In India, students are expected to rote learn everything – from mathematical formulas to answers for questions in English Literature. Then Indian parents wonder why their children aren’t innovative or special like all the other kids out there. Many countries globally focus on teaching students the existing things instead of helping them to discover what is not there. That’s where countries with an educational system that resembles a prison system fails to do the needful. However, some countries look at the teaching and learning bit a little more seriously and differently. Here is what countries such as India, China, and the US can learn from the countries with highly different education systems around the world.
France keeps religion and education separate
French schools have banned religious clothing inside schools all across the country. French schools have taken this controversial step keeping in mind an idea that religion and education should not influence or impact each other in any way. Schools in French promote secularity and by extension, equality.
French schools don’t even provide any kind of religious instructions to its students. This move ensures that the students in France develop a scientific temper and are able to reason well. France’s aim of promoting equal and factual grounds for progress and development makes it one of the countries with the best education systems.
Students have their first day at school on their 4th birthdays in the Netherlands
The Nordic countries have often appeared at the top in the list of the happiest countries. Education is one of the major reasons for that. While children around the world are already in their first grade at school by the time they turn 5-6, children in Netherland never experience their first day at school until they are 4 years old.
Schools in Netherlands stand apart from the worst education systems in the world due to their sensible approach to education. It is scientifically proven that different children have varied developmental abilities and sometimes, even a small difference in the number of days between two people’s birthdays can mean a monumental contrast in the way their brains function. Netherlands agree with this.
So, Dutch schools welcome students only when they have turned 4 years old. This move has worked for the good of the Dutch students as they can take their own time to settle in once they start school. Thus, Dutch schools are open for admissions all year round. Schools around the world need to take a note of education should be a force of change that doesn’t need to be forced upon.
Finland educational system is the most unique out of the different education systems around the world
Finnish schools believe in creating an identity for its students. Schools in Finland are one of those schools of the best countries with special education. Why? Because Finnish education system upholds intrinsic motivation and encourages its students to pursue their interests. ¾ of the classes that the high school Finnish students sit in are electives. Schools in Finland value choices so much that they let the students choose the matriculation exams that they want to appear in.
Moreover, Finland educational system believes that actual learning occurs outside the classroom – so even the school days in Finland are shorter than in the rest of the world. Almost every Finn out there will know at least three languages – Finnish, Swedish, and English (or Russian, French, and German). Learning an international language is a part of the curriculum as the Finns know that language is important to master the world. Finland surely takes the prize for having one of the most different education systems around the world.
Estonia is the dark horse with one of the best education systems in the world
Estonia currently has the least number of weak performers in Europe – with only 10% of its students weak in Mathematics and a mere 5% lagging behind in science. No, Estonia didn’t achieve this number because it spoon-fed its students or smashed the concept of rote-learning down their throats. Estonia walked away from being one of the worst education systems in the world by stressing on equality among its students.
Despite the fact that schools in Estonia welcome students from diverse cultures and backgrounds, they aim to provide all of the students a uniform educational experience. By providing all its students – regardless of the social, cultural, and economic background they belong to, schools in Estonia have successfully improved their literacy rates and given other countries across the world a hard run for their money when it comes to education.
Teachers play a huge role in this success. The same teachers teach the same students from the first grade to the sixth grade. This helps the students and the teachers build a deeper bond and communicate easily. No wonder, with equality and consistency as its pillar, the education system in Estonia is emerging to be one of the most different education systems around the world.
Japan aims at gifting the world good human beings
Japan has a worldwide reputation for being one of the most disciplined and organized countries on Earth. For the Japanese, it all begins at school. Japanese education system is beating all the others in the race of being the best education systems in the world. Schools in Japan are increasingly including moral education in the Japanese curriculum these days.
Schools in India too have a subject on moral education in most primary schools. But Japan focuses on the practical aspect of the subject- and this is where it makes all the difference. Japanese schools emphasizes on moral education as much as it does on Japanese and mathematics. Moral education in Japanese schools finds a practical application through topics such as kindness, compassion, hard work, etiquettes, life skills, diligence, and endurance. Infact, schools in Japan stresses on these skills in a way which might seem overwhelming in other counties or cultures.
Whatever the tone of moral education, Japan surely handles it successfully. In case of different education systems around the world, Japan – being one of the best countries with special education techniques -is certain to lead in the near future.
These countries are improving their education systems – one step at a time. We definitely have a lot of learning to do.
