Very soon, the first bell will ring, summoning the children to study. Currently, parents still face a difficult choice: at what age is best to send a child to first grade under the new 12-year education system. Parents, teachers and psychologists actively discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both early and later start of education. Some believe that early entry to school will help the child better adapt to the educational process, while others are convinced that a more mature age allows to avoid stress and provides a more conscious perception of the material. In modern conditions, this dilemma becomes even more relevant, since the issue of preparing for school is often connected with social and psychological aspects that can significantly affect the child’s development.
It is worth noting that not only the academic success of the child depends on this choice, but also his social and emotional adaptation. This choice also becomes even more relevant in light of the intentions of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to introduce a 12-year education system. It played not the last role in the emergence of this problem, leaving its solution to the discretion of parents, without specifics.
According to the prescription of sub-clause 3 of clause 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education” it is established that the training of education seekers under programs of 12-year comprehensive general secondary education starts in several stages:
- primary education – September 1, 2018;
- basic secondary education – September 1, 2022;
- specialized secondary education – September 1, 2027.
What is the optimal age to start schooling
The proposal of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine regarding the introduction of a 12-year education system aims to improve the quality of educational standards and promote the harmonious development of students in the conditions of the modern world. It is obvious that this reform affects the traditional approach to the starting age of education.
If you send a child to the first grade at the age of 5, he will finish school at the age of 17. If a future student starts school at the age of 6, he will finish the 12th grade at the age of 18. And if he goes to the first grade at the age of 7, as was established under the Soviet education system, then, in general, he will graduate at the age of 19.
Psychologists, pedagogues and doctors are divided in their views about when exactly children are ready to study at school. There are supporters of early education, so that the child does not waste time.
Maria Maslyuk, mother of many children:
“I went to school at the age of 5 and, to be honest, I don’t regret it. In the kindergarten where I studied, my parents were told that if they leave me for another year, I will be sad. I knew all the basics of school, I would not be interested in going through another year of all the same things that I already knew. My parents listened to the opinion of the Methodists and sent me to school at the age of 5. In all 11 years of studying at school, I did not feel that I was a year younger or knew something worse.”
Anastasia Berezyuk, psychologist:
“From the age of 4, I began to think about the 1st grade, since even then it was known about 12 years of education. I turned to 4 specialists: a speech therapist, a child psychologist (a mother-psychologist cannot always give an objective assessment of her child), a tutor for preparing for school and a sports coach. Such preparation bore fruit: according to the conclusions of the psychologist in the kindergarten, we were recommended to go to the 1st grade at the age of 5. And the child asked to send her to school. According to the results of two years, the academic performance is above average, the behavior is conscious, accordingly, I did not see any significant disadvantages and the child is satisfied”.
Olga Vaganova, teacher:
“My opinion is the earlier a person joins adult life, the better. I had no doubts that my son should go in the year when he turns 6, although on September 1 he was still 5. First, Vova went to “preparatory school”. Secondly, in the first class, there are no homework or grades. That is, entry is as smooth and comfortable as possible. Now Vovi is 15 and he is really a year younger than most of his classmates, but this does not cause him any problems. I started at the age of 5.”
Researchers who support this approach believe that the early start of education stimulates the child’s intellectual development and forms all the necessary social skills.
However, some experts and parents claim that the early start of education creates an excessive load on the still unformed psyche and physical health of the child. They emphasize that the child should be given the opportunity to develop freely until he reaches the period when he is most ready for organized educational activities.
Viktor Gromovy, Honored Teacher of Ukraine and editor of the “Educational Policy” portal:
“Age doesn’t matter. Everything depends on the child’s readiness for school. There are preschoolers who are ready at the age of 6, and there are those who are ready at the age of 7. Sometimes parents think that if a child has certain knowledge, then he is ready for school, but this is not the case. Everything depends on the level of her physical maturity. Otherwise, a difficult and stressful study awaits the child”.
Inna Molchanova, mother of a schoolgirl:
“If a child goes to school during a full-scale war, and then switches to a remote school, then the quality of education is not at issue at all. Childhood should not be taken away. With us, even from the age of 3, you can “sit the child at the desk” on educational courses. I wouldn’t do that.”
Natalia Pika, mother of a schoolboy:
“At the age of 5 or 6, children are not ready for school. Neither morally nor physically. They are not ready to sit at the desk for several hours and listen to the teacher.”
Foreign experience
In accordance with analysis educational systems of the countries of the European Union, in European countries full general secondary education continues:
- at least 12 years – in 19 countries;
- 13 years – in 17 countries;
- 14 years – in 2 countries.
Only students in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Russia are still on the 11-year education system, and the right to decide at what age a child should go to school, from 6 or 7, belongs to parents. Armenia, Georgia and Moldova have already switched to a 12-year education system. Children in schools in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Albania go to school at the age of 6 and study for 12 years.
In Great Britain and the USA, children start school at the age of 5-6, which is in line with UNESCO recommendations. The duration of education in the United Kingdom is 13 years, and in the USA – 12 years.
They study for the longest time in Ireland – as many as 15 years, however, and little Irish children also start their studies earlier than everyone else – at the age of 4. In Northern Ireland, schoolchildren also go to the first grade at the age of 4, but study for 14 years. But in Sweden, Norway and Finland, the starting age of schooling is 7 years. By the way, it is Finland that shows one of the best indicators in the world in terms of education.
Primary education in different countries lasts differently – from 4 to 7, and sometimes even up to 8 years. In those countries where schoolchildren start school at the age of 5, preschool education is compulsory and financed by the state. Education with five-year-olds is conducted in a playful manner with compliance with the requirements and rules, where students learn to control their emotional state, acquire social and everyday skills and thus receive preparation for primary school.
Ex-minister Lilia Hrynevych notes that a child must reach a certain level of maturity before starting school. She also points to the importance of setting the duration of education at 12 years:
“In Europe and many of the world’s leading educational systems – in countries that have, accordingly, the best level of quality of human capital training – they study in school until the age of 18, and sometimes even up to 19 years. Because at the age of 18, a person is more prepared and mature for the next choice and independence”.
Advantages and disadvantages of implementing a 12-year education system
The earlier children start school, the more challenges the educational society will face. After all, it is necessary to adapt the school program to a certain age. It is obvious that the program for 7-year-olds is more difficult than for 6-year-olds, and therefore, for 5-year-olds it should be simplified and ready. 5-year-olds should be psychologically prepared for learning processes. And to ensure this, preschool education is actually needed, which under the new reform will become a part of primary school itself. Therefore, additional funds will be needed to create a preparatory unit. The question arises: does the Ministry of Education and Science currently have such an opportunity in wartime conditions?
It is also worth noting that since the duration of studying abroad is longer than in Ukrainian schools, the academic load of students also varies. At the same time, the level of acquired knowledge and competences is almost the same. It is likely that Ukrainian schoolchildren are subjected to unjustified excessive workload. Therefore, the 12-year education system will still make it possible to reduce such a load due to the increase in the duration of education.
When sending a child to school, you should pay attention to his individual characteristics: interest in knowledge, behavior in society, even physical parameters. If these indicators are at a satisfactory level, then after spending certain financial resources on training, such a child can be sent to the first grade at the age of 5. In general, the fear of some parents that the child may lose time by being in education for so many years is quite justified.
Anastasia Berezyuk, psychologist:
“I have repeatedly heard from young people: “I spent a lot of time studying at school and university, but I could have built my business.” And I agree with them, because here the arithmetic is simple: at 6(7) years before school, 12 years of study, 6 years at a master’s degree equals 24(25) years – the age of an adult who has passed the best youth years and an active phase of creative ideas”.
So, the contradiction of the idea about the best age for entering the first grade indicates that there cannot be a universal approach here. Each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. In modern conditions, when the educational system is undergoing significant changes, it is especially important to take into account the individual characteristics of children, their level of maturity and readiness for learning. The final choice should always be made taking into account the interests and needs of the child, not just the requirements of the system. Pedagogical recommendations, parents’ experience and own observations – all this should help in making a balanced decision that will ensure the child a successful and happy start in education.
