EDUC.

302
Educational
System
And
Curriculum in:

Armenia
Argentina
Angola

AIEL L.
ANSAO

Educational System and Curriculum in

Armenia
Armenia's public educational system is manifested in four levels of schooling:
preprimary (ages three to six), primary (grades one to three), intermediate
(grades four to eight) and senior (grades nine to ten). The latter three levels
are often grouped in the category of general education. Public schooling is
free and compulsory until the age of sixteen, essentially through the senior
level. From this point, students undergo testing to help determine their
placement and financial support in either vocational study (two-year
degrees) or from an extensive array of higher education institutions, both
private and public. These are further broken down into baccalaureate (fouryear undergraduate degrees), magistracy (two-year Master's degrees), and
post-graduate (two-year scientific degrees). In sum, Armenia is home to
more than 1,400 schools, not including preschools, kindergartens, and
specialized institutions.
Armenian became the primary language of instruction in 1990, replacing
Russian in this capacity. As with many of the changes that took hold after
independence, teachers were not trained or prepared for this transition, and
the quality of instructional delivery was affected. Of course, new textbooks
presenting the national curriculum needed to be written and printed to
reflect this departure, despite a sharp reduction in school expenditures.
School construction and maintenance expenditures also dropped
dramatically, and outdated laboratory and technical equipment could not be
replaced.
The school year begins for all grade levels on September 1 and is divided
into semesters and quarters. It lasts 30 weeks for first grade and 34 weeks
for the remaining grades. Classes are held in 45-minute intervals. Armenian
language and literature, mathematics, and physical education are taught at
every grade level. Russian, other foreign languages, and electives are offered
beginning in the second grade and continuing throughout the system. The
teaching of natural sciences (including ecology, biology, chemistry, physics,
and astrology) begins in grade four, and the teaching of social sciences
(including history, geography, economics, political science, and law) begins
in fifth grade. Courses in "culture, nature and work" (such as music, fine arts,
drawing, handwork, and life skills) begin in fifth grade and continue
throughout schooling. Military training is reserved for the senior school level.
Grades are calculated on a five-point system. In most areas of the country,

class sizes are set at 25-30 pupils per class at the secondary level, and 15-20
per class in higher education.
To be sure, the educational system continues to undergo a number of
reforms, loosely geared toward addressing the quality and relevance of
curricula, as well as promoting decentralization and parental involvement.
This has required a major overhaul in the system, given that until 1991 the
schools followed prescribed Soviet curricula and methods of teaching and
learning. In essence, this meant that the same topics and methodologies
were employed for all children in all settings, regardless of differences in
demographics, abilities, or interests. However, new approaches have been
introduced which emphasize the development of problem solving and
decision making skills, as well as tailoring educational experiences for
students. As one example, a senior school program with advanced study in
selected
subjects
has
been
introduced.
Read more: Armenia - Educational Systemoverview - Grade, School,
Grades,
and
Level
StateUniversity.com http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/66/ArmeniaEDUCATIONAL-SYSTEM-OVERVIEW.html#ixzz3jk7d4q99

Educational System and Curriculum in

Argentina

Education is highly valued in Argentinian society. The Argentine National

Council of Education sets a standard curriculum that is followed by schools
throughout the country, because it is believed that a national education
system promotes unity.
Kindergarten is optional for children aged four and five. Mandatory
education begins at age six and ends at fourteen. Public primary schools are
free, but there are no public school buses and students must buy their own
For some students, the school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon.
Others attend school between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. When students arrive,
they raise the flag and sing the national anthem. During each session,
they get three breaks of 10 minutes each for recess. In rural areas,
some children go to school on horseback. Some large estancias have
their own one-room schoolhouse for children living on the ranch.
Unless students need to work full-time to help their families, they may
continue their education at secondary school. Those who want to go to
university must attend secondary school for at least five years and take
the bachillerato (baccalaureat) exam. Commercial and vocational
schools are available for those who want careers in commerce,
agriculture, fashion or technical occupations such as automotive
mechanics.
Schoolteachers are trained in an escuela normal (teachers' college).
People who leave school to work may return when they are in their
twenties to finish their secondary school studies. Night classes are also
available for those who work during the day.
Argentina has about 50 universities. About half are public and tuition is
free. The others are Catholic or private universities that charge fees.
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in South
America, with 140,000 students. The oldest university in Argentina
is Crdoba, founded by the Spanish in 1613.
books and uniforms. The uniforms look like white laboratory coats and are
worn over regular clothes. Private schools are often sponsored by churches
or organizations and charge tuition fees. For children with special needs,
there are separate. programs.

Educational System and Curriculum in

Angola
The quality of the schools in Angola is a primary concern for expat parents
moving to this African country. The standard of education of local schools is
well below what most expats would be used to. Adult literacy remains a
problem in Angola and schooling is only compulsory for the first four grades
of primary school.
The consensus among expats is that the public education in Angola is not an
option. The few international schools that do exist are largely concentrated in
Luanda, and even the standards in these institutions can vary considerably.
Angolan law requires international schools to ensure that both expats and
local students (usually the children of high government officials) are allowed
to apply. Security is tight at all schools, so safety shouldn't be a concern.
Most expats seem to feel that the standard of education provided to students
in early grades is adequate, but standards seem to deteriorate among the
higher grade levels partially due to low attendance at high schools in
Angola. Furthermore, class choices and extra-curricular offerings may be
limited, so many families choose boarding schools in other countries to
better prepare their students for university.
Angolan international school classrooms are generally air-conditioned and
have reasonable facilities, with reliable back-up systems for electricity, water
and Internet. Some schools offer cafeteria lunches, while others end the day
early so students can eat lunch at home.
Finding qualified teachers willing to live and work in Angola is a challenge for
all schools. There are few local staff, and most teachers are expats
themselves. The quality of education can be inconsistent because teachers
change from year to year. Students and teachers alike are known to have
visa renewal issues, causing them to miss large blocks of school that can be
difficult to make up.

The school year at Angolan international schools usually follows that of the
school's home country. The school week in Angola runs from Monday to
Friday, while the school day is normally from 8am to 3pm.

Children either go to school with a private car or bus provided by their

parent's employer. Where companies provide a bus from expat compounds,
expat moms often take turns being 'bus mom'. Angolan bus drivers rarely
speak English, so for safety companies often requires a parent on board to
handle whatever comes up in English. The parents usually coordinate the
'bus mom' schedule amongst themselves.

School admissions
Some schools give preference to the children of employees from their
sponsoring companies, so expats should contact their employer to ask
whether they sponsor any schools or can recommend one.
As a result of the limited number of schools and further limits on class sizes,
schools usually have lengthy waiting lists. Expats shouldn't accept an
assignment to Luanda without first being assured of a space for their child at
the school of their choice.
The documents needed to apply to an international school in Angola can
include:

Completed registration form

Medical information and up-to-date vaccinations

Academic records

Copies of the child's passport

Non-refundable application fee

References from teachers and principal of previous school

English schools may require an English-language proficiency test

Homeschooling in Angola
Homeschooling is an option if parents are able to bring the curriculum with
them. That said, Internet service is often unreliable while textbooks and
libraries don't exist outside of schools.