Educational systems
By selecting on one of the countries below you can read about their individual education systems. The information involves from the first year of education up to university level. Because each country is offering a diverse variety of benefits, some may have more appeal than others to individual student.
Austria
Austria has a free and public school system, with nine years of mandatory education. Schools present a series of vocational, technical and university preparatory courses involving up to three additional years of education past the minimum mandatory level. The official foundation for primary and secondary education in Austria is the School Law of 1962. The federal Ministry for Education is in charge for funding and administering primary and secondary education which is overseen on the provincial level by the authorities of the individual provinces.
France
The education system of France is a unified one, with a general structure that consists of primary schools, collèges and lycées. As opposed to the system which was in place until the 1970’s that had an obvious separation between primary and secondary education. Since, France has shown excellent advancement in the development of pre-school education; all 3 to 5 year olds can attend nursery classes.
Germany
The German education system takes on many different attributes than those of Anglo-Saxon countries, but it turns out high performing students. Although education is a role of the federal states, and structure varies from state to state, some generalizations are possible. It is possible for students with the right academic qualities to study into university levels regardless of their family’s financial situation. Regardless of what kind of school a student attends, a student must complete at least nine years of education. If a student drops out before this time they must attend a Realschule or Hauptschule until the nine years are completed. For students that go on to attend one of the many German universities may do so without paying tuition as long that they have proven qualifications through exams.
England
England offers free education for all children from ages 5 to 18, with mandatory attendance until the age of 16. After the age of 16 students take the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam. Students are tested on basic curriculum and one addition extra curriculum subject. Upon completion of the GCSE, students may leave school or attend a technical college, whilst other students continue two more years to prepare for A levels in three to four additional subjects. These exams will establish whether or not a student is eligible for university. Approximately 94 percent of students in the UK receive free education from public funds, while around 6 percent attend independent tuition paying schools. All Government run schools, state schools, follow the same National Curriculum.
Switzerland
The educational system of the Swiss has no central power. Allowing each of their 26 cantons to set up its own educational system and having almost entire control of structuring the schools curriculum. Without a federal ministry of education the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Boards of Education) is responsible regulations where needed.
USA
Approximately 90 percent of students in America under a college level attend a public elementary or secondary school. These schools are funded through local and state taxes as they have no tuition. The American system normally consist of the following: elementary schools run from kindergarten to the eighth grade. Some may end at the sixth grade and these students would attend a middle or junior high school for seventh to ninth grades. Upon completion of these classes the student would then attend a high school for grades nine through twelve.