BEST AND WORST EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

IN THE WORLD
Education is one of those things that is considered pretty important throughout the
world, but it still remains that not every country does it the same and indeed some
countries are better at it than others. For someone who is born and raised in the
Philippines, I often assume that the education systems in the west are the best since we
look up to them in terms of economy and technology, but that may not actually be true.
Based on educational system polls that periodically checks such assumptions by
comparing measurable things like grades and attempt to rank different countries
according to the success of their education system may give us a birds eye view of
whats the country with the best education system, however If I were to choose, Id still
consider an education system that offers the people with great cultural importance, equal
opportunities and support. Those main characteristic that I would consider is widely
known and applied in the system of Japan, an Asian country.
First, lets take a tour on how the educational system works in Japan. The country
adapats a 6-3-3-4 system (6 years of elementary, 3 years of junior igh, 3 years of senior
high and, 4 years of university). Japan has the worlds best-educated populations, with
100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy. While not compulsory, high
school (koukou) enrollment is over 96% nationwide and nearly 100% in the cities. The
high school drop out rate is about 2% and has been increasing. About 46% of all high
school graduates go on to university or junior college. The Ministry of Education closely
supervises curriculum, textbooks, classes and maintains a uniform level of education
throughout the country. As a result, a high standard of education is possible.
In any culture, school is an important influence in the early years of a persons
life. Japanese students spend a larger amount of time in school than their western
counterparts, and as such, the education system plays a large role in how they grow up, fit
into society and relate to problems in adulthood.
Submitted by:
Andrea Claire C. Malonzo

Japanese tradition values honour, respect and achievement and these values are
apparent in the education system. School emphasizes diligence, self-criticism and wellorganized study habits.

The structure of the education system is also structured on the

idea that all people are born with the same mental capacity and intelligence, and it is the
amount of effort that they put into their work that will determine the standard.
The Japanese educational system also gives emphasis on financial support. For
children from households with financial needs, a variety of scholarship programs are
available mainly for college/graduate school tuition, including both grant and loan
programs. The programs are sponsored by scholarship institutes, business corporations
and local governments. Many colleges/universities also offer their own scholarship
program.
On the other hand, from what I have learned, Thai Education System id one of the
worst and is worsening every year. Overwhelmed by inadequate funding, huge class size
and less opportunity for teacher growth, there may be a lot of things that Thailand have to
catch up to.
In developing countries like Thailand, education is perceived as the only way to
lift oneself out of poverty, and into the realms of respectability and wealth. Thais see
education as the great social equalizer and the route to success in life. In the course of the
past few years, however, the quality of the Thai education system has been worsening at
an alarmingly rapid rate based on the educational system polls. Thailand's education
system was ranked 37th out of 40 countries assessed (Pearsons 2012 Global Index).
Looking at their educational system, they follow a 6-3-3 system, comprising 6
years of compulsory education, 3 years of lower secondary education and, 3 years of
upper secondary education. Tertiary education normally requires four years of study.
From what I learned, some school in Thailand doesnt reach the rural areas. Some
might have to take long walks in order to have access the free education. Aside from this,
focusing on the quality of teachers has proved to be an effective method to kick-start educational
reform elsewhere. The salaries of Thai teachers are so miserably low that many have to find
Submitted by:
Andrea Claire C. Malonzo

sideline jobs to survive, instead of focusing their energy on teaching their students well.
Although, I think the government has called for reforms over the years. The on-going education
reform has turned the education system to a turning point. The reform is not just only in one
segment, but the whole education system. In addition, there are relevant laws, regulations and
rules that are being proposed in accordance with the reform. These will facilitate and made the
reform possible. Although there are still some disagreements on the organization structure, and
uncertainty about the redeployment of the education staff in the central offices, there will be a
point that it can be settled. In the view of the writer, the most crucial aspect of the reform is the
"reform of learning," from the teacher-centered model to the learner-centered approach, which is
the essence of the transition. In fact, there have been a number of attempts from the concerned
Departments and agencies to move towards this direction. Although the reform of the education
system has just begun, it may not be too optimistic to say that the education system in Thailand
has moved towards the desirable direction.

Submitted by:
Andrea Claire C. Malonzo