澳大利亚教育

Ladies and Gentlemen，

My topic today is Education in Australia．In Australia，each state and territory has its own primary and secondary education system．Standards，however，are high and reasonably uniform．

女士们先生们，今天我的话题是澳大利亚的教育。在澳大利亚，每个州或特区都有自己的初级和中级教育系统。其标准较高，并且有适度的一致性。

Within each state and territory system there are two main types of school—government and non-government.

在每个州或的教育系统中主要有两种形式的学校——政府和无政府

In government schools，attended by about two thirds of children，tuition is free．About three-quarters of the non-government schools are Catholic．Most non-government schools charge fees．

在约有三分之二的孩子上学的政府学校中，是无须学费的。约有四分之三的无政府学校是天主教的，大部分无政府学校会收取费用，

Although the states and territories are responsible for all education，the federal government provides most funding for higher education.

In 1989，it set up a system under which undergraduate and postgraduate students must make a financial contribution toward the cost of their study．

尽管州和特区对所有教育负有责任，联邦政府提供了大部分更高等教育的资金。在1989年，联邦政府设置了一个系统，使得大学生和研究生必须为他们的学习费用做出金钱上的贡献。

Throughout Australia，schooling is compulsory between the age of six and fifteen years．

However，most children begin school earlier than the law requires，usually in pre-schools run by the same organizations that administer the mainstream schools．

在整个澳大利亚，学校教育在六岁到十五岁都是义务的。然而，大部分孩子上学比法定年龄要早，通常是在由管理主流学校的组织所管理的预备学校里Primary schooling lasts six to seven years and the curriculum is similar across the nation.

Studies begin with basic language and mathematics，and the fundamentals of inquiry，and social，health and creative skills are taught．

小学教育持续六到七年，全国的课程都很类似。学习从基础的语言和数学开始，还要学习探究基础原理和社交、健康及创造能力。

Before reaching secondary level，children are learning English，mathematics，elementary science，social studies，music，art，craft and physical education．Optional subjects such as religion，languages and music are common．

在中级水平之前，孩子们要学习英语、数学、初级科学、社会研究、音乐、艺术、手工和物理。例如宗教、语言和音乐这样的选修科目是共同的。

Secondary schooling begins at year seven or eight and goes typically to year twelve．

More advanced levels of the same subjects are taught，plus technical and commercial ones．

中学教育在第七年或第八年开始，并且很有特色的持续到第十二年。教授的是更

高水平的同样课程，再加上技术和商业方面的课程。

The typical secondary school is the co-educational comprehensive or multipurpose high school，offering a wide range of subjects．

典型的中学是联合教育综合学校或者多功能的高中，提供广泛的课程。

Some states have separate high schools and colleges specializing in technical，agricultural，commercial and other fields．

Their curriculums include general academic subjects and practical training. Major examinations or other formal assessments occur after three of four years of high school and，at this point，most students are old enough to leave the system．

有的州有分离开的专攻技术、农业、商业或其他领域的高中和大学，它们的课程包括一般的学院科目和实用性的培训。主要的考试和其他正式评估在高中的三年或四年之后，在这个时间点上，大部分学生都成熟到足够离开这一教育系统。Another two years’ study is available，however，and many keep going to the end-year twelve．

In most parts of Australia，certificates are issued at each of these levels，called commonly the School Certificate（at or about year ten）and the higher School Certificate（year twelve）．

另外两年的学习是可以继续的，然后

The Higher School Certificate is usually required for university of higher-education college entry．Post-secondary education in Australia occurs in universities and colleges of technical and further education called TAFEs．Most of Australia’s approximately one million TAFE students attend state-administered colleges．The vast majority study part-time．

All major skills in a wide range of Industrial，commercial，artistic and domestic occupations are covered．

Most universities also offer non-degree continuing-education programs.

The entire system is matched by correspondence courses for students prevented by illness，disability or residential isolation from attending schools．There are also “school of the air”，which use two way radio networks to provide classroom experience to students in isolated places．

In some states，children living too far from a secondary school to travel dally may live in government funded or subsidized hostels．