Hey Guys,
Just a quick video I found of a teacher who spent 4 years in Japan, it's a nice little overview.
Thanks,
Watson
Quick vidieo overview of Japanese School System...
World Education Issues
This video highlights some facts and statistics about how different countries are struggling with thier education system.
Littericy Map of India...
I came across this image of India's Literacy Rates. The image is color coded, with green indicating %90 to %100 literacy rate, and orange depicting a literacy rate below %4. As you can see, there are only a few patches of green, mostly around large economic centers and ports, however, most of the map is dominated by yellow and orange. Seeing this map, it's easy to grasp that education as a whole in India is in dire straights.
Education Reform in the United States
After examining the education systems in the countries discussed on this blog, we can analyze the information and create ideas for a reform in the education system in the United States. The United States is ahead of Malawi and Kenya because public secondary education is free. Since there is a cost to attend secondary education in Malawi and Kenya, there is a very low attendance rate since many people can not afford the cost. If secondary education was provided for free like it is in the United States, literacy and attendance rates could be significantly increased in Malawi and Kenya.
We can learn from Japan that the extra 40 days at the end of each school year gives students the opportunity to learn more and obtain more knowledge. In Japan there is also a very high standard students must meet for them and their family's to be accepted in society. In India, no funds are placed towards learning materials and tools. Due to to the combination of low quality teachers and lack of updated and new material, students will not be able to learn new and up to date information.
In Germany there is a lack of equal opportunity for students, but 100% graduation rate and high job prospect for students. Even though there is not an equal opportunity for all students, something about their system is working because there is a high literacy rate. Keeping a student on the educational path that is appropriate for their skill level allows students to learn at there own pace without hold students back or leaving other students behind. In Spain, they have a 5 hour school day, 5 days week; In the long run have 360 hours less of school for a year.
Taking in all this information we can conclude there are pros and cons to each education system. For the United States education reform, we can propose possible longer school days, longer school year, make students more determined and motivated to succeed and possibly separate students in classes based on their personal skills. Longer school days and a longer school year will give students the chance to learn more and get more involved in their studies. Attending class for a longer duration of time will also make students more disciplined in their education. Giving students the motivation and determination to do well in school will increase the chance of them becoming successful as well. We do not want to completely separate students, but keep students with different cognitive and literacy levels in different classes. Separating students like this will allow students who are above proficiency levels to move at a faster pace and students who are at a lower proficiency level move at a slower pace. In doing this, students will not fall behind and have difficulty understanding concepts and other students remain not learning anything or being academically challenged.
Posted by:
Mark Albers
Watson Blair
Andrew Finger
Jonathon Kirkland
Lets have a chat about India…
My last post was about Japan, one of the wold leaders in education. Now, I would like to look at the flip side, India.
Long story short, India invests less money (3.3% of it’s GDP) than almost any other nation (the average being 5.8%) of that funding 95% goes towards teachers salaries with almost no funds placed towards learning materials and tools. The results of this, and other factors result in a population that is largely illiterate, 34% to be exact. 34 out of 100 may not seem a large number, but canister the shear mass of the country, if in 2008 the national population of India was 1,139,964,932 (as estimated by the World Bank) that would leave 387,588,077 unable to read or write. Granted this has improved dramatically from the 12% literacy rate at the end of British rule in 1947, but it still leaves the vast majority of the population in the backwaters of unskilled labor when it comes to employment.
Lets take a closer look at why the lack of funding in the Indian school system is crippling not only the education system, but the futures of children as well. Because India allocates such limited funds for it’s schools, the quality and quantity of materials, and indeed facilities, provided are limited. Also, the quality of teachers in the public schooling system is low, as good teachers are lured away from the system to more lucrative positions in the private sector. But it’s not only the quality of educators that becomes an issue, but the quantity. 75% of government run schools in India are under-staffed, resulting in an average class size of 40 students per class. More startling, perhaps, is the fact that on average only 75% of teachers show up for work each day.
A far as solutions go, Common Schooling or a sharing of recourses between private and public schools. Others propose a voucher system to allow less affluent children to attend private schools. However each solution has it’s downfalls, and in the end, perhaps the most direct method of allocating more funding for education on the federal level is the best solution.
I could go on, believe me I could, but instead I would like to leave you with some links that will provide a much more comprehensive overview than I can provide.
The Voice of Barat
The Voice of Bharat is an organization that examines all aspects of Indian development, from the effects of Micro-lending to Educational issues. The link above links directly to the findings of the 2009 ASER(Annual Status of Education Report).
Wikipedia
This Wikipedia article provides a historical view of Literacy in India and outlines past and present actions by individuals and the government to increase literacy rates in India.
The ViewsPaper
This e-article takes a look that the shortcomings of education in India, and assesses potential solutions.
Thanks,
Watson
Germany's Education System
The German education system is a very intricate and structured web. Following the optional kindergarten, obligatory education starts at age 6 and continues to age 10 where then the student can take one of three paths. The first and most basic path, the Hauptschule, prepares the student for a vocational line of work after only five more years of schooling. This second and more prestigious path, the Realschule, gives the student the option to further their education in attempt to go to university or attend a more advanced vocational school. This path is a 6 to 9 year program depending on the student’s abilities to continue on for three more years of university prep. The final and most rigorous path, the Gymnasium, is a 9-year program with the intent to get the student to university standards and prepare them for their entrance exam, the Abitur, that if passed grants the student acceptance to all universities in Germany. This system makes schooling a valuable asset in the eyes of the student and because they have set the standard and three levels it is very easy to obtain a basic education and this is reflected in Germany’s 100% graduation rate. Because only the elite from the third path go to university Germany has one of the lowest rates of continuing education to the university level a mere 34%. However, everyone is educated and, for the most part, employed.
The curriculum in German Schools is created by the Ministry of Culture and Education and is executed by the teacher as they wish providing they cover the bases set up by the ministry. The curriculum consists of 9-10 courses and increases as the student progresses in their education. The teachers are treated very nicely with one of the highest starting salaries of $29,697.00 second only to Switzerland. After 15 years of employment the pay rate increases annually by $6,349, making Germany’s teachers the third highest paid educators in the world.
The school starts in mid to late August and goes into mid to late June. The school day is quite long towards the end of the third path of education starting at 8 in the morning and going to 6 at night. This very elaborate system seems to pay off considering the literacy rate for Germany is 99%. It is very possible that other countries would have something to gain by adapting elements of this system.
Jonathan’s Sources for Spain and Germany
Jonathan’s Sources for Spain and Germany
These Sources aided me in my search for information on the German Education System.
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (Academic Report)
The Educational System in Germany (Academic Report)
NationMaster.com
www2.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/int_germany.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Germany
These Sources aided me in my search for information on the Spanish Education System.
The Spanish Educational System (Academic Paper)
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (Academic Report)
Pineappletravel.netfirms.com/educatingspain.html
NationMaster.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Spain
Spain's Education System
The Spanish education system is somewhat simple. It is mandatory that students be enrolled in school between the ages of 6-16. After they have turn 16 they then have three options. They can start legally working, they can get vocational training, or they can continue their education in a baccalaureate program that is two years (grades 11 &12) in hopes of going to a university. However the entrance rate in to college is lower then most at 74%. The thing that makes Spain a little unique is that all students receive some vocational education and religion is offered but not required, keeping in check with the separation between church and sate.
The academic year goes from September to June and the school day has a two and a half hour break at lunch (following the Spanish tradition of a siesta). The time spent in a classroom is 5 hours 5 days a week. The teachers in Spain are paid $24,464.00 and after working for 15 years they pay is increased by $4,150 annually. Like the rest of Spain’s education system the graduation rate is weak, only 74%, however the literacy rate is decent at 97.9%. Spain is doing ok but other countries should look at Spain with cautious eyes when trying to boost their own education system.
United States Education
Schools in the United States consist of public and private, elementary and secondary, state universities and private colleges which can be found everywhere. The United States continues to operate one of the largest universal education systems in the world. School attendance is compulsory for students through age 16 in most states. Children generally begin elementary school with kindergarten at age five and continue through secondary school to age 18. Typically, the elementary school years include kindergarten through grades five or six, and at some schools through grade eight. Secondary schools, also known as high schools, generally include grades nine through 12. There is no national structure, curriculum or governing law; all laws and policies are set and enforced by the 50 state governments and over 14,000 local school districts. All states and school districts have set the secondary school graduation level as the completion of 12th grade.
Private school choice policies like vouchers, scholarships, or education tax credits help parents to enroll their children in a private school of choice. Public School Choice allows parents more opportunity to choose the best public school for their children by offering open enrollment within the public education system. Charter Schools are publicly funded schools that meet certain performance standards set by the government but are otherwise free from the traditional public school system. Online Learning allows students to learn on the computer instead of in a classroom. Nine percent of all public schools nationwide offer some distance learning.
No Child Left Behind is the latest federal legislation that enacts the theories of standards-based education reform, which is based on the belief that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard; standards are set by each individual state.
Statistics:
3.7 million full-time-equivalent elementary and secondary school teachers were engaged in classroom instruction in fall 2008; This includes 3.2 million public school teachers and 0.5 million private school teachers.
The number of public school teachers has risen faster than the number of public school students over the past 10 years, resulting in declines in the pupil/teacher ratio.
In the fall of 2008, there were a projected 15.3 public school pupils per teacher, compared with 16.4 public school pupils per teacher 10 years earlier.
The average salary for public school teachers in 2006–07 was $50,816, about 3 percent higher than in 1996–97, after adjustment for inflation.
Nearly 6.2 million students in the United States between the ages of 16 and 24 in 2007 dropped out of high school, fueling a persistent high school dropout crisis. The total represents 16 percent of all people in the United States in that age range in 2007.
Nearly one in five U.S. men between the ages of 16 and 24 (18.9 percent) were dropouts in 2007.
Private School Statistics at a Glance
PK-12 Enrollment (2009) - 6,049,000; (11% of all US students)
# of Schools (2007-08) - 33,740; (25% of all US schools)
Average Private School Tuition: 2003-04
Elementary - $6.600
Secondary - $5,049
K-12 Schools - $8,412
Posted by: Andrew Finger
Worlds Greatest - Japan
It's a well known fact that Japan has one of the most successful educational systems in the world, with a 99% literacy rate it's not hard to imagine why they made the short list for top performing educators in the world. Which begs the question, why?
The answer, like most, isn’t so simple. Japan adopted its educational system from France after the last world war, holding to a trimester schedule consisting of 220 days of school each year (compared to the 180 days for U.S. students). Allowing an extra 40 days of school each year which adds up to an extra 740 days of school over the educational carrier of the average student. Students also receive much more support from the home front than U.S. students do. On average, Japanese mothers see it as one of their duties to insure that their children thrive in Middle and High School, subsequently 65 percent of middle school students and 85 percent of High School students attend what’s known as 'Cram School'. Cram Schools are institutions that are designed as extracurricular learning, usually attended early in the morning or in the evening.
The Japanese also have a very interesting view of student success, they truly exemplify the sentiment of 'No Student Left Behind'. However there view is very different than that of the U.S. A Japanese student that fails to master a concept is expected and encouraged to work harder, not only by teachers at school, who have no tolerance for a failure to master a concept, but they also receive much encouragement and support from the home front, as parents will not easily allow their child to fall behind in studies because of the social stigma it places on them.
In summary, the Japanese way of life allows them to educate the populace so well.
Sources:
Wikipedia
This Wikipedia article takes a look at all levels of education in Japan.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
An article published by NCTM about one teachers experince with the Japanese education system.
US Education - Two Million Minutes
This video explains that students have 2 million minutes to make decisions and accomplish what they choose for the duration of their high school career. It includes a brief trailer of an actual documentary that follows 6 motivated and top performing students of their class, 2 from the United States, 2 from India, and 2 from China. It illustrates the differences in time management between the students of these countries. It is interesting to hear what priorities in terms of time each of these students have and determine who is getting the most out of their education and social life.
Posted by: Andrew Finger
US Education - The Perfect Storm
This video explains how inadequate literacy rates, a changing economy that will require a high degree of education, and an influx of low skilled workers fueled by immigration are hurting the middle class. The failing education system in the United States and the decline of public education are going to affect the quality of life for many in the future. Changing the curriculum, teacher compensation, and showing students college is accessible can help reverse this trend. There is 100 million people who do not meet literacy and mathematical skills for the workforce of the 21st century, this statistic is projected to get worse.
Posted by: Andrew Finger
Another Link!!
So I know I said that we shouldn't post links BUT this one site will be a lot of help to us all, i hope. It's a side by side comparison of education around the world. http://www.nationmaster.com/cat/edu-education
SO far i have been focusing on spain and finding, to my surprise, that the United States is better in terms of education but no by much.
Jonathan
Raising Malawi with Madonna - You Can Help
Here is a video of international pop star icon Madonna discussing upcoming plans for her non-profit organization Raising Malawi. Madonna adopted a 13-month-old Malawian named David Banda in 2006 and since then she has taken a personal interest in Malawi. Her goal is to end the extreme hardship and poverty the orphaned children of Malawi endure by raising awareness so that the people of Malawi who understand the challenges their country faces can bring the changes they need.
Posted by Mark Albers
Education (United States)
This source explains the general education structure we have here in the United States. The amount of schools, laws governing students, decentralization, and diversity are topics discussed regarding students studying in America. The education structure must be examined to determine what additions or changes the United States needs to make to improve quality of education.
Education Structure (K-12)
This source illustrates various educational statistics through the use of graphs. Along with providing a national statistic, the statistics of each individual state is also included. It provides a better insight of which states have better education, which can ultimately help other states improve their quality of education. This is important because the federal government has little to do with the educational curriculum in the states, it is a duty of local municipals. If one state is performing very well, their policy's and strategies can be used throughout the country.
NCHEMS Graphs
NCHEMS Graphs
This source provides the compulsory education entry and exit ages. It explains the general guidelines and levels of education, along with the approximate years to complete each stage. A picture graph accompanied the text to provide a more clear roadmap.
This source explains the American education is in a state of crisis. Every year, millions of children pass through America’s schools without receiving a quality education that prepares them to succeed in life, to compete in the increasingly competitive global economy, and to maintain the blessings and responsibilities of a free society. This widespread failure imposes unquantifiable costs on individual lives and our communities. As a country, it imperils our national security. For years, policymakers have sought to improve American schools by increasing government control. But decades of increased spending and increased federal control have yielded little improvement in student performance. The Heritage Foundation believes that every child in America should have an opportunity to receive a high-quality education.
This source is provided by the federal government. Throughout the website there are education budgets, federal laws & policies regarding education, educational statistics, and evaluations. It also has updates of current initiatives for the education reform within America.
Posted by: Andrew Finger
Madonna's non-profit organization raising awareness in Malawi
Raising Malawi is a non-profit organization that was started by international pop singer Madonna. In 2006 Madonna and Michael Berg founded Raising Malawi to bring an end to the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi's 2,000,000 orphans and vulnerable children once and for all. Raising Malawi supports community-based organizations that provide vulnerable children and caregivers with the following critical resources:
◦Nutritious food
◦Proper clothing
◦Secure shelter
◦Formal education
◦Targeted medical care
◦Emotional care and psychosocial support
In 2008, Raising Malawi announced the creation of an all-girls boarding school to provide impoverished girls with the means to realize the full range of their potential, to foster Malawian cultural pride and responsibility and to act as examples of girls' empowerment and gender equity.
Click the link below to learn more about Raising Malawi:
http://www.raisingmalawi.org
Posted by Mark Albers
Education System in Kenya, Africa
The education system in Kenya is similar to the education system in the United States as well. Since 1985 Kenya's education system has consisted of a 3 level program.
The Primary education level is an 8 year program. The entry age for this level is age 6 with students finishing this level around age 13. It was not until January 2003 that students could receive primary education for free.
In order to continue to Secondary education level which lasts 4 years, students are selected on the basis of their performance in the national examinations for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. To enter into a 4 year college or university, students are selected on the basis of their performance of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology is responsible for the provision of administrative and professional services in education at the national, provincial, and district levels. The Permanent Secretary is the Accounting Officer and overall administrative head, and the Director of Education is responsible for all professional matters in education. In the field, there are Provincial Directors of Education, and District and Municipal Education Officers who are in charge of administration and supervision of education in their respective provinces, districts and municipalities.
Education statistics in Kenya:
Literacy rates for men between ages 15-24 - 80%
Literacy rates for women between ages 15-24 - 81%
Primary school enrollment rate for men - 75%
Primary school enrollment rate for women - 76%
Primary school attendance rate for men - 79%
Primary school attendance rate for women - 79%
Completion rate of primary school - 84%
Secondary school enrollment rate for men - 43%
Secondary school enrollment rate for women - 42%
Secondary school attendance rate for men - 12%
Secondary school attendance rate for women - 13%
Source: http://www.sacmeq.org/education-kenya.htm
Source: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/kenya_statistics.html
Posted by Mark Albers
Education System in Malawi, Africa
Like Kenya, the country of Malawi also has a similar education system to the United States. Their education system consists of 3 levels which are primary, secondary and tertiary education.
The Primary level is an 8 year cycle that starts at Standard 1 and ends at Standard 8. The entry age for the primary level is age 6 but due to late and multiple entries and repeated grades can range from age 4 in standard 1 to age 18 in standard 8. These standards are separated into three sections:
Infant Section - Standards 1-2
Junior Section - Standards 3-5
Senior Section - Standards 6-8
The Secondary education level is a 4 year cycle that consists of a Junior level cycle (Form 1 and Form 2) and a Senior level cycle (Form 3 and Form 4). After each cycle students must pass National examinations in order to continue to the next cycle. There are three categories of institutions which are: Conventional Secondary Schools, Community Day Secondary Schools and Private Schools. Students who enter the Community Day Secondary Schools and Private Schools are normally those who have not been selected to enter Conventional Secondary Schools by the Government based on the results of students Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations.
The Tertiary education level is a 4 year cycle which consists of universities, technical and vocational schools and teacher education. The amount of time it takes to complete the Tertiary level depends on the courses being studied and can range from 1 to 5 years.
The Ministry of Education has administrative, financial and academic control over primary, secondary, tertiary (including the university), distance education as well as the training of primary school teachers. The system of education is organised in four tiers. At the top of the national structure is the minister of education. While the Ministry of Education plans and administers the system as a whole, the responsibility of managing and administering the three levels above is assigned to one Principal Secretary who is assisted by heads of departments. The second tier is the division administration. Under the recent efforts to decentralize education services, the previous three regions were split into six and renamed divisions each headed by a division manager.
The Malawi National Examination Board, which oversees examinations and the Malawi Institute of Education, which has in recent years played a leading role in curriculum and material development and in-service teacher education.
Under the United Democratic Front, the new democratic government introduced Free Primary Education in the 1994-1995 academic year, partly in response to the Jomtien conference on Education for All which was held in Thailand in 1990 but also in fulfillment of one of the promises the new government had made to its electorate. This also formed part of a national policy of Poverty Alleviation by the new government. The new government had realized that reducing poverty was not possible without sustained economic growth and that economic growth would not happen without investing in education.
Literacy rates for men between ages 15-24 - 84%
Literacy rates for women between ages 15-24 - 82%
Primary school enrollment rate for men - 84%
Primary school enrollment rate for women - 90%
Primary school attendance rate for men - 86%
Primary school attendance rate for women - 87%
Completion rate of primary school - 71%
Secondary school enrollment rate for men - 25%
Secondary school enrollment rate for women - 23%
Secondary school attendance rate for men - 13%
Secondary school attendance rate for women - 13%
Source: http://www.sacmeq.org/education-malawi.htm
Source: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/malawi_statistics.html
Posted by Mark Albers
