4 Most Effective Schools Systems Around the World
There is no ideal school system in any country in the world. Students who live in France, Japan, or the USA may also feel dissatisfied with teachers, schedules, or assessment systems.
School years are not only the most cheerful and carefree period in one's life. The development of one's personality and mental abilities depends on the educational system to a large extent.
In our article, we have collected the top four education systems from around the globe. Those countries where the quality of education is considered one of the highest in the world were considered.
Italy: 13 Years of Study and Compulsory Change of Schools In Italy, children are studying for 13 years. They necessarily change school twice, do not wear a uniform, and do not organize graduation parties.
After five years of primary school, when Italian children turn 11, they go on to secondary one. But this is a different place, with other teachers and classmates.
And it starts again from the first grade. Even if it's a small town, the chances that you'll get into the same class as your former desk mates are low.
According to Italian educators and parents, this system teaches children from an early age to adapt to new conditions and not be afraid of change.
Next goes the lyceum. All such institutions in Italy are specialized. Both children and parents assure that 14 years old is too early to make such important decisions. But the state believes differently, and the system has not changed for decades.
France: 20 Points Rating System
French children are placed in primary school at the age of 6. Before it, they attend the so-called "eco-place," an institution that looks more like a kindergarten. At the end of education, the schoolchildren take a governmental test.
In France, there is a 20 point system of grades. This system is designed to reflect the level of knowledge better. Every semester, parents receive their children's report cards by mail. Those list all subjects and grades on a 20 point scale, for example, 14.72.
But that's not the end of the information which parents can get from the report card. There are columns that list the student's grades for all subjects in previous semesters to assess the dynamics.
Each subject has an average grade for the class. Thus, a parent can quickly see the child's progress and how it is compared to other subjects.
Japan: Start of the School Year in April
Japanese kids usually enter primary school at the age of six or seven. The study year traditionally starts in April.
Japanese people believe that this is the best time to start a new phase in one's life. A Japanese school consists of three stages:
- primary (Sho Gakko);
- secondary (Ryu Gakko)
- and senior (Koto Gakko).
Japanese children (and students) are referred to as one of the busiest and hardest working people in the country. They get used to this early, already having a huge homework load and test assignments in secondary school.
The study year is divided into three terms. The first lasts from April to July, the second term from September to December and the last one from January to the end of March.
But all vacations and holidays are spent on exam preparation and writing. Vacation for Japanese is a time when one studies, not parties, hard.
Finland: A Relaxed Atmosphere
Thirty years ago, the Finnish education system was lagging. Today it is one of the most effective models in the world. Even radical opponents of the Finnish educational system admit that its main advantage is the "relaxed" feature and overall vibe. However, they further add that it is the main disadvantage too.
A comfortable environment in Finnish schools is built on the principles of humanism. This implies equality and respect for all participants. Such a foundation serves as the ground of Finnish kids' success.
The defining goal of the Finnish system is to make sure that everyone reaches the average level. And as a result, the focus is on helping the underperforming.
Final Words
It is worth repeating that the ideal education system does not exist. Of course, in some developed countries education systems have some advantages. They also have drawbacks.
We hope that in a future fully globalized world, all children will receive only the best quality education in an easy and understandable form.
