THE CZECH SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

MY SCHOOL.

School attendance in the Czech Republic is compulsory from the age from 6 to 15. Most children attend state school, but there are also private and church school. Education at state schools is free of charge, but at private and church schools students must pay school fees. But also all of the students at secondary schools must pay for their textbooks.

The school year begins on September 1^st and finishes on June 30^th of the following year. School year is divided into two terms (September - January, February - June).

Pupils and students are evaluated by marks from 1 to 5; 1 is the best and 5 is the worst. Each student gets their school report with marks from different subjects.

Education in the Czech Republic includes these stages: nursery and kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, university and college.

A child from one to three years of age can attend a day nursery and from three years of age, kindergarten. This is the first contact with society. At 6 children start to go to primary schools and they stay here until 15. Children learn to read, write and count, later they get acquainted with the basic information of history, geography, foreign languages, natural sciences and the arts. In the final year of elementary school have to everybody choose future school, which prepare him to his occupation. But also pupils in the fifth classes of primary schools can decide to go to grammar schools.

They can choose of variety options of secondary schools:

1. grammar schools which prepares its students for university studies

2. special schools which include technical colleges, specialised in chemistry, engineering etc., business academies, agricultural and nursing schools, music and art schools which offer professional education

3. vocational schools which training would-be workers for their practical jobs.

Secondary school studies last four years. At the end of the fourth year students have to pass a graduation examination, usually consisting of oral and written parts. This examination is taken in four subjects at grammar schools and in five or more subjects at specialised schools. The Czech language exam and a foreign language exam are compulsory. While two subjects chosen from science subjects or humanities are optional. A student chooses one question of 25 to 30 topics and after preparation he have to answered the question in fifteen minutes. If someone do not pass the examination, he could attempt it in second chance in September. After passing the examination student receive the School-Leaving Certificate. From now they can study at universities and colleges or if they do not want, they can go work.

If students want to study at universities or college, they have to successfully pass the entrance examination and interwies in the subjects in which the university specialises. Students can choose school with technical, humanistic or economic orientation, medical faculties or conservatory. Universities have several levels. The lowest, usually lasting three years, is the bachelor's degree and after successfully completing this course of study they achieve the title of bachelor. At teacher's college, upon the completion they obtain the title of master. And after completing studies at an economic or technical college they obtain the title of engineer. The completion of studies is marked by a ceremony called graduation, where they get a diploma certifying the successful completion of our studies.

One of our most renowned universities is Charles University, founded in 1348 by Charles IV. This school was the first university in Central Europe.

MY SCHOOL

Name of school that I attend is Private Cheb School. Its situated on Jánské square number 15. There was a town hall in the past. Our school is divided between primary school - new grey building and grammar school- old red building.

- in each class there is desks, chairs, blackboard

- in our school there is two libraries - but there are not many books

- in old building there is small laboratory, computer room and one of the two libraries; there is also headmaster's office and staff room

- in new building there is very small gymnasium, room for drawing, piano and library

I think our school isn't good equipped. There is missing equipment for example - good laboratory (chemicals for experiments), equipment for exercise and we need more books.

Lessons start at 8.30. We have five lessons, then is a lunchtime - one hour and at 14.00 o'clock start afternoon lessons. So we finish at 15.40 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday and Friday we have up to 13.00 o'clock. At morning we have two lessons of one subject, then one another subject and at last further two lessons. So at this system of education we can repeat new subjects matter, do some exercises, talk about it or if someone do not understand, the teacher have more time to explain it again.

Students are divided between scientist and humanities. It's divided accordingly that students whose like maths, physics, chemistry, biology and they are good or successful in these subjects they intent on science. So they have not learn supplementary studies of history. The same concern for students whose are interested in history, foreign languages.

There is also one problem in Czech education - in state schools are many students in one class, about 28. That problem is solving in our school because we have small classes. So in one class are about 10 students and teacher can dedicated to students and their problems with subject matter.

Presently, my favourite subject is P.T., the subjects I disliked was physics and chemistry.

Vocabulary:

compulsory - povinný

acquaint - seznámit, obeznámit

occupation - zaměstnání

optional - volitelný předmět

completion - doplnění

renowned - slavný, proslulý

further - další

accordingly - podle toho

intent - pozorný, soustředěný

supplementary - dodatečný, doplňkový