Education systems vary drastically from country to country. Depending upon the country, different values, strategies, and outcomes are considered desirable.
The educational system of a particular country is affected by its cultural, economic, and political values. The approach employed by each country to its education system can vary from the immensely competitive and expensive system of North America to the relaxed, creative learning model of Finland. So, what system would be considered to have the hardest education system in the world?
Which country is setting the highest of educational standards for its students?
What is the Education System of China?
When considering countries that have the hardest education system, China must be considered a strong contender. Chinese students study incredibly long and hard hours. Those studying at China’s top universities, such as Peking University, have to put a hefty focus on the sciences and mathematics.
The Chinese educational system puts heavy emphasis on high grades and test scores, and students are expected to be knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects. Chinese students are also under pressure to learn Chinese characters as they are an elemental part of the country’s literature, culture, and history.
The expectations placed on Chinese students by the education system are overwhelming, but this has not deterred many, who want to give themselves the best chance of excelling in university. From a young age, Chinese children get involved in tutoring courses to help them excel in their studies. To gain entrance to the top universities in the country, students will often sit entrance exams that can last for up to 10-hours.
What is the Education System in India?
The Indian education system is known for having some of the hardest education in the world. India has the highest number of college students in the world and high expectations are placed on students from a young age. In India, the education system values dedication, discipline, and respect.
Students are expected to put their course content before all else and to work consistently hard outside the classroom to ensure they have good grades. College entrance exams in India are highly competitive, with the top universities having strict admission procedures.
Entrance exams are very long, formulaic and require excellent grades. In some cases, it is incredibly difficult to get into a good university, and even if a student passes the entrance requirements, they will have to compete with the thousands of other applicants for a place. The difficulty of the educational system can be seen in the results students achieve in exams.
India’s high schools and universities are known for producing highly educated citizens, and literacy rates show that half of India’s population is educated.
What is the Education System in South Korea?
The South Korean education system is one of the toughest in the world. South Korea is well known for its intense competition in both education and the workplace and South Korean students are well known for their dedication and hard work. In South Korean high schools and universities, students are expected to put a huge focus on their studies with an average student sat 8-12 hours per day.
South Korea also has one of the highest amounts of suicide rates among high school and university students in the world due to its demanding standards and the pressure to succeed. To gain entrance to a South Korean university, students must pass the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) which tests their knowledge in a range of subject areas.
Once students reach university level, they must compete for their place, as only the top 10-12% of applicants are accepted each year by top universities.
What is the Education System in Japan?
Japan has an incredibly hard education system with high levels of competition between students. Students in Japan have to put in many hours of study in order to excel in their classes.
Japanese universities also have some of the most difficult entrance examinations in the world and in order to gain admission, students have to go through several rounds of tests. The Japanese education system is also strict when it comes to attendance and punctuality. Students must be punctual and attend all their classes or face sanctions.
Japanese universities are also well known for their extremely high dropout rates due to the high amount of pressure placed on students.
What is the Education System in Singapore?
Singapore is known for having a very structured and rigorous education system with well-defined academic goals. Singapore is also known for having one of the highest student-to-teacher ratios in the world.
Singapore’s education system is well respected for having one of the highest ranking qualities of teaching in the world. Singapore’s focus on higher level mathematics and the sciences mean that students here often have to work hard to achieve their goals. To gain admission to a university in Singapore, students must sit the Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Levels exam, and competition is extremely high.
The Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Levels is known to be incredibly difficult, with most students studying intensely for up to two or three years before they take the exam.
What is the Education System in Taiwan?
The education system in Taiwan is known for its rigorous and competitive approach to learning. Much like other countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea, the Taiwanese education system places much emphasis on the sciences and mathematics. However, the level of competition in Taiwanese schools is known to be incredibly high, and students must work incredibly hard to succeed.
To gain admission to university in Taiwan, students must pass the Joint College Entrance Exam. This exam is highly competitive as there are only a certain number of places in top universities, and each year there are more than ten-times more applicants than places available.
This can lead to extremely high levels of stress for students wanting to gain entrance.
What is the Education System in Finland?
Finland has an education system that is seen as being creative, relaxed, and well resourced. Finland’s approach to education is vastly different from other countries in the world.
In Finland, school is seen as a place of play, exploration, and creativity rather than a strict academic environment. The Finnish educational system is focused on the individual, and allows students to learn at their own pace. In Finland, there is no centralised University Entrance Exam, meaning that university admission requirements can vary between different universities.
However, in general, admission is based on the results achieved in the Matriculation Examination, which tests a student’s overall knowledge.
What is the Education System in Germany?
The education system in Germany is known for its demanding and difficult approach. German students are encouraged to strive for excellence and to take a logical and systematic approach to their studies.
There is an emphasis on knowledge acquired through self-directed learning, and students are expected to work hard outside of the classroom. To gain admission to university in Germany, students must pass the ‘Abitur’, a highly competitive exam that tests a students overall knowledge. The Abitur is known to be a difficult exam, and students must put in many hours of work to gain a place at university.
What is the Education System in Australia?
Australia is known for having a high-quality, well-structured education system. In Australia, students are expected to work hard and push themselves to succeed in their studies. Australian universities also have some of the most competitive entry requirements in the world, and to gain admission, students must pass entrance exams and stringent faculty entry requirements.
Australian schools also place a heavy focus on state and national examinations, and these exams are crucial to gaining admission to a university. Students must also be aware of the changing application and examination process as different universities and faculties can have different entry requirements.
What is the Education System in New Zealand?
The education system in New Zealand is well respected for its excellence and high quality of teaching. New Zealand universities are known for having strict entry requirements, and students must be able to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities in a range of subject areas.
To be considered for entry to New Zealand universities and colleges, students must pass entrance exams such as the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) or the New Zealand University Entrance Examination (NZUE). The New Zealand examination system is incredibly competitive, and those wanting to gain admission to the top universities must work incredibly hard to succeed.
What is the Education System in Canada?
Canadian education system is known for its rigid structure and demanding expectations. Canadian students are expected to be punctual, dedicated, and respectful in all aspects of their studies.
Canadian students also have to compete for their place at university and entrance exams are tough. Canadian university entrance exams are often multiple-choice exams, and competition is high for the small amount of places available each year. The Canadian education system is also known for having extensive testing and assessments for students.
This is to ensure that students are receiving the best possible education. Canadian students are also assessed on their ability to think critically and solve complex problems, which means they can be seen as some of the most knowledgeable, well-rounded students in the world.
Conclusion
No country has an education system which can be definitively labelled as ‘the hardest’. However, the educational systems of some countries are certainly more demanding than others. Countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada all have demanding and rigorous education systems which demand a high level of dedication and hard work in order to succeed.