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Education is one of the primary concerns of any country as it can significantly impact the national economy and its overall development. As our society
keep on progressing with further technological advancements, it has become more important that we focus on what our children are learning and how we can
improve the learning experience for them. However, in order to develop our existing educational structure we will need to understand and learn from other
nations and what kind of academic system they have adopted.
Comparing Education Systems
Although the social, economic, political and cultural scenario in each country is different, it is often useful to compare different education systems
across the world. This helps us to better understand what is working and what is not. Hence it becomes imperative that we look at education from a global
perspective.
Calculating School Life Expectancy
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One of the most common metrics we use to evaluate global education systems is School Life Expectancy. This is basically a measure of the number of years a
student will attend school during his lifetime, given the enrolment rates remain same. School Life Expectancy is usually calculated by UNESCO Institute for
Statistics which helps experts and statisticians to contrast and compute the development of various nations.
In the United States, we mostly presume that our students go to school usually for a minimum period of 13 years (K-12); with some additional years in
college or university education. However, whenever we discuss about education and schools in various developing nations, we find out that many children are
unable to attend schools after a specific age (which can be as less as 8 years) as they are compelled to work and earn money to financially support their
family. Apart from these, there are many other reasons as well like lack of proper infrastructure, lack of educational opportunities, gender issues and in
some countries it is even unsafe, hazardous or immensely expensive to attend school. (Source: bit.ly/1paqisf)
Do More Years In School Mean Better Learning?
Recently a study was conducted by INSEAD, Cornell University and the World Intellectual Property Organization to observe the school life expectancy of
students in different countries across the world. The findings of the study were rather interesting, although they bring up several questions like can more
number of years in school result in better learning? Does it help our students to better prepare for their future careers?
However, it is quite obvious that number years do not necessarily mean more learning for our students. But better school life expectancy can result in
higher test scores which in turn can help our students learn in a better way.
Let’s have a look at the Global School Life Expectancy-
Where do you think students are attending school for the longest periods? It is not surprising that developed countries have the highest numbers as the
education system in these regions has been enhanced over many years. Students in 8 prominent nations like Finland, Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Ireland,
Iceland, New Zealand and Australia attend school for an average period of 17 years to 20 years.
However the number is greatly low in many developing nations. The report revealed that 5 nations, namely Niger, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Pakistan and
Senegal, have the lowest school life expectancy where their students attend school for 0 years to 5 years. This is seriously alarming as it can severely
affect their national and economic growth.
The study also found that most of the countries, for which statistics were available, revealed that their students usually attend school for an average
period of 10 years to 15 years.
What do you think about the findings? Do you think more time in school and result in improved learning? We would love to hear your views and opinions; so
feel free to comment below.
This is a very interesting research you mention. Your blog seems great too!
ReplyDeleteWell, although I am not an expert on the subject I would like to point out something that I consider interesting.
You see, every education system responds to its region´s socio-economic dynamics. If we see the studies, (http://www.geopolitics.us/why-our-school-system-is-broken/) the way our younglins and not-so younglins are being educated in these times responds to the dynamics and requirements set by the industrial revolution. The "one size fits all", and more even the certain sets of skills that students are expected to handle by their graduate years is responds to the demandings of our "modern project".
And this is great! I believe that technology (balanced with humanism) is the future of humanity, so let´s all work towards increasing the levels of knowledge of all our fellow brothers!
However, there is something small that I feel must be mentioned.
Every region is different in its base, and in this same sense education should respond and be expected to respond to these differences in a way that benefits the balanced improvement of its society.
So the difference between the developed countries and the developing countries is "roughly", their economics right? Weather they are industrial or agricultural economies right? - So,
I think every country’s and mores specifically a regions education system should respond in the assertive way to these realities, yet we must keep something very much in mind, humans should be free!
Education systems which cause students to feel short sighted about their future are damaging to their emotions and self`s.
So, for example. Maybe students in the Center of the USA should have high schools more focused towards agricultural -technical abilities, whereas students in the larger metropolises and urban sectors should find that their education should contain larger percentages of content focused towards the scientific/modern projects like computer programing, it is true.
BUT never should a student feel like his destiny is completely determined to work the way his parent´s did before him, or the way his immediate environment dictates.
So, back to the question of time, and how it all relates to the intention to emancipate the souls of our young students, within this difficult context of competing economies and status races, I feel that students should be shown that education is a key to a future, that THEY create.
The time they spend schooling is, true, directly proportional to their societies welfare within the standard division of economic models, but let´s try to think of students as souls, who more than in service of their nations necessities should maybe be in a position of expectancy, of an education system that will liberate them, educate them to be able to determine their life!
I absolutely agree with you Sir Juan Ferrero. It is true that the focus of education should be on the economy of the country but at the same time students should be prepared keeping in mind the global context, so that if they ever want to step outside their country they can fit themselves accordingly.
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