Home > Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a school of secondary education in parts of Europe. The word "" (gymnasium) was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men. At some countries there is a notion of progymnasium, which is equivalent to beginning classes of the full gymnasium, with the rights to continue education in a gymnasium. Here, the prefix "pro" means "instead of".In the German-speaking, the Scandinavian and the Benelux countries gymnasium has, at least since the Reformation in the 16th century, had the meaning of a secondary school preparing for higher education, at university.
In general, Gymnasiums provide more generic education, as opposed to vocational secondary schools which provide more specialized education.
However, many Gymnasiums have a specific focus nevertheless. The three traditional branches are
- humanistic education (specialising in ancient languages, like Latin and Greek)
- modern languages
- mathematical-scientific education
Nowadays a number of other areas of specialisation exist, like Gymnasiums specialising in European languages or sports.
1 Countries with Gymnasium schools
This list is incomplete . You can help by [ ṣlocalurl: : |action=edit}} expanding it].
- AustriaAustria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, a federation of nine states. Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the (ends with MaturaMatura or Matur (official term in Austria: Reifeprufung is the word commonly used in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary edu)
- BelgiumFor alternate meanings, see Belgium (disambiguation). Belgian redirects here. For the horse breed commonly used as a draft horse, see Belgian. The Kingdom of Belgium ( Dutch: Belgi French: Belgique German: Belgien is a country in Western Europe, bordered (?)
- BulgariaThe Republic of Bulgaria is a republic in the southeast of Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north along the river Danube. (?)
- CroatiaThe Republic of Croatia is a country in Europe bordering the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans. Its capital is Zagreb. In recent history, it was a republic of Yugoslavia. History Main article: History of Croatia The Croats are a largely Slavic (4 years, starting at age 14/15, ends with MaturaMatura or Matur (official term in Austria: Reifeprufung is the word commonly used in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary edu)
- Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic ( Czech: Ceska republika is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The republic borders Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. Historic Prague, a major tourist attraction (4 years starting at age 13/14; 8 years starting at age 9/10; both end with a MaturitaMatura or Matur (official term in Austria: Reifeprufung is the word commonly used in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary edu)
- DenmarkKongeriget Danmark ( In Detail) Motto of the Queen: Guds hjaelp, Folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke (English: God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength) Official language Danish Capital Copenhagen Kobenhavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Ministe (3 years, starting after 9 or 10 years of primary school)
- Finland (2-4 years (most people spend 3 years), starting usually at age 15/16, graduation after passing the Matriculation Examination)
- Germany (8 or 9 years (depending on Bundesland), starting at 5th (at age 10) or 7th grade, Abitur in 12th or 13th grade). Also, there are progymnasiums.
- Hungary (4/6 years, starting after 8/6 years of primary school, ends with Matura)
- Iceland (usually 4 years, starting at age 15/16 after 10 years of primary school)
- Liechtenstein (ends with Matura)
- Lithuania (?)
- Luxembourg (?)
- Republic of Macedonia (4 years, starting at age 14)
- Netherlands (6 years, starting at age 12/13)
- Norway
- Poland (3 years, starting at age 13/14, ends with an exam)
- Russia
- Slovakia (4 years starting at age 13/14; 8 years starting at age 9/10; both end with a Maturita)
- Slovenia (4 years, starting at age 14/15, ends with Matura)
- Sweden (3-4 years, starting after 9 years of primary school)
- Switzerland (usually 4 years, after 6 years of primary and 2 or 3 years of secondary school, ends with Matura)
