Education is very different from a country to another. Indeed, while some countries train students to reach the top of the ladder, others see it more as a way of developing individual potential. Let’s discover the best education system around the world.

1. Education system; Asia

The Asian education system is renowned for being demanding and competitive. The Chinese educational model indeed emphasizes the "by rote."Besides, the students have long school hours, very harsh and ruthless learning. The exams are difficult and often very selective.In Japan, children start school from the age of 2. The Japanese education system tends to help children enter the school world as early as possible, and thus allow them to access the best universities.Korea, too, is renowned for having a very tough education system. Indeed, students work a lot. Young students should study for a maximum of hours a day at the expense of all other activities, but above all, restful sleep.Singapore has a well-prepared education system with standards consistent with modern teaching methods and measurement and evaluation methods. The Singaporean system had undergone many reform movements, the most prominent of which was in 1997 when the government launched a reform movement known as (The Power Model). In order to establish new schools known as (Thinking Schools). This model focused on four axes, namely, relying on good quality teachers, school independence, abolishing the inspection system, and dividing schools into four groups. In 2006, Singapore implemented the fourth movement of reforms under a new system known as (Less Education, More Learning). Thanks to these two systems, Singapore achieved tremendous success in international examinations and occupied advanced ranks among countries.In these countries, school performance determines their future life. Thus, parents are very demanding with their children from an early age. On the other hand, children have no other choice than to focus on academic performance but, above all, on their success.

2. Education system; North America

North America is also among the countries that value hard work and competition.Children are very quickly and often very early faced with their responsibilities; it is their duty to excel at what they do in order to obtain the best possible university.Canada: There is not just one education system in Canada, but several, because each of the 10 provinces has jurisdiction over the matter and decides on the curriculum and assessments it wants to apply. To avoid inequalities, the Ministry of Education provides financial assistance to the most disadvantaged schools to set up access to a database containing the good practices necessary for student success. Education is a means to be successful as an individual, and it becomes a collective challenge.Related: Technology education: definition and importance

3. Education system; Northern Europe

Finland, the peculiarity of Finland's education system, lies in its fun and independent education, short days, and many vacations. Before the age of 7, school is not compulsory, and learning is through play.Assessments are gradually emerging, first in the form of reviews and advice on one's own progress and not against that of others. This system has the effect of developing mutual aid and support between students, instead of competition.This state of mind is reinforced by group work and the integration of children in difficulty, and will then persist in their professional life. Scores appear around the age of 11 and cannot drop below 4 out of 10, so the assessment is not a sanction.Estonia created a surprise by arriving at 3rd place in the PISA ranking. This result is not due to chance and demonstrates the involvement of a country in which all school services are free until middle school (meals included). The education system's reforms have focused on developing a new national curriculum, teacher training, and vocational training. In primary school, each teacher keeps their students for a minimum of 3 years, which allows them to get to know them better and thus best adjust to each child's needs. This personalized follow-up makes it possible not to leave the pupils in difficulty.

Originally published on Live Positively.