Марина (Marina)Every citizen of our country has the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution. Before going to school children under three may attend nurseries and from 3 to 6 - kindergartens. They start school at the age of six or seven and must stay there until they are 15 or 17 years old. At school pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Science, Foreign Language and others.
After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10th and the 11th forms. Children can also go to colleges, or vocational and technical schools, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession. Tuition is free of charge, but some types of schools are fee-paying.
At the end of the 9" and 11"h forms children must pass National Exams.
Higher schools train specialists in different fields. Since the mid-90s, many universities have introduced limited educational programs allowing students to graduate with a Bachelor's degree and then earn a Master's degree.
Many universities have extra-mural departments. There are higher schools which provide distance education. Institutes, universities and academies usually have postgraduate courses which give Candidate and Doctorate degree.