USA - The Education System

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE Education in the United States of America is different in form and content from what we have in India.

School education
School education in USA is for 12 years. American children begin schooling at the age of three or four years and till the age of five years most children attend kindergarten. Elementary school begins at the age of 6 years. Schools follow two patterns : (a) elementary grades go upto class four followed by middle school for 3 years and then comes senior school from grade 9 to 12, (b) in another system elementary grades extend upto grade 6 followed by a combined Junior and Senior High School, i.e., from grade 7 to grade 12. With a secondary school (`high school') diploma or certificate, a student can enter college, university, vocational (job training) school, secretarial school and other professional schools. Some secondary level programs of other countries are recognized as being higher than USA secondary program.
Schools in USA are managed both privately and by the State; in fact the public school system is run by the State Government which controls almost 80% of the country's elementary and high schools. The rest are private schools run by religious organizations or private groups. Public schools in USA are supported mainly by taxation. Private schools get their operating funds chiefly from tuition and contribution of private citizens.

Higher education
Undergraduate Education - Bachelor's degree in USA usually takes 4 years of study. There are Community/junior colleges or technical/vocational training institutions that grant a diploma or certificate which can not be equated with college degrees. Community and junior colleges offer academic and non academic subjects in 2-year programs granting associate degrees in Science or Art. The non academic associate degrees are for immediate employment and can not be transferred as a credit for a 4-year college degree course, where as academic transfer associate degree programs do allow students to transfer to degree courses at a university.

Graduate Education takes 2 years and requires 16 years of education for entry.

University and colleges - University education begins at 18 years after secondary education for undergraduate study. In higher education universities have autonomy to design their programs, curriculum and standards for admission. There is no `national university' or federal education ministry. Legal authority for the governance of most USA higher educational institutions rests with a Board of trustees who are honorary appointees. They generally delegate the day-to-day management to the administrative staff and faculty particularly for curriculum development, instruction and research. Every college or university - whether in a large city or in a smaller community - has a campus on a land which it owns. On this campus are located libraries, classrooms, laboratories, administrative and service buildings, hostels with dormitories, apartments, canteens and staff quarters. Facilities for sports and games, entertainment, e.g., club houses, theatre, student centre, etc. There is generally also an infirmary or hospital and a bookstore along with other special facilities a campus may provide.
A unique characteristic of a USA university campus is that it is a physically and socially unified community within a larger community. This has had a profound influence on the development of an individual's personality. Campus living encourages a close association among the students and the faculty. Many students find this association informal, friendly and supportive.
Generally the administrative organization of any university depends upon the number and size of schools or colleges on a campus. Many universities offer programs of professional preparation and hence have separate schools or colleges such as college of engineering, school of law, school of medicine. Each school has a chief executive officer known as `Dean'. Schools have departments and administrative sub-divisions, e.g., department of computer engineering, department of mathematics, economics and the like. Many universities have a general program called `liberal' program which is a separate school and has departments of subjects such as philosophy, mathematics, history, psychology, etc. The executive officer of each department is addressed as `chairperson' or `head'.

Objectives of higher education - The special objectives which higher education institutions hope to achieve are theoretically and even practically similar to ours in India. They aim to equip students with the necessary skills to take their places in a highly demanding, complex and multifaceted society. The courses have been designed for developing critical and practical skills for being useful contributors to society. They believe in placing greater emphasis on experiential learning through observation and measurement. Hence any student who plans to study in USA must be sure not to expect a directive `spoon feeding' approach in teaching but an approach which demands active participation and a self-steering attitude.

Academic year - The academic year is usually divided into two semesters: Fall is the August beginning semester and spring is the January beginning semester. All universities accept students in the fall semester. Only a few admit foreign students in the spring or January session.
The academic year is roughly 32 weeks long and sessions may begin from last week of August or during September. Each session is divided into academic terms or semesters. A two semester calendar seems to be the most popular option, each semester being of 16 weeks duration. The quarter system has 3 terms in an academic year each of about 10 weeks duration. There is a rare chance for a university to offer a trimester calendar for undergraduate study. In this system the whole calendar year is divided into three equal terms of 12 weeks duration. A few holiday periods range from one week to a month. Most universities have summer programs which last for the vacation period of 6-10 weeks. Many foreign students use this vacation time for planned study to complete a four year course in 3 years.

UK - School Education System

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE:

UK has a long and rich tradition of offering opportunity for study to International students. British education is internationally renowned for academic excellence, innovation, curriculum development and quality assurance.

UK has 2 distinct systems of courses and qualifications: One for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and one for Scotland. These are all compatible systems.

School Education:

School Education in the UK is compulsory for all between ages 5-16, and is imparted in 2 kinds of schools: State funded schools and independent (fee charging) schools.

Primary School education begins compulsorily at the age of five and continues to age eleven. It extends till age 12 in Scotland and few areas of England.

State system: Most children take their primary and secondary education entirely within the State (maintained) system. In England and Wales, the responsibility is given by the Department for Education (DFE) to about 100 Local Education Authorities (LEAs). The State education system provides compulsory schooling from age 6-16 years after which the school leaving exam is taken. State schools funded by the government offer free education. Inspection of schools is a regular feature.

Private sector: There are currently approximately 2,500 non-maintained schools in England, Scotland and Wales providing education to about 7.4 per cent of the total school population. They follow the norms laid for state run schools. The better known of the private schools are also called `public schools'. Most private schools have a selective entry based on academic ability and they conduct classes which are more traditionally organized than those in the maintained sector. The proportion of boarding schools in the private sector (40 percent of the total) is very much higher than in the maintained sector.

Pre-School Education - Preschool education is available in both private (independent) and the state run schools. Children can enter at age 3-4.

Primary School - Most children enter the state run schools at the age of 5 years and go to secondary schools at age eleven. Independent schools admit students at age five and children stay on till age thirteen- Many international students enter at age seven and then transfer to secondary schools.

Secondary Education - All U.K. secondary schools, both state and independent, teach pupils up to age 16 years and prepare them for GCSE or equivalent qualification.

School qualifying exams

GCE O level - In 1988 a major change took place in the British school education system. GCE O-level was replaced by a new examination - the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). GCSE is taken by students from a broader ability range than the GCE-O level and the examination places more emphasis on practical and oral work. Students are judged on the work they have done during the course, as well as the final examination. Although GCSE replaces O-Level in Britain, the A-level structure in British schools remains unchanged.

Post sixteen education

GCE examinations A and AS levels - Student complete compulsory education generally at 16 years and prepare for A levels or equivalent qualification in schools, sixth form colleges or colleges of further education. `A' levels prepares students for higher education.

Students can opt for Advanced Supplementary (AS) levels for higher proficiency levels. They take one or more `AS' levels subject to supplement or substitute an `A' level subject. Vocational courses are also offered at the secondary school stage.

National curriculum - The national curriculum is comprised of core subjects - English, Mathematics and Science and foundation subjects - History, Geography, Technology, Foreign language, Art, Physical Education and Music. Students have to study all these 7 foundation subjects. In Wales students also study Welsh.

In Scotland students study English, Maths, Science, a Modern European Language, Social Studies, Technological Activities, Art, Music or Drama, Religious Education, Physical Education.

In Northern Ireland, students study English, Science and Technology, Mathematics, Society and Environment, Foreign Languages and Creative Studies. The evaluation is at the age of 8, 11, 14 and 16.

Post eighteen education

Secondary education (A levels) usually gets completed by age 18. Students then go for Higher education/further education colleges (for career based courses & some degrees) or in higher education colleges for degree program.

Higher education

Britain has almost 100,000 international students entering schools and higher education institutions every year and is one of the most popular destinations for Indian students. Britain certainly has something glorious and rich about its higher education institutions which attract International students. This tradition, so to say, was set during the 13th and 15th centuries by renowned universities at Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It was in 1960 that a very large number of universities were added to the already existing ones mainly in large cities, e.g., at London, Manchester, Leeds etc. The period between 1960 and 1993 saw no further expansion and what became popular during that time is what could be termed as a `binary' system of education. Polytechnics and universities existed side by side and degrees were granted by polytechnics as well as by universities. This seemed to be an inappropriate structure for higher education and called for reform. British higher education system has hence undergone many changes. The merger of the old universities admission system with that of the old polytechnics has created the new Universities and College Admission Systems (UCAS).

Since 1992 the Higher and Further Education Act has given the right to polytechnics to call themselves universities. In 1993 thirty universities were established. Some of these were polytechnics conducting technical and vocational courses and some non-technical courses. University status was expected to give all courses more value.

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE IN SCOTLAND

Scotland has 2,293 publicly funded primary schools, 389 publicly funded secondary schools in membership of the Scottish Independent Schools Council, 47 further education colleges, 21 institutes of higher education in membership of Universities Scotland and 80 independent schools, numerous training providers and private language schools. Scottish education offers flexibility and breadth of study, and there is a wide range of qualifications at different levels and many different subject from which to choose.

The main organizations involved in Scottish education and training are: the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive which has advisory responsibilities.

After seven years of primary education and four years of compulsory secondary education, students aged 15 to 16 may take the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE). The Scottish Certificate of Education is recognized throughout Britain as the equivalent to GCE A-levels and is usually the entry qualification for university

Scottish enterprise and Highlands and Islands enterprise:

These statutory organizations are responsible for safeguarding employment, enhancing the skills of the work force, promoting Scotland's industrial efficiency and international competitiveness, and improving the environment.

A regional network of local enterprise companies is responsible for business development, administering government-funded training programs, and attracting investment to Scotland. Local enterprise companies work with colleges and higher education institutes to deliver the training and retaining schemes which are part of their economic strategies.

Local government

There are thirty-two local authorities in Scotland and they are responsible for funding and implementing nursery, primary and secondary schooling within their areas. In Scotland, all schools are subject to regular inspection.

The Scottish qualifications authority (SQA)

The SQA is the single national body in Scotland responsible for development, accreditation, assessment, and certification of qualifications other than degrees and professional qualifications. It is also responsible for providing advice as required to the Scottish Executive on Scottish qualifications, and the education, training and assessment which contributes to the achievement of qualifications.

Full information on all the SQA qualifications can be obtained via the SQA web site at www.sqa.org.uk or by contacting: The Scottish Qualifications Authority, Help desk, Hanover House, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 7NQ, e-mail: helpdesk@sqa.org.uk

The Scottish council of independent schools (SCIS)

The SCIS represents over ninety-six percent of independent schools in Scotland. Among its key functions are negotiations with the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive and Members of the Scottish Parliament on behalf of the independent sector.

The SCIS represents around eighty member schools all of which are registered with the Scottish Executive Education Department and are subject to inspection by HM Inspectorate of Education and by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. Most SCIS schools follow the Scottish examination system, and some also present pupils for GCSE, AS - and A-level examinations.

Address for contact:

Scottish Council of Independent Schools, 21 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7PE, e-mail: admin@scis.org.uk, website: www.scis.org.uk

Qualifications in Scotland

The Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) - All mainstream Scottish qualifications are being incorporated into a single unified framework - HE qualification including Higher national certificates (HNCs) and Higher national Diplomas (HNDs), National Qualifications such as Higher and Advanced Highers and SVQs. The SCQF covers all levels from Access 1 (National Qualification) to HE doctorate.

The aims and benefits of the SCQF include:

• Increasing understanding of the qualifications system
• Showing the relationship of qualifications to one another
• Assisting learners to plan their progress from one qualification to the next.
• Facilitating transfers of relevant credit gained from one qualification towards another
• Helping employers plan training for employee's
• Stabilizing links with other framework developments across the UK and also in Europe to facilitate cross - border credit transfer.

SCQF levels are not directly related to years of study. All qualifications awarded by Scottish degree-awarding institutions and those awarded are accredited by the SQA. SCQF credit points are used to quantify learning and give it a value or credit. In common with other credit systems; the SCQF works on the basis that 120 general credit points are awarded for a full year's learning. The SCQF is intended to show the relative size and level of qualifications in the Scottish education and training system in a way which allows a wide range of users to understand the system better, and to track progression routes through the system.