How does education in the United States compare with education in Japan, Russia, and Egypt?
Introduction:
The United States is a country where education is always given paramount importance and this is reflected in the considerable amounts of institutions spread over all categories which are available. This compares well with what is available in Russia for example where education is still on a sporadic level although there have been recent pushes by the Medvedev administration to make schooling more accessible to all.
Egypt which is currently still passing through considerable turmoil especially with regards to civil administration has an education system which is very much in tatters at the moment. However this does not mean that the potential in the system is not there and if it is in full working order when the situation stabilzes,. It means that education in Egypt would be among the best available, at least in North Africa.
Japan has an excellent educational system which can be said to be superior to the US not least due to the fact that it has a rate of almost 99 per cent when it comes to tertiary educational levels. The country also has an excellent educational system in the primary level and is also very much on the ball when it comes to secondary education with a vast range of career choices available for the young although the recent crunch in the economy has seriously affected opportunities.
The US System
In many ways the US system is inherently flawed in that it does not offer equal opportunities to all. In the South where education is still something of an issue, there is still de facto segregation in certain areas which is definitely not seen in Japan or Russia for example. Children from poorer backgrounds and from different ethnic communities obviously suffer to integrate themselves into the white community and this means that the language barrier for Hispanics is something of a problem when it comes to this fast growing section of the population.
However when it comes to college education, the US can be said to be head and shoulders above the rest. With such prestigious universities as Harvard and Yale, we can observe a shift in the quality of education which is not seen in the other countries chosen for comparison. Russia especially is problematic in this respect with a very poor tertiary education sector whilst Egypt’s at present is totally non existent. Japan can only come close in certain aspects but its main universities such as those in Tokyo and Osaka are principally geared for Japanese students and do not offer international opportunities for those who wish to study in that country.
Comparisons:
If one were to choose an educational system which was comparable to the US then it would have to be Japan where the opportunities are substantial. The system begins from the very down with intense levels of teaching especially when the students are very young. This is perhaps slightly better than the US. Egypt suffers from an intrinsic instability and malaise in this respect while Russia is working hard to beter its educational systems especially in the larger cities of Moscow and St Petersburg where there is a vibrant life and young community.
References:
Reed, Matt (12 December 2010). "Tackling 'achievement gap' hurts US schools". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1B.
Ronold, Dave. Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs. National Education Association. Retrieved February 19, 2005.
