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The Russian education system

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” - Confuscious

It is amazing how different the education systems can be in different countries. Just because you have finished your courses and got a degree, does that mean you know your subject well? How many times have you forgotten everything you studied for as soon as the exam was over?

I studied in Canada which I thought had one of the best education systems. It’s only after I graduated from the University did I realize that I did not learn much. Now how is that possible? How is one able to graduate without learning much?

I actually got quite a few A and A+ on my transcript as well. Honestly, it’s not that hard to pass a course. But to get an A you have to understand the subject unless you’re born a genius. Even after all that, I forgot pretty much everything.

Obviously, if you don’t use it, you lose it!

There’s more to it than that. I learned a lot from talking to my Russian friend. He graduated from Russia and has a lot of knowledge in many different areas. When he learns something he really learns it from the ground up.

According to him, the Russian education system is very different than Canada. In his university people could not pass an exam unless they really knew their subject theoretically and practically. They don’t just learn how to use something, they learn why that thing works the way it does. That’s where the distinction is that I have felt.

He did not just study to pass the exam but really to understand the material. That meant learning it from inside out. That skill has stayed with him and has become a part of his character.

I have seen many people learn enough to become competent at their jobs. He actually needs to know why something happens. There are a lot of people at my job with many years of experience who know exactly how to do certain things but he knows why we have to do those things. Others might be faster than him initially but if it comes down to a tough task he always excels.

Learning to do something will always get you a job but learning why you are doing that thing will make you indispensable!

For example, you buy a new computer with windows xp pre-installed on it. Your computer runs really fast. Then you start installing a few programs and your computer starts to slow down. Even starting and shutting down your computer is taking longer now.

Most people would be able to tell you that as you install more software on your computer you computer will slow down but he is the kind of a person who would not be satisfied with that answer. He wants to know why! Why does the computer slow down? So he would start exploring until he finds the answer. Initially if you spoke to others they would give you the answer quickly that this is just the way windows xp is, but more you start asking questions as to why that was the case, fewer people are going to stick around to answer you.

I find that quality simply amazing! It basically means searching for truth. You do not take anyone’s word for it but do your own research until you arrive at the truth. It doesn’t just apply to computers but every single aspect of your life.

It also makes you more self-reliant. We are truly blessed to be alive at this time. Due to the rise of internet it is so easy to acquire knowledge about any and every single subject that we wish. That is not to say it is easy to arrive at the truth but at least it is there. We can be sitting in one place and researching. We do not even need to go out to the library to go through tons of books to find out what we’re looking for. All we have to do is do the search using many search engines and within seconds we get results matching out criteria. After that it’s just a matter of going through various articles to arrive at the correct explanation or the right answer.

Why?! - it’s what kids always ask because they’re naturally curious but somehow this curiosity dies down in many as they get older. That’s where the educations system comes in.

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” - Galileo Galilei

“Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.” - Marge Piercy

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Comments

2 Responses to “The Russian education system”

Alex on June 21st, 2008 10:45 am

Hi! I don’t know what you name is, but I guess it does not matter. Well, I am reading through all of your articles and I must admit it is interesting. I don’t know how many people are your readers but I find it fun and kind of cognitive. After reading this articles I have only one comment. You wrote something about educational system in Russia. I am from the Ukraine, and our countries and our educational systems are completely the same. Here is what you write….or what you friend told you:

According to him, the Russian education system is very different than Canada. In his university people could not pass an exam unless they really knew their subject theoretically and practically. They don’t just learn how to use something, they learn why that thing works the way it does. That’s where the distinction is that I have felt

You should know that it all varies and you cannot just say that in all Universities they give you this kind of knowledge. You should know that in VERY few places you can actually learn something and learn something well. It used to be true during USSR times when not every person could study at a University. Now, everyone who has money can study there and even if you don’t know the subject you can still pass it with some bribe, around $10 and you got C So, not all is that good in Russia and Ukraine.

Alex.
Ricky on June 22nd, 2008 9:00 am

Hey Alex,
My name is Ricky.
My friend has been in Canada for quite some time now so I am not surprised things have changed in Russia. It’s great to hear your view since you’re living in Ukraine. Thank you.
I especially like the part about bribes Too bad that system hasn’t caught on here in Canada yet.

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