Education in Russia.

Citizens of Russia have the right to education which is guaranteed by the
Constitution. The public educational system in our country incorporates pre -school, general school, specialized secondary and higher education.
Pre-school consists of kindergartens and creches. Children there learnreading, writing and arithmetic. But pre-school education isn't compulsory
- Children can get it at home.
Compulsory education is for children from 6 (7) to 17 years of age.
The main link in the system of education is the general school whichprepares the younger generation for life and work in modern production.
There are various types of schools: general secondary schools, schoolsspecializing in a certain subject, high schools, lyceums and so on. Tuitionin most of them is free of charge, but some new types of schools are fee -paying. The term of study in a general secondary school is 11 years andconsists of primery, middle and upper stages. At the middle stage of asecondary school the children learn the basic laws of nature and society atthe lessons of history, algebra, literature, physics and many others.
After 9th form pupils have to sit for examinations. Also they have a choicebetween entering the 10th grade of a general secondary school and enrolingin a specialized secondary or vocational school.
Persons who finish the general secondary school, recieve a secondaryeducation certificate, giving them the right to enter any highereducational establishment. Entrance examinations are held in July and
August. Institutions are headed by rectors; the faculties are headed by thedeans. One has to study in the institute for 5 years. Higher educationalinstitutions train students in one or several specializations.