Secondary education in Ireland
To stay at school, as well as to educate in general, in Ireland, are very seriously: it is the highest in Europe attendance. Irish students study more subjects and pass more exams than their British counterparts. The level of training of teachers is high, and therefore is high and the level of teaching. All educational institutions powered by the government of Ireland. Training programs are tested and approved by Ministry of Education.
Education in most primary and secondary schools is free for residents of Ireland, although all these schools – private. Studying at the University also partially paid by the state. Education in Ireland implies a fact that every Irish child starts school life usually at 4 years. Although you can not give the child to the school for 6 years. In elementary school study for eight years.
Boarding Schools in Ireland
In addition to the free primary schools, of which about 3,000 in Ireland, there are a few paid boarding school – they are working on the British system of preparatory schools (“prep” school). In elementary school, the child attend the center of attention. Flexible enough training and educational program is built for a specific student. For each child, use different teaching methods. In the first eight years, children learn English and Irish languages, mathematics, religion, subject called “Society and Environment”, do the fine and applied arts, music, sports. At the end of primary school students do not pass the exams, but the test is usually performed on the overall development and knowledge of the core subjects.
High Schools in Ireland
The academic year begins in Ireland in September and ends in May. In high school Irish children pass in 12 years. In Ireland there are more than 800 secondary schools, 80 of them are boarding school. They all established by the Ministry of Education curriculum for secondary schools. But beyond that, some of them offer the International Baccalaureate program (International Baccalaureate) and the British A-level. Most high schools – private: they are managed by the Board of Trustees, religious community or individual. But they exist on state subsidies. Foreigners have to pay for their education.
Students from abroad are accepted and in private (boarding and day), and in public schools. Public schools receive funding even for international students, so they take advantage of foreigners in the school. Public schools usually take foreign student in a very small charge: it covers the cost of its maintenance, textbooks. We should also pay for accommodation and guardianship: a foreign child who is studying in public or private day school, takes hold on to his Irish family, it can also act as its guardian. Guardians may be special education organizations that define foreigners in Irish schools.
Final Schools in Ireland
Recently in Ireland, there are new schools, so-called “final Schools”, which prepare students for final exams and university entrance. They are particularly suitable for those who can not afford to study in the Irish school from the beginning to the end, but would like to go to the Irish (British or any other European) University. In addition to regular secondary schools in Ireland there are public (community) and professional (vocational) high schools. The first offer academic and technical education. The latter specializes in technical and vocational education. These schools – a mix of night schools and colleges. They are increasingly used for training, trainings, etc.
On the way to the universities of Ireland
Key items of Irish secondary school program – Irish, English and Mathematics. Apart from them, studying biology, chemistry, physics, geography, economics, basic accounting, history, organization of business, commerce, languages, art, drawing, music, physical education. As you can see, a lot of attention is paid to the economic and natural science subjects. Not surprisingly, the strongest and most advanced areas in Ireland are considered to computer engineering technology, banking, medicine and science.
High school is divided into three levels. The three-year junior high school (Junior Cycle) is preparing for the exams at the intermediate certificate (Junior Certificate). Compulsory lower secondary education is over, and the student, in theory, can no longer appear in the school. But if he is going to the university, he will have to study for three years. First is the so-called “transitional year» (transition year): the student is ready to move from junior to senior high school (Senior Cycle). He chooses which items he will be the last two years to study to pass the exams for high school diploma (Leaving Certificate Examinations).
Senior high school program in Ireland generally includes items 6-8 (while in England the last two years at school studied 4-3 objects). The minimum requirement for admission to the university – the highest scores on two major subjects (“A” in ABC). In the best universities and the most prestigious faculties requirements may be higher.