Educational systems

1. Art and Science, THE BEST AMBASSADORS OF THE NATIONAL VALUES WITHIN EUROPE 5th Comenius meeting in Turkey September 2013 Educational systems LLP project number: 2012-1-RO1-COM06-22154 1 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission

2. Study case : educational systems of Comenius partners: September 2013

3. Similarities • General structure : It isnotedthat all partners have a similar structure of theireducational system, i.e. primary /secondary / highschool And universitystudies Nursery schoolisofferedtoowhereasitis not compulsory.

4. A few examples : • Nursery schools do not have anygrading system in some countries like Romania, Lithuania or Turkey and most countries offer a wide range of extra curricularactivities. • Primaryschoolsenrolschildrenaged 6 in most countries (7 in Lithuania, 5 in Italy) • Schoolyearisdivided in 2 semesters in most countries (except for France, Spain and Italy)

5. Differences • however, the respective educational systems are socomplexthatitmakesitdifficult to compare, each country havingtheirownpeculiarities. Wenoted, for instance : • Enrolmentage : nursery schoolstartsfrom 2 or 3 generallywith the exception of Lithuania, where babies are acceptedat 1

6. Differences • Grading systems and Assessments are quitedifferentfrom one country to the other • In lowersecondary, thereis a general exam in moste countries (France, Poland, Italy, …) ; in Turkey students are evaluatedeachsemester ; in Luthuania hte exam isonly on Langage and maths • In highersecondary, some countries have a verylimitednumber of mandatorysubjects, likeLithuania or Bulgaria

7. Differences • Number of students in a class varies a lot • In nrseryschools (15 in Romania to 25 in France, Poland or Italy) • In primaryschoolsrangingfrom 20 in Lithuania to 30 in France or Portugal • Lowersecondary : from 25 in Lithuania to 30 in France, Bulgaria, Spain, Romania or Portugal) and even 33 in Turkey ! • Highersecondary : from 25 students in Lithuania to 35 in Poland, Trukey and even more in Spain…

8. Otherdifferences • Number of classes in a week • Holidays are subject to variations • The duration of a lessonis not the sameeither

9. Primaryschool • In somecountires, the pupilsattendingprimary have to wear uniforms • Most kids have 1 schoolteacher, somemay have additionalteachers for foreign langages or otheractivities • Extra-curricularactivities are varied and widelydepending on teachers • The duration of the schoolyear varies from 32 in Lithuania and Bulgaria to 40 weeks in Turkey

10. Primaryschool • There is no grading system in primaryschool in Lithuaniawhileitisconsisting of 4 grades in Romania ; 5 in Portugal ; 6 in Poland and up to 20 in other countries. • The number of students in a class varies from 20 to 33 in Portugal. • The weeklyscheduleisaround 20 hours in primaryschoolsexcept for Spain, Italy and Portugal whereyoungpupils have up to 33 classes in a week.

11. Secondaryschool • Lowersecondarylevel • In Bulgaria and Portugal 34 weeks per yearwhereasPolishstudents have 39 weeks per year. • Number of studentsis about 30 per class except for Italywith 17 to 28 • Major differences are noted in the subjectsstudied, some countries have very few mandatorysubjectswhereasothers are more comprehensive curricula

12. High schools(highersecondarylevel) • Wenoted a widevariety of routes • Degrees : baccalaureate and others • Vocationalschools : different curricula • Apprenticeship • Exams : some countries have a limitednumber of mandatorysubjects, likeLithuania of Bulgaria (mothertongue, and anyothersubjectstudentmay chose)

13. University • Since 2001, the ‘Dublin Descriptors’ have been adopted as cycle descriptors for the qualification framework of the European Higher Education Area. These are generic statements about achievements and abilities that are expected to be acquired by students at the conclusion of each Bologna cycle: knowledge and understanding; applying knowledge and understanding; making judgements; communication skills; and learning skills.

14. Partner schools : • ” Tudor Arghezi” High School, Craiova, Romania • Servet Çambol İlkokuluprimaryschool,Darica, Turkey • ”Elias Canetti”, Ruse, Bulgaria • Zespół Szkół Józefa Wybickiego, Somonino, Poland • Kursenai Polytechnic School, Kursenai, Lithuania • Lycee Don Bosco, Wittenheim, France • I.T.S. “Maria Letizia Cassata”, Gubbio, Italy • Colégio Casa-Mãe, Paredes, Portugal • IES La Vega de San Jose, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

15. Conclusion • European countries are striving for high quality teaching and learning throughout their education and training systems. • higher education institutions are so varied in their sizes, budgets, missions and objectives, that it makes it difficult to make a plain comparison of national education systems • A generic one size fits all standard of quality teaching and learning in higher education doesn’t exist.

16. Thankyou ! • Written by Sybille Gaertner and Don Bosco team membersuponreview of the partners data obtainedfrom the respective countries • Recommendedlink to the project web page : http://art-and-science.host22.com/ • Disclaimer : this presentation reflects the views of the author, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.