Education Systems in East Asian Countries

The military powers or even the country's economy does not project a direct and significant bearing to the state of its education system. Actually, it is the system that does most for one country. A system which spreads progress to the various fields, e.g. the economic growth.

Speaking mainly of education systems, Human Rights Advocate released an article on May 5, 2017 containing the best education systems across the planet. The prowesses of East Asian countries were evident as Japan, South Korea and Singapore dominates the list, and countries such as Russia and Norway has also showed excelllence academically. These countries have been dubbed as the cream of the crops as they obviously produce the best students.

Being tagged as one of the best education systems carry out the question, what made it the best? And this phrase is true with the above-mentioned countries. What made it the best?

Accounting them one by one shows that every education system consists of basically 12 years of primary and secondary education and another four years for tertiary level, depending on the applied course. However, each one of the countries differs from stages, phases and the level of compliancee specially on early year schooling like the Kindergarten.

In South Korea, Kindergarten is optional. Most parents prefer to let their child stay at home during their early going but as they reach the age of 6, they are required to attend the 6 years compulsory chodeung-hakgyo elementary education. In there, they encounter subjects like English, Fine Arts, Korean, Maths, Moral Education, Music, Physical Education, Practical Arts, Science and Social Studies, usually taught by a single teacher. Afterwhich, the transition goes for middle education where they spent three years and another 3 years of secondary education where topics or the type of education gets more specific. Tertiary Level will follow and students are given rhe chance to choose between having a vocational course, or in pursuing a bachelor's degree. According to Deva Dalporto (2013), South Korea comitted to an equal oppurtunity system when it comes to education. They established lottery systems in order for kids, regardless of where they live or how much money they have, get access to great education. Furthermore, the type of studying in SoKor is vigourous and non-stop. They also have massive standards to entrance exams. But despite such, students there posses passion when it comes to the talks of education.

The next stop eventually brings out Japan. The same division goes with how South Korea is but what made Japan different is that their 1 month vacation, or less. The education system in Japan needs to accomplish 6 years in Elementary School, 3 years in Junior High School and another 3 years in High School. However, their duration of schooling is different for they start their classes on April and end in March. They tend to study for eleven straight months. In addition, their system has been one of the best for they generally promote good classroom communication among teachers and students/pupils. They believe that with such, learning will be maximized, teachers will act as role models, an authentic intercultural surrounding will be created, and there will be provision of rich Japanese input. The use of their own Japanese language has been their secret towards better understanding.

Another country considered to have one of the best education systems is Singapore. School Education is a priority in Singapore and it is patterned in the core western model. The first 4 years of primary education molds a child off to a good foundation. During the 2 year orientation phase that follows though, pupils are subjected to learning areas according to their difficulties and the like. Right after, students are streamed to secondary education. The special and express tracks are 4-year programs paving way to Cambridge GCE O Levels. The normal stream may consume 5 years for a student to the same destination but via N Levels. In all cases, everything is the same, what made it different is the tine to undertake such. Tertiary levels in Singapore can be in Vocational or Bachelor's degrees. The thing that made Singapore one of the best education system is its intructional regime. According to David Hogan (2014), classroom instruction in Singapore is highly-scripted and uniform across all levels and subjects. Thus, he added that teaching is coherent, fit-for-purpose and pragmatic, drawing on a range of pedagogical traditions, both Eastern and Western. They rely mainly on textbooks and worksheets and their classroom discussions, it is teacher-centered or teacher-dominated.

Countries like Russia and Norway has also been considered to have one of the best education systems.

General education in Russia has three stages: primary education, which lasts for 4 years; basic general education lasting for 5 years and secondary education which lasts for 2 to 3 years while the education system in Norway is made up of primary school (Barneskole), lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole) and upper secondary school (Videregående skole). Russia and Norway see to it that development shall be focused to the child itself. This made them to have one of the bests.

The teaching strategies which are stated are true to all the subjects taught in such particular country. It can be under mathematics, science, English, or even social studies. This consistency made them rose above all, they strike a balance.

Given the opportunity to glance at others, accounting our own and seeing its loop holes is also a great idea. The education system in the Philippines after the implementation of the K to 12 program holds a compulsory Kindergarten schooling, 6 years of primary or elementary schooling, 4 years of junior high school and two years of senior high school. For the tertiary education, students are given the choice to different platforms such as doing business, applying for work or continuing for college. According to an article posted on TeacherPh.com (2014), Filipino teachers must know themselves first in order to give their pupils or students the best quality for learning. This is basically true. Assessing oneself leads to more innovative ideas which teachers can use in class. There are no standard strategies in the Philippines aside from the usage of Manila Papers to show visuals and text, as well as the usage of new media and technology. The things around such revolves in the teacher's head, it is dependent to him or her.

Inclusion of Araling Panlipunan or Social Studies has been evident in the current curriculum the Philippines is using in its education system. However, this is one subject area where most students have a low performance. Pupils have a low performance in AP subjects because of the mere fact that the subject is turning out to be a boring one. Second, the subject is too much wordy and it takes too much time to listen on its lectures. Psychology says that people only listen at the first five minutes of a lecture, the rest, they resort in doing other things. Thirdly, pupils are not interested. There is no dependable source of motivation. Addressing the dilemmas of low performance in this subject can be done through, diverting the way of teaching from the conventional, into something innovative. Give them a taste of peculiarity. It can also be done through involving video clips or visual presentation in showing the pupils the happening rather than directly stating it to them. Thus, the teacher has to be that someone who tells why do pupils need to study this and what are the implications this shall bring. They must be of high level of energy in teaching such for it is where the students gain their motivation and inspiration.

The modes or interventions of the best education systems are open to be adapted, if change has come to the Philippine Governement, why not let it in through the education sector? Specifically, this makes sense for the governement. Attaining the authority to have the best education system depends upon the school, the teacher and the child. If one fails to do its role, it will eventually lead to failure.

In History/Araling Panlipunan/Social Studies, it can be dealt that we have the potential to be one. We just do not maximize it.