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Education: Competing Against the World
Russia
School is compulsory only through the ninth grade, but about 90% of Russians go on to the upper secondary level..
Two Tracks
Russia's system steers brighter students into universities.
? Education in the Russian Federation follows a 4+5+2 system. Students attend four years of primary school, beginning at age 6 or 7, followed by five years of lower secondary school, starting at around age 10 or 11, and wrapping up by age 15 or 16.
? Education is compulsory only through the ninth grade, but about 90% of Russians go on to attend upper secondary school: A two-track system steers most brighter students into two more years of academic study before they can apply to a public university. Alternatively, students may pursue a vocational/technical track, usually two to three years long, to prepare for a bluecollar job.