Further education

There is a wide network of further education institutions in Britain. They give students the chance to increase their theoretical background and professional training. Students may get further education after they have passed their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) exams taken at the age of 16.

Further education includes sixth-form colleges and classes where students work for "A" (Advanced) level exams necessary to enter a university. It also includes colleges of further education which provide a theoretical background and professional qualification training in nursing, accountancy, management, art, music, etc. Besides there are some vocational training courses in such fields as engineering, building, secretary skills, hairdressing and others. Many further education courses prepare people for jobs, some lead them to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and other certificates and diplomas. So-called sandwich courses offer students periods of paid work as well as periods of study.

Colleges of further education offer a wide range of part-time courses when students learn their skills at work and get education attending college one or two days a week over several years. Degree courses at universities are also referred to further education. There are more than 500 institutions of further education that offer people part-time courses. Over 700,000 full-time and sandwich course students attend institutions of further education in Britain. A lot of further education courses prepare people for jobs. But they are paid, not free.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions.

1. There is a wide network of further education, isn’t there?

2. When do students get further education?

3. What does further education also include?

4. Do so-called sandwich courses offer periods of study or work?

5. How many institutions are there in Britain?

6. A lot of further education courses aren’t free, are they?

Exercise 3. Prove that:

1. Further education institutions give students the chance to increase professional training.

2. Colleges provide a theoretical background and professional qualification training in different jobs.

3. Besides there are some vocational courses of further education in different jobs.

4. Colleges of further education offer a wide range of part-time courses.

Text 5

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.