Fact file Education system in Russia (Part 1) Types of schools state schools - 99% and private schools - 1% schools of general education (общего образования) 95% gymnasiums [dzım'neızıəmz] and ly- ceums [lar'sıəmz] - 5 % Pre-school education (дошкольное об- разование) optional kindergartens preparatory [pri'pærǝtri] classes in schools (подготовительные классы в школе) Basic general education (основное об- щее образование) - compulsory (bet- ween the ages of 6-7 and 14-15) primary school - 4 years secondary school - 5 years Examinations - Exam - compulsory exams at the end of the 9-year course