A good education system is necessary if we want to secure a better future for all. Some countries are doing it well, while others are performing poorly.
There are many education systems in the world. No two systems can be the same. The education system in Thailand is very different from the education system in Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, even if all such countries come from the same region. Four of all the education systems in the world, though, can be said to be commendable. We will highlight all four to give you an idea of what is possible today and what can be achieved in the future.
But first, we need to answer this question: what makes an education system commendable? The following must exist for an education system to be respected:
1. A shared focus that is clear and measurable.
2. Clear standards for all students.
3. Clear expectations for all students.
4. School leadership that is effective and efficient.
5. A safe space for communication and collaboration.
6. A clear standard for instruction, assessment, and curriculum.
7. Monitoring methods for teaching and learning.
8. Continuous professional development.
9. A supportive environment for learning.
10. Family and community involvement.
Top 4 Commendable Education Systems All Over the World
Finland
This country has almost six million people, and everyone is literate. Finland’s exemplary education system boosted the country’s literacy rate by 100%. The Smithsonian Magazine did a study as to why Finland schools are successful, and they enlisted the following reasons:
1. All teachers in the country are equipped with a Master’s degree in education.
2. All teachers are selected from the top 10% of each graduating class.
3. All teachers have a palpable culture of looking out for students who struggle the most. Teachers go out of their way and do whatever it takes to help such a student to succeed.
4. There is only one standardized test that students take. Such is taken at the end of students’ senior year.
5. There is no comparison culture. No ranking system is made available between classes and schools.
With such deployed mechanisms, Finnish students finish first in reading, Science, and math. All Finnish schools are publicly funded.
Japan
Japan’s commendable education system is centered on order and discipline. It is something that the country is highly proud of. It has one of the longest school days in the world, as an average school day in Japan can last for six hours. This does not include the after-school learning students partake in, referred to as “junk” or private one-on-one tutoring. Juku is dedicated to helping students prepare for end-of-school exams. The country consistently outperforms the average grade on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Japan always ranks second when it comes to science.
The following are deemed to be the many reasons why the Japanese education system is good:
1. Students don’t change classrooms.
2. Responsibility is instilled in students.
3. All students learn the same curriculum.
4. All students enjoy the same school lunch.
5. All teachers have a detailed list of obligations and responsibilities.
6. Students have an after-school program.
7. All classes follow a specific order regarding the beginning and end of each lesson.
8. The promotion of creativity among students.
9. Dedicated studies on character building.
10. Giving importance to history and culture.
Singapore
Singapore is currently considered the best nation for education. The country has the highest number of people that finished tertiary education, at 29.7%. It outperformed every competing country in Science in the most recent PISA. The world is ever impressed by the performance of Singaporean students because they traditionally trumped top-performing countries, including Japan, Finland, Canada, and Estonia. Some experts say that Singapore’s education system is similar to Finland’s. When closely observed, though, it is the following that makes Singapore shine when it comes to education:
1. All Singaporean students must attend preschool to prepare for primary school.
2. Children are taught two languages during preschool.
3. Students decide on their preferred pathways as early as they reach secondary education.
4. All Singapore classrooms are centralized.
5. All schools follow a national curriculum.
6. There are no discussion-based classes in the country.
7. All students are expected to learn by listening; teachers are the main source of knowledge.
Canada
Canada has been consistent in deploying a commendable education system. This is the case even if the education system mainly varies per province. Schools in Canada are under no heavy federal government guidelines. But despite such nonexistent national standards, it always topped school rankings yearly. Another thing that makes Canada uniquely interesting is the equitable approach that it has when it comes to education. Canada is one of the countries with the highest number of immigrants. Trends show that countries with high immigrant populations have overall educational rankings. Such is not the case with Canada. Despite its high immigrant population, it still always tops global rankings. This is because it allows all students to access quality education easily. Canada has well-placed policies that prioritize equal access to education. This is why all its schools excel regardless of pupils’ socioeconomic backgrounds. All its teachers are also well-trained and under direct order to aggressively pinpoint students that need extra help.