Text A. Secondary Education in Russia

Russia has a long-standing tradition of high-quality education for all its citizens. It has one of the best mass-education systems in the world producing a literacy rate of 98%. Education is divided into a compulsory basic education, and ongoing higher education.

Basic general education lasts for nine years. The graduates are given the Attestat ob Osnovnom Obshchem Obrasovanii (Certificate of Basic General Education). Graduates of this level may continue their education at senior high school to receive secondary general education. They may also enter an initial vocational school or non-university level higher education institutions. Initial vocational school s include professional’noe uchilische which offer one-and-a-half to two years’ purely professional education and professional college s or technical school s which offer joint professional and secondary general education for three to four years and skilled workers’ training at different levels.

Non-university level higher education institutions also offer three- to four-year professional and secondary general education and two-year vocational training for holders of the School Leaving Certificate. Secondary general education on the basis of basic general education continues for two years and ends when students are 17-18. Graduates from a secondary general school may apply to a higher education institution. Secondary education leads to the award of the Attestat o Srednem Obshchem Obrasovanii (Certificate of Secondary General Education).

Read and translate Text B. Answer the questions.

1. What types of higher educational institutions can be found in Russia?

2. What are the peculiarities of these institutions?

3. What levels of higher education are distinguished in the Russian Federation?

4. What does a Bachelor degree programme include?

5. What must students do to complete a Master’s degree?

6. What postgraduate degrees can be taken in Russia?

7. What is the highest degree in Russia?

Text B. Higher Education in Russia

Higher education is provided by state and non-state accredited higher education institutions. There are three types of higher educational institutions in Russia. Universitiesare responsible for education and research in a variety of disciplines. Academies areresponsible for education and research but only in a single discipline. Institutes can be independent structural units, or part of a university or academy and usually specialize in one field. Pedagogical institutes are responsible for all disciplines taught at schools.

According to the Education Act of 2013 there are three levels of higher education in Russia:

• Basic higher education (4 years) leading to the Bakalavr’s degree, the first university level degree.
• A Magistr’s degree (after two years of education).
• Postgraduate higher education. After a Master’s degree, students can continue to study towards a doctoral degree: Kandidat Nauk degree (the first level, equivalent to Ph.D.) and Doktor Nauk degree (the second, highest level, equivalent to Professor).

The Bakalavr’s (Bachelor’s) degree programmes last for 4 years of full-time university-level study. The programmes include professional and special courses in science, the humanities and social-economic disciplines, professional training, completion of a research paper / project and passing final state exams.

Having obtained the Bakalavr’s degree, students may apply to enter the Magistr’s programme. The Bakalavr’s degree is awarded in all fields except Medicine after defending a diploma project prepared under the guidance of a supervisor and passing the final exams.

Access to the Master’s degree programmes is competitive. The Magistr’s (Master’s) degree is awarded after two years’ full-time study. Students must carry out a year of research practice and defend a thesis.

Access to the Kandidat Nauk (Aspirantura) level again is very competitive. Candidates must hold a Specialist Diploma or a Magistr’s degree. Studies last for 3 years. The Aspirantura prepares for research and professorial activities. Students must pass qualifying (Kandidat Nauk) exams. They carry out independent research, prepare and defend a dissertation in public.

The duration of the Doctor Nauk programme is not fixed. It follows the Kandidat Nauk and is awarded after preparation and public defence of a dissertation.

Read and translate Text C. Answer the questions below.

1. What are the three levels of teacher training in Russia?

2. What institutions train teachers for infant and primary schools?

3. What institutions train teachers for secondary schools?

4. What scientific degree must a university teacher have?

Text C. Teachers’ Training in Russia

A very important part of Russia’s education system is the training of teachers. There are three levels: primary / basic, secondary and higher level teachers.

Non-university level educational institutions (technikums and colleges) train teachers for pre-primary (kindergarten) and primary school s. The duration of the course is two to four-and-a-half years. Some teacher training institutions of university level train teachers for primary schools. The course lasts for four or five years. Graduates of these two types of educational institutions may exercise the profession.

Training of secondary school teachers is carried out in teacher training university-level institutions. Now the programme lasts for at least four years.

University teacher s must follow post-graduate training. A scientific degree (Kandidat Nauk at least) is compulsory. Lecturers are appointed on a contract basis.

Read Text D and find the answers to the questions given below. Have any of your acquaintances graduated from this university?

1. When was Moscow State University established?

2. When does it celebrate its birthday? When was it named after the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov?

3. Why can we say that MSU is a major educational institution in this country? How many qualifications does it offer?

4. How many students are there in this university?

5. What educational programs does it offer?

6. What can you say about the entry requirements (вступительные требования)?

7. What structural units does MSU consist of?

8. What confirms the academic excellence (подтверждает высокую успеваемость) of MSU graduates? How many Nobel Prize laureates are there among its professors and alumni?

9. How many buildings does MSU campus have?

10. Who can live in its halls of residence?