27. Education in australia

Tuition in state schools is free of charge. Private schools charge fees, and high ones.

During the whole history of Australian education the various states have opposed the federal government's intervention in the organization of education, wishing to preserve the character and independence of their individual system.

The demand for centralized nation system to administer and organize education became especially strong in the 70s, and led to the separation of the Federal Ministry of Education from the former Federal Ministry of Science and Education.

However, the educational policy of the federal government left the school system practically untouched. There are still many differences in the structure and the curricula of schools in the various states, which hamper the development of a national educational policy.

The financing of schooling is a direct reflection of the policy of the ruling classes of Australia. The government assigns 47 per cent of its expenditure on education for state schools, and 53 per cent – for private schools.

It should be mentioned, that 80 per cent of Australian children attend the state schools, while private schools are attended by only 20 per cent.

School education is obligatory for all Australian children from 6 to 15 years old (16 in Tasmania). At present the school education scheme is "6-4-2" in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania*. In Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia the scheme is "7-3-2."

After finishing the six- or seven-year primary school all pupils pass to secondary school without examination. Then follows a four- or three-year obligatory course in the Junior High School.

Students completing the two-year Senior High School course may enter any higher education institution in the country. There is a trend to cancel final examinations in both Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, so that all pupils, irrespective of the academic abilities or material means should have the opportunity of receiving free, complete preschool, primary and secondary education.

Assignments:

1. Find in the text the English for:

обучение, взимать плату, противостоять, вмешательство, сохранить, централизованная государственная система, управлять, бывший, задерживать развитие, прямое отражение чего-л., затраты, государственные школы, посещать школу, обязательный, следовать за чём-л., отменить, независимо от, полное образование.

2. Arrange A and В in pairs of synonyms:

A. tuition, primary schools, abilities, to administer, trend, to wish, ' various, curriculum, to go to school, to finance, to pass to, to complete, scheme, institution.

B. to govern, education, different, structure, to want, syllabus, to subsidize, to attend school, to transfer, to finish, establishment, tendency, capacities, elementary school.

3. Arrange A and В in pairs of antonyms:

A. final examinations, private schools, weak, obligatory, to finish school, senior, free, high, adults, direct, to pass to, dependence.

B. strong, to enter school, optional, to stay at, state-run schools, junior, fee-paying, low, children, indirect, entrance examinations, independence.

4. Speak on the structure of education in Australia.

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* There are six states in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.