Говоримо англійською - 40 розмовних тем - Л. П. Ільєнко 1997

The United Kingdom of Grteat Britain and Northern Ireland
Education

New words and word-combinations to be remembered:

to receive education отримати освіту

to attend відвідувати

a wide range широкий вибір

to enter the university вступити до університету

tuition fee плата за навчання

to remain залишатись

All children and young people between the ages of 4 or 5 and 16 must receive full-time education. About 93 percent receive free education from public funds, the rest attend private fee-paying schools. The average pupil-teacher ratio for all schools is about 17 to 1.

The principal examination, at about the age of 16, is the General Certificate of Secondary Education. A mixture of the advanced level of the General Certificate of Education and advanced supplimentary level (giving opportunities for study in a wider range of subjects) may be taken at 18. It is the standard for entrance to higher education courses as well as many forms of professional training. About 2/5 of all young people get some form of post-school education. About 1/6 enter full-time higher education courses at the 47 universities, 31 polytechnics, 15 Scottish central institutions and other publicly funded colleges. Over 90 percent of students on full-time higher-education courses receive tuition and maintenance grants from public funds.

The public exams taken by British schoolchildren are GCSEs (the General Certificate of Secondary' Education). They take them at 16. Some children take 3 or 4, vothers take as many as 10 or 11. Those who have passed GCSEs may remain at school for another 2 years and take their «A» (advanced) level exams. Any student who wants to go to university needs to pass at least 2 or 3 «A’’ levels.

Answer the following questions:

1. Who must receive full-time education in Great Britain?

2. How many people receive free education from public funds?

3. What is the average pupil-teacher ratio for all schools?