Essay

The Slovak System of Education
School attendance in the Slovak Republic is compulsory from the age from 6 to 15. Most children attend state schools, but there are also newly established private and church schools. Education at state schools up to 18 is free of charge but students at secondary schools must pay for their textbooks. Private and church schools charge school fees. All schools are coeducational. Children in our school system do not wear uniforms. Handicapped children are educated separately, but in most of schools they are integrated.
The school year start on 1st September and ends on 30th June of the following year. The school year is divided into two terms (September – January, February – June). A school day is different at different types of schools. The average number of lessons at a secondary school is around thirty a week, primary schools have fewer lessons, while specialized schools often have more. Classes begin between 8 and 8.15 and there are from 4 to 6 lessons in a row, followed by a lunch break, usually 45-minutes long, which is one period, and then afternoon classes. Afternoon classes end between 4 and 5 at the latest. Breaks between the lessons last from 5 to 15 minutes.
Pupils and students are evaluated by marks   from 1 to 5, 1 is the best, 5 is the worst. Each term students get their school report with marks from both compulsory and elective subjects.
Education in our country includes these stages: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary (=higher education).
Pre-school education is provided by creches for children up to 3 years of age and nursery schools for children aged 3 to 6. Not many children attend creches but quite a lot of them attend kindergartens. At 6 children start to go to primary schools and they stay there until 15. At the age of 15 the pupils transfer form primary to secondary school. Some pupils, whose parents wish themto, can transfer to grammar schools at the age of 11 after they have passed an...