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Learn all about the formal education system in Puerto Rico, from primary education to advanced higher learning degrees, including government learning requirements.

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Education in Argentina is highly valued. The Argentine National Council of Education sets a standard curriculum that is followed by schools and universities throughout education in Argentina.

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— In this city, you have to watch your step.

That's because the residents of Buenos Aires, Argentina, love their dogs, and the city's sidewalks are full of them. Veterinarians work out of street-front stores that often are sandwiched between businesses such as coffee shops and clothing boutiques.

Professional dog-walkers - called paseaperros here - regularly parade through the traffic on crowded sidewalks with as many as 15 dogs at one time, all of them leashed together.

Julieta Kesel, 7, has grown up watching sights like these occur every day on the sidewalks outside the condominium building where she lives. She has learned to recognize all different breeds of dogs - Labradors, golden retrievers, poodles and dalmatians. And every day she asks her mother for a dog of her own. (Julieta's parents think she probably needs to be a little older to have a dog of her own. Plus, their house is small. But neither of those reasons keeps Julieta from asking!)

For now, she owns only the stuffed kind. Her bedroom is home to more than 25 toy dogs. "On vacation once, we found a dog that was lost, and I took care of it," Julieta said. "We found the family, though, so we had to give the dog back. Its name was Spot. Now the name of the black-and-white stuffed dog that I sleep with is Spot."

In addition to her 25 stuffed dogs, Julieta lives with her mom, dad and 4-year-old brother, Santiago. Julieta's mom makes crafts and games for kids and her dad is a furniture designer.

When schoolchildren in the United States are getting ready for summer vacation, Julieta is getting ready for class. South of the equator, the seasons are reversed, so winter comes in the chilly months of June, July and August. And summer doesn't heat up until December, January and February, when the temperature usually hovers around 90. Julieta began second grade two months ago, in March.

Julieta gets up at about 7:30 most mornings to get ready for school. Like most students in Argentina, she wears a school uniform. Her mother or father drives her the 15 minutes to school, where she takes her seat alongside the 25 other students in her class. She studies Spanish, math, art and technology, which teaches her how things are built.

"Last week we made a seesaw, and today we made a toboggan," she said after school one day last month. After lunch, Julieta's classes include music, theater and English.

She doesn't speak much English yet - Spanish is the national language of Argentina - but she hopes to continue to learn it. Because Julieta attends a Jewish school, she also has classes in religion and Hebrew. About 4:30 p.m., the school day ends and Julieta goes home with her mother.

Before she goes to bed, she usually plays with her brother. And before the lights go out for the evening, she almost never forgets to do one more thing: She asks her mom for a dog, again.
Fun Facts

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In this city, you have to watch your step. That's because the residents of Buenos Aires, Argentina, love their dogs, and the city's sidewalks are full of them. Veterinarians work out of street-front stores that often are sandwiched between businesses such as coffee shops and clothing boutiques.

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Students Life in Peru. Peru classroom, learning and free time explained. - CountryReports

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The daily life for students in Peru explained. Includes mornings, school and free time. CountryReports - Your World Discovered!

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Video Version of Pictures of Schools Around the World

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Video Version of Pictures of Schools Around the World

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In the run-up to UN World Teachers' Day on 5 October, Reuters photographers have documented schools around the world. Those featured include an education centre without books and electricity in Vietnam, and an elite institution formerly attended by Winston Churchill and Benedict Cumberbatch

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In the run-up to UN World Teachers' Day on 5 October, Reuters photographers have documented schools around the world

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Have you ever thought about what it would be like to attend a school in another country? It may be very different from your own school. Going to school is important for kids, and schools all share a similar goal - to help children learn skills that will be needed as they grow up. Let's learn more about what a typical school day looks like in countries around the world.
Getting to School
In the United States, some children walk to school, ride the bus or are driven to school by their parents. But in some locations around the world, kids have to take unique forms of transportation to get to class on time. In Peru and Guatemala, many children take boats to reach their schools which can be located on the other side of some of the large rivers and waterways. Children in the Philippines ride to school in a rickshaw, a cart that is pulled by a bicycle or an adult. And in Bolivia, a horse-drawn wagon is used to transport the kids each day. If you're lucky enough to live on an island, you will have to use a small plane to reach your classroom! Students who attend school on Kelleys Island in Ohio and also on the Orkney Islands in Scotland must use a plane for transportation during the winter months or other times their local ferry is not running.
A School is not always a Building
Some schools are located in buildings and have multiple classrooms - but this is not always the case. In many countries, there is not enough money to build a school, so classes are held in a variety of locations. In less populated areas, there is just one large classroom for kids of all ages and grades. Kids in some areas of Kenya attend classes under the trees in their village. Other schools hold their classes outdoors with children sitting on the ground and doing lessons that connect with nature. In Afghanistan, buildings are not available in many locations so tents are used as classrooms. And in some cases, children can attend school on a ship or boat! Some students in Bangladesh attend classes on wooden boats moored to a riverbank. And the kids who travel with their parents on Mercy Ships, which are global hospital ships that travel the world to provide healthcare, do their homework in their cabin or in the ship's library and stop at various ports in different countries to learn their classwork.
What Will Kids Learn Each Day?
There is usually a teacher in the classroom or learning area - after all, what is school without a great teacher? But in some countries, boys must have a male teacher while girls are only taught by female educators. In Iran, boys and girls are educated separately at the primary grades. Once they reach universities, men and women can attend classes together. In Afghanistan, classes are segregated by ninth grade and the girls must be taught by female teachers.

Almost every child around the world will learn to read and write in their native language - and many schools will teach children more than one language. Some schools are not able to afford books for their classrooms, so students must copy their lessons onto chalkboards or notebooks each day. Science, math and computers are also popular classes in many developed countries. For rural schools, classes in farming and animal care are important. And some children help clean their school and care for local animals as part of their school day.
Lunchtime & Recess
No matter where you go to school, lunch is an important part of the day. Your favorite lunch might be peanut butter and jelly - but a "typical" school lunch varies from country to country. For example, in Japan, the kids actually help prepare and serve the food during lunchtime. Sometimes we all enjoy similar lunch foods but have different names for the item. For example, kids in Australia enjoy drinking 'poppers' - in America, we call these same items juice boxes. Rice or noodles are the main ingredient in hot lunches for many schools around the world. Many schools also serve soups. These are popular choices since they aren't too expensive and can be cooked in large amounts fairly quickly so that no one has to wait a long time to eat lunch. And in some countries such as Brazil, children will go home to share lunch with their family before returning to school for afternoon classes. Many schools will also have some type of outdoor play or recess period during the day.
How long is a school day?
Most schools begin around 8 am and end the day around 3 or 4 pm. Some countries also have evening study sessions where kids can return to do their homework after dinner. While many children attend school each day and then go home at night, there are some kids who live at their schools. These are known as boarding schools. If you attend a boarding school, you live in a dormitory and attend classes with other students at the school. In England, there's even a boarding school in a castle - Kimbolton Castle allows children ages 11 and older to board at the historic dorms and attend classes at the castle!

The days of the week that kids attend school vary greatly around the world. In Kenya, Russia and India, children attend school 6 days each week. In Japan, school is in session five days a week plus two Saturdays each month. And until recently, children in France attended school four and a half days each week with a half-day on Saturday and no school on Wednesdays or Sundays.

If you would like to learn more about schools around the world, I would suggest one of these fun books: It's Back to School We Go by Ellen Jackson, School Days Around the World by Catherine Chambers and Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes.

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Exploring Schools around the World - Kids Discover

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Have you ever thought about what it would be like to attend a school in another country? It may be very different from your own school. Going to school is important for kids, and schools all share a similar goal - to help children learn skills that will be needed as they grow up.

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Education and Schools in Mexico | Expat Arrivals

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Info on education and schools in Mexico, including public, private and international schools. Learn about curricula, tuition costs, admissions and enrolment.

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Just like other countries, Mexico has three basic levels of education. The first is required, while the second and third are optional for Mexican children. In secondary school, young people should determine whether they plan on completing higher education or education in some type of technical field. At this point, their decision will guide them toward the type of second-level education plan they need.

Educational System

The first level of education in Mexico begins with preschool, primary and secondary (middle) school. Children finish secondary school when they are between the ages of 14 and 15. In the second education level, young people must choose between a preparatory school, which will ready them for university and a technical preparatory school, which when finished will give them skills to enter the workforce. The third educational level is university and students select either a two-year technical degree or a four- to five-year bachelor's degree program. After completing this they can then do a one-year specialization, a two-year master's program or a three-year doctoral program.

Universities

There are just over 2,000 universities in Mexico, but of those many are very small and of poor quality. Most students go to public university but because of the large class numbers, a select number of private universities are becoming very popular. These private institutions have high educational standards and offer quality educational programs. Given the recent Mexican government focus on higher education and the availability of grants, this option is now attainable for students of all economic levels.

Quality in Higher Education

In Mexico there is still a large difference in the quality of education offered at universities. Some private and public universities are known throughout the world, while others are extremely poor in quality and chosen by students because they are easy to complete. This problem stems from a lack of a national accreditation system, which would standardize the quality of the entire educational system. As a general rule, Mexican universities that are associated with American universities, in both teacher and student exchange programs, have a high standard of education. These universities will be members of the Registry of Excellence Program (FIMPES) issued by the Mexican Ministry of Education.

Evaluation of Studies

As an American, if you want to study in a private or public education institute, and have completed course work in an American university, you will have to have an evaluation of your previous studies. The Mexican university admissions office where you intend to study can help you with this process.

Admission into a Mexican University

Public universities are free but can be difficult to get into because of the sheer number of applicants and if you are accepted as a foreign student, you may have to pay a certain monthly tuition. It is easier to get admission to a private institution, but the average tuition is $11,777 in comparison to $527 for public education as indicated at the time of publication.

stockcam/iStock/Getty Images

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Facts About Schooling in Mexico | Synonym

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Just like other countries, Mexico has three basic levels of education. The first is required, while the second and third are optional for Mexican children. In secondary school, young people should determine whether they plan on completing higher education or education in some type of technical field.

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Understand the timings of the academic year and the daily schedule for primary and secondary schools in Spain...

The primary school day

The school day in most primary schools in Spain is from 09:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:00. There is a two-and-a-half to three-hour break in the middle of the day for lunch and a siesta. Many children go home for the breaks, though children of working parents may stay and have lunch (the comidor) if this is available.

Schools hours do vary; in large cities the break is shorter and the day usually runs from 09:00-14:00. Some schools offer the option for students to arrive earlier, to have breakfast and lunch at the school and to undertake an extra-curricular activity in the afternoon.

Times may vary in September and June when schools are only operational for half of the day, from 09:00-13:00.

The secondary school day

The school day at secondary schools is normally longer than at primary schools, running from 08:30-15:00 or 09:00-15:00, but as with primary schools times may vary greatly from place to place.

After school hours

Smaller towns seldom have after-school clubs or activities, as children are usually supervised after school by a family member if a parent is working. Larger cities may have before and after school programs for students.

Summer school

During the summer holidays, summer schools operated by independent clubs or the town hall are available. Costs and activities vary, though the schools run by the town hall are usually less expensive.

The School Year

The academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June and is made up of three terms, each approximately eleven weeks in duration.

The first term runs from September to December with a two week break ( vacaciones escolares) for the Christmas holidays. The spring term starts after the 6 January festival of Epiphany and runs until Easter (either March or April) with an Easter/spring break of two weeks. The third term finishes mid-June for the summer holidays which last 10 to 11 weeks

Schools are also closed on public holidays when they fall in term time and local religious days and fiestas (holidays vary between the autonomous communities).

School holiday dates are published by schools and local communities.

Transportation

Private and state schools often provide a school bus service to and from local towns. The service is usually very low priced, or free for anyone living over 3.5 Km from school. Contact the school for information on bus stops and times.

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The Spanish School Schedule - Spain - Angloinfo

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The school day in most primary schools in Spain is from 09:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:00. There is a two-and-a-half to three-hour break in the middle of the day for lunch and a siesta. Many children go home for the breaks, though children of working parents may stay and have lunch (the comidor) if this is available.

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The subject of education in Spain is one which can be confusing unless you know the system, how it works and the best way forward for your family. Whether your children are coming from a primary school background, secondary school or higher education background there are ways and means of ensuring the best quality education for them, something which will suit their strengths and build on their weaknesses. However, if you're moving to Spain with a young family it can be very difficult to know where to start and exactly what your choices are.
The education system in Spain
Those of you who have looked at moving to Spain will be well aware that there are large numbers of immigrants and expats in the region which has seen an expansion of English-speaking schools and other more common languages. These sit aside the Spanish primary school, Spanish secondary school and further education facilities offering expats the choice of putting their children into the state run education system, going private or looking towards the international schools. So where do you start?
The school day in Spain
As a starting point let us take a look at the average school day in Spain and what your child can expect when they enrol. While the average school will was start at 9 AM and finish at 5 PM, with a two hour break for lunch, it can vary from area to area as Spain has some very distinct differences between the various regions. Some schools may start at 9 AM and finish at 2 PM with no breaks in between or a mixture of the two.

There are options with regards to lunch which can be taken on the school premises or, as more Spanish nationals do, lunch can be taken at home with the family.
Types of schools available
Before we begin discussing the types of schools available in Spain it is worth reminding ourselves that there are great similarities between the Spanish education system and the UK education system. Over 90% of children under the age of six will attend nursery school before they move to the primary school and over 50% of Spanish students will remain in full-time education up until the age of 18. A further 30% will then move on to university or some kind of work experience training facility.
Primary School
A child living in Spain would be expected to attend primary education, which is compulsory and free, from the ages of 6 to 12. The six years which are spent in primary education are split into three different areas, from 6 to 8 years old, from 8 to 10 years old and from 10 to 12 years old. The teaching of languages will begin in the first stage as the Spanish authorities are keen to begin language classes as soon as possible with English one of the more prominent foreign dialects. Classroom sizes are in the region of 25 students.
Secondary school
Secondary schooling in Spain is also compulsory and free with children expected to attend from the age of 12 years old to 16 years old. A child's time in secondary education is split into four courses and two cycles of two years each during which time students will be giving a grounding in various areas of education to give them a base for the future, whether this be higher education or employment. The average class size at this stage of the Spanish education system is around 30 students.

Each child who successfully completes this stage of their education we receive a certificate of secondary education graduate which will give them access to higher education if they so choose to go in this direction.
Post secondary education
After receiving a certificate of secondary education graduation, a student will then have access to higher level education and two particular options. The first option is the Bacillerato which lasts for two years and offers students the opportunity of further education in the areas of arts, natural and health sciences, communities and social sciences and technology.

The second option is more of a vocational education which allows students to train for particular areas of the employment market and offers on-the-job experience which can prove worth its weight in gold. Children attending this particular level of education will be between 16 years old and 18 years old.
Further education
After completing the various education stages detailed above there is then the opportunity to move on to university and other higher education institutions.
Private education
Private education is becoming more and more popular in Spain especially for those who have moved to the country with young children still at education age. There is a difference between private education and international schools which we will cover in due course suffices to say that private education schools are effectively a fast-track system allowing your children to learn the Spanish language at a greater pace as well as improving their academic skills. While the fees for private schooling in Spain will differ from area to area many have quoted a ballpark figure of around €400 a month for a good quality school which will give your child a good grounding.

International schools

The difference keeping international schools and all of the ones above is the fact that lessons in the above schools will be taught in Spanish and in International schools the main language is English. The cost of an International school can vary widely and it is worth investigating further before you move to Spain to ensure you are in an area where the type of education you require is actually available.

In simple terms, International schools should be seen as an extension of your child's education prior to moving to Spain because ultimately they are removed from the state Spanish system and are very specific in their education techniques with many one-to-one experiences available.
School funding in Spain
As you might guess from the above, the Spanish state education system is funded by the government and free to those living in the country with compulsory school attendance required from six years old to 16 years old. As with the UK, there are also an array of religious-based schools which are also part funded by the state and offer a particular bias towards a certain religion although they predominantly follow the same educational patterns as mainstream Spanish state schools.

As you would expect, those looking towards the private education system in Spain and International school education system will obviously have to pay for this privilege. As we touched on above, the cost of private and International school education can vary significantly from area to area and you need to be aware of the cost in the region you are looking to move to and whether ultimately you can afford it.
The standard of education in Spain
On the whole there is a very high standard of education available in Spain across the board, from the primary state-run schools to the International schools. However, as with countries such as the UK, there is also what are known as "sink schools" which is an unfortunate term but one which you need to be aware of. The massive influx of immigrants to Spain both in the past and on an ongoing basis has in some areas led to a lower level of education for the children of some immigrants although there are plans to increase the standard of education afforded to this particularly group of society.
State, Private or International schooling?
There are many different ideas as to whether the children of expats should attend state run schools, private schools or International schools. A number of people believe that if your child is under 13 then it is possible that they would fit into the Spanish state education system because due to their young age they should be up to pick up the language and academic skills together.

Private schooling is in effect a fast-track system which mirrors the Spanish state education system and will ensure your child is given the opportunity to learn Spanish while also increasing their academic skills and knowledge. Many people believe that International schools are more geared towards those of 13 years of age and over who may find it difficult to learn both a new language and improve their academic skills in the state education system. The bottom line is that nobody wants to take a chance with their child's education and if you are unsure which you should choose then you need to take advice from parties who have been there and done it.
Language issues in Spain
Language barriers in Spain are slightly more complicated than you may think because while there is the traditional Spanish language, a number of areas of Spain also have their own particular language so in effect your child could be forced to learn two new languages and also try to grasp what is actually being taught to them. This is an issue which is more prominent in certain areas of Spain and one that you must be aware of before moving to the country and ultimately choosing the education system and individual school of choice for your child or children.

As you might expect, English is a very prominent language in Spain and one which continues to be promoted heavily by the Spanish government which has promised English language lessons from a very early age for Spanish nationals.
Choosing a school for your child
There are various comments on the Spanish Forum with regards to schools in Spain with many people falling into the same trap of choosing a home first and then looking around to see what education facilities are available in the area. A number of people have commented that the education of their children should come first and many have chosen the area in which they are going to live because of the education system available in the region. It would be wrong to give the impression that there are massive differences in the standard of education across the regions of Spain, although ultimately you need to find a school to suit the needs and requirements of your child.
Financing the education of your children
While finance will ultimately not be an issue if you look towards the state education system, which is compulsory and free, they will be charges if you look towards the private Spanish school sector and International Spanish school sector. How much you are able to pay and how much are willing to pay will obviously vary depending upon your circumstances and degree of wealth, but many people have chosen to buy "smaller homes" in order to ring fence the finance required to see their children through the education system.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding whether you put money aside for educational costs or indeed pay them out of your ongoing income but either way you need to be sure that the funding is available both now and into the future. Places in the better International education schools can be difficult to come by and the last thing you want is to run out of finance and have to move your child into another education facility which will obviously disrupt their education.
Conclusion
We have detailed all of the relevant education facilities available in Spain right through from nursery care to higher education as well as private and International schools. It is also worth remembering that no two regions will offer an identical standard of education and you need to find educational establishments which both suit the requirements of your child as well as your own financial status.

It is hard enough for your children to move to a new country and continue their education, but if they are of an older age they may have difficulty combining the tasks of learning a new language and continuing their education - let alone also learning the various local dialects which are spoken in some areas of Spain!

Do you homework, speak to expats in Spain and remember that your child's education in a
foreign land could be even more vital to their later life than education in their former homeland!

Tagged as: Schools in Spain

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The subject of education in Spain is one which can be confusing unless you know the system, how it works and the best way forward for your family. Whether your children are coming from a primary school background, secondary school or higher education background there are ways and means of ensuring the best quality education for them, something which will suit their strengths and build on their weaknesses.