Talk:Matura

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Is the term Matura used anywhere other than in Austria? This article doesn't make it clear. Until disambiguation is required, I think this article can be safely housed at Matura rather than at Matura (Austria). -- Oliver P. 14:26 26 May 2003 (UTC)

I don't know, this is why "the article doesn't make it clear". This is also why I called it Matura (Austria), just to be on the safe side -- so that the need to make it clear doesn't arise in the first place. Now, however, after it has been renamed, this question is of course open to speculation.

"Reifeprüfung" (the German title of the film The Graduate) is the literal translation of "Maturitätsprüfung", and I think that's what the exam used to be called in the good old days. "Matura" is the colloquialism everyone uses. -KF 15:22 26 May 2003 (UTC)

I wouldn't say that "Matura" is colloquial. In Austria, "Matura" and "Reifeprüfung" are used interchangeably, and I don't see a tendency towards one of the two terms. After all, Latin "maturus" means "reif" (mature). -- David Haardt, Austria

Okay, thanks for the explanation, and sorry, I didn't mean the lack of clarity remark as a criticism of your writing. If there are other uses of the term, I hope someone else will move the page back later and put a disambiguation page in its place. -- Oliver P. 16:04 26 May 2003 (UTC)

It would be interesting to find out what the final exams are called in Switzerland. Generally, I think we should adopt a comparative approach (first within the EU, then for the rest of the world). In other words, we should clearly state what entitles you to go to university (or any other forms of tertiary education, for that matter) in each country. There is also the question of nostrification (or whatever it is called) of certificates/academic degrees. Oh God, it looks like a very complex matter. --KF 16:20 26 May 2003 (UTC)

In Switzerland, the terms "Maturität", "Maturitätsprüfung", and "Matura" are used for the school leaving examination (see http://www.bbw.admin.ch/html/pages/bildung/matur/matura-e.html ). In Germany of course, "Abitur". -- David Haardt, Austria

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Continuing a discussion after exactly one year:

"Matura (official term: Reifeprüfung) is the word commonly used in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling."

This is the new introduction. However, let me state again that while it is of course a good thing to mention all those countries, the text of this article only applies to Austria (and actually only to a particular type of school referred to as gymnasium (not to commercial or technical schools, where the final exams are also referred to as Matura). <KF> 18:05, 25 May 2004 (UTC)

For sure, it is how the exam is called in Poland. I think some info should be added about Matura in Poland and I hope I'll find some time to do it. Zbihniew

[edit] Criticism

"Criticism of the Austrian Matura has been persistent. In particular, it has been argued that the current system encourages rote learning (see also education reform), hinders candidates' creativity and obscures the fact that the body of knowledge is constantly changing. Various forms of alternative assessment have been proposed, most notably the portfolio as well as teamwork and peer review also in exam situations."

This criticism applies to most secondary diplomas, may it be the French BAC the German Abitur or any other diploma in Europe / the U.S. / the world. I have also never noticed a noteworthy "persistent" criticism of the Austrian Matura in this respect. It seems to me that the author of this passage is a bothered student and just states his personal dislike.

Additionally the reference to the literary suicide is more than obscure, I can't see what this has to do with a description of the Austrian Matura. All in all these sections show a very negatively biased view, something which should definitely be corrected. 24.98.177.198 23:55, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Ukrainian word 'матура' is very uncommon and out-of-date.
K.Danilov aka koder.
62.64.111.233 10:06, 1 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Canadians of Ukranian Descent

Can someone explain the process of how a Canadian of Ukrainian descent obtains an Ukrainian matura following obtaining a Canadian High School Diploma. Since the Canadian Education System is exclusively run by the provinces, I would assume that the Prairie Provinces High School Curiculum is used of comparison, since that is where the majority of people of Ukrainian descent live in Canada. rasblue 01:42, 2 July 2006 (UTC)