10 Countries With The Best Education Systems
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), has introduced its Global Ranking list. The tremendously influential ratings permit nations to evaluate their overall performance in math, reading, and technology to education structures across the globe. More than 470,000 15-yr olds from over 70 countries write the standardized exams controlled through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
On the list is the PISA ratings in addition to referencing GDP data obtained from the World Bank and the United Nations. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao are integrated into the China ranking, and the proportion of the populace who move on to pursue degrees is likewise a factor.
The US ranked 25th overall, according to the PISA. Investing more off 4.9% of its GDP on education puts the US on par with both Ireland and Poland, and above China, Singapore, and Japan, all of whom are on the list. Read on to discover the best countries with the best education systems.
1. China
China dominated the PISA tests without the inclusion of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. They came in 1st in reading, science, and mathematics, China is an educational powerhouse with the achievement of the above
Their remarkable outcome come after a decade of reformations to the education system while sustaining an overall spend of about 4% of the GDP. The changes are clearly having a positive impact, not only on PISA ratings however also at the post secondary which sees most graduating
2. Singapore
Though it is the youngest and smallest country on the list, Singapore is a global leader in education. With a ordinary 3.3% expenditure on education, Singapore rates remarkably on 2nd place in all three subject areas. More inspiringly, students are taught not only in English, the official language of Singapore, but also in at least 2 additional languages, including Chinese, Malay, or Tamil. It’s little wonder that 54% of the population goes on to earn a post-secondary diploma.
3. Estonia
With 41% of its population holding post-secondary certification, and 5.5% of its GDP dedicated to education, Estonia has consistently been one of the highest achieving European nations on the PISA ratings since it joined the EU in 2005. Reading and science are particularly strong, with exam results in the top 5, while math scores are ranked at 8th place.
4. Japan
Japan boasts a well-educated population, with forty-eight percent completion of tertiary level. Despite a relatively low 3.6% government expenditure on education, its high-tech economy greatly values secondary and post-secondary achievement as a means of socioeconomic mobility. Unsurprisingly, Japanese students consistently rank among the world’s top 5 countries for reading, science, and math.
5. South Korea
Holding a consistent place on the PISA rankings, with 7th place in math and sciences in 2018, and 9th in reading, South Korea has one of the most educated labour forces globally. Over 45% of the population has graduated high school and completed tertiary education. Much of the country’s rapid economic growth and high-tech boom is rooted in a societal emphasis on schooling, including 5.1% of government spending dedicated to education.
6. Canada
With 54% of its population having completed post-secondary education, which ties it with Russia for the top spot, Canada is the only North American country to make it on this list. Devoting 5.5% of its GDP to education has certainly paid off, with Canada earning top ten scores in reading, math, and sciences well above its neighbors to the south in the US (25th place) and Mexico (56th place).
7. Finland
Finland has held a place in the top ten PISA rankings for as long as the OECD has been compiling the data. Famous for its no homework and no mandatory testing policies, this Scandinavian nation tops the government spending list at 6.8% with an impressive 42% of the population going on to earn post-secondary certification. While its Pisa scores in math have dropped to 16th place in 2018, strong results in reading (7th) and science (6th) keep Finland on the list of countries with the best education systems.
8. Poland
Like nearby Estonia, this former Soviet satellite has seen a shift in government spending since joining the EU in 2004. Today Poland allocates 4.9% of the GDP toward education, bringing it on par with Ireland and above other countries on this list such as China and Japan. Poland earned the 10th place spot on the combined Pisa exams, and while 27% of the population holds college level diplomas, that number jumps to 43% when looking at 25–34-year-olds.
9. Ireland
Despite a much lower GDP than its neighbor, the UK, Ireland dedicates 4.9% of it towards education. The return on this investment is evident in rapid gains in the PISA rankings, with Ireland ranking above the UK in overall scores. It’s unsurprising that this highly literate population, 41% of whom have a post-secondary diploma, continues to improve its education system, including the introduction of Gaelscoils, state-funded language immersion schools that teach in the traditional Irish language.
10. Slovenia
Nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia, Slovenia outpaces all of its neighbours in reading, math, and science. Slovenians place a high emphasis on the value of education, dedicating not only 5.7% of its GDP to schooling, but also offering tuition-free undergraduate degrees at state universities. As a result of this no-tuition policy, 38% of 25–34-year-olds have a post-secondary diploma, with 29% of the overall population completing post-high school studies.
