic secondary
(“scuola media”) and high secondary (“ordine classic level scientifico, artistico,
technico, professionale”). After the basic one, children at the age of 14 have to chose
an area of study. If a child chooses one of the first three types, he studies for five
years and then can enter a university. If a child chooses “ordine professionale”, he
studies for three years focusing on a special area of study and has a lot of practical
studies. After that he gets a diploma of qualification in his area of study. If he wants
to enter a university, then he has to attend two more years of studies.
Each type of national education system has developed over
centuries and has formulated its own structural and content features. Reforming it means
changing the whole principles of the country. A reform such as implementation of education
focused on certain areas could be a very risky step – each day the fashion for
professions influences the minds of children. But no one knows what professions will be in
demand in 10 years. So, rejection of the basics doesn’t guarantee success. Maybe area
studies have to be in balance with the basic block of classical subjects? Only practice
will help us to find the best way.
By Tatyana Komarova, Plekhanov Academy
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