Many parents can't recognize the quality of an education system simply because they have nothing to compare it to. Different education systems can achieve the same ranking levels using different methods.
We’ll take a close look at four of the best education systems around the world in terms of rankings and reputations, and compare them with the education program offered to students at International School of Bangkok (ISB).
ISB is a premier international school in Bangkok, Thailand, that offers world-class primary, middle, and secondary education to Thai and international students. We offer a research-based, US curriculum, but with challenging international curricula, ideas and practices combined into our programs. Our programs are accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). We also offer high school AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) programs that earn our students advanced placement opportunities at many of the top-tier colleges and universities around the world. ISB high school students enjoy a monitored amount of autonomy.
We'll start our comparison by looking at the education system in South Korea.
South Korea
After Japanese annexation and enduring a war with North Korea, South Korean education was practically non-existent and Korean people were almost completely illiterate. However, since the mid-60s, Korea has emerged to achieve an almost 100% literacy standard and created a highly skilled workforce and an advanced economy.
The Korean government spends about half of what the US spends on education, yet there are consistently ahead of the Americans in the academic rankings. Korean culture adopts much of its collective morality and standards from Confucianism. They have a high regard for conformity and order in the schools. Korean schools use rote learning methods, memorization and standardized testing, and Koreans expect their children to perform. Children who perform well in school enjoy significantly higher social status.
Parents devote a significant amount of their earnings to tutoring, extra classes, and after-school classes. The students deal with an inordinate amount of parental pressure to get into the best universities. While the results speak for themselves, the downside of the Korean system is a high suicide rate among people aged 15 to 24.
Korean policymakers are researching ways to humanize the education system and encourage students to develop analytical skills and social and emotional capabilities that enable them to choose their own career paths.
Japan
Japan has an education system based on curricula from around the world, including British, French, German and US programs. These systems are overlaid with the strong values of the Japanese.
The people place a high value on math and sciences and slightly less on liberal arts and the humanities. They aim to remake the workforce continually and encourage economic growth. Teachers are among the highest-paid civil servants. However, the country ranks fairly low in educational spending by international standards. The spending is devoted almost completely to basic academic classes and tuition needs.
Adherence to the national curriculum means students study the same subjects at the same rate. The main criticism of this national system is that it's one-dimensional, with little room for extracurricular activities in school. The high value accorded to maths and sciences stymies any attempts to introduce a more well-rounded education system.
Singapore
Singapore's education system has been a mainstay at the top levels of the international scholastic rankings for many years. Singaporean educators focused on raising literacy rates first before moving away from rote teaching methods. The national curriculum follows a unified approach to teaching all subjects, focusing on the national exams at the end of primary and secondary school.
This national model means that classrooms are orderly, and students mainly listen to their teachers' lessons. Rote learning still has a place in the education system, with students rewarded for knowing the right answer more than how they arrived at it. Students continue to be judged and ranked mainly by their exam results as they compete for the best colleges and universities.
The government is aware that its system is heavily pressurized and old-fashioned, and it doesn't have much room for critical thinking or intellectual exploration. There's a major drive underway to modernize the education system and move away from Singapore's reliance on exams.
Finland
The Finnish government made extensive reforms to the education system forty years ago. Since the changes were made, the system is considered one of the world's best and ranks number one in Europe. Teaching is respected and valued as a profession, and the country boasts a high level of completion rates and the highest proportion of university graduates in the EU. A large percentage of students are also taking productive vocational courses.
Children are encouraged to develop and learn through play and exploring the outdoor world around them. They don’t start formal education until age 7. There are fewer lessons in a day, almost no homework and more time is reserved for 'real-world' activities like cooking, woodworking and outdoor activities. Only one state exam is given to students at the end of school when they are around 16 years old.
They generally have extremely talented and capable teachers, and the tests required to become a teacher are some of the most competitive in the country. Teachers spend more time planning and preparing for their classes. The amazing success of the Finnish education system is largely attributed to a strong bond between the teacher, the parents, and the student.
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