Education Around The World

The way education is taught and perceived in the United States differs from the rest of the world. In fact, every country has different laws and education systems that are based of their political and cultural beliefs. Characteristics like the economy, religion, and demographic affect what is studied and who gets to study.

There are two types of education that happen in a society or community. Formal education is the learning of academic concepts through a curriculum that is predetermined and standardized. There are logical and structured methods of learning in place. Informal education is all the other, non-academic, learning that happens in a community. This includes the learning of cultural and societal values and formalities. Informal learning happens through participating in community centers, homes, and education institutions. Additionally, cultural transmission is how people learn about their culture. This can be formal and informal education.

In some countries, like the United States, all children must receive some form of formal education. Education is seen as a right. In other countries, education is a privilege. Because of poverty, some countries have overcrowded classrooms in which one teacher teaches multiple grades at once. Students here do not get personalized education, but instead a more basic learning system that can be repeated or not grade specific. Children in these countries might also no be required to go to school at all or have to go for only primary because there is a greater need for them to work and provide for the family. The areas that have educational systems like these are Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Eastern Asia.

Another way formal education differs around the world is that in some countries, young girls are discouraged, even forbidden to go to school. This could be because of many reasons. Like previously mentioned, poverty can lead to fewer girls going to school and instead working. Some cultures and religions frown upon women receiving an education. Places that have laws and customs that forbid women getting an education include the Middle East and Southern and Western Asia.

The ability to read can be taught through formal and/or informal education. In countries like the U.S., where education is mandatory and free, literacy is much higher than places where education is not as accessible. Most of the Americas, Europe, Australia, and. Central Asia have a literacy rate of 70% of their population or higher. The lowest literacy rates of the world are in Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, which have between 20% to 30% literacy rate in their populations.

As seen, each country has different statistics regarding education. What amount of formal and informal education makes you successful in one country might not be sufficient in another. However, in recent years, there has been a push for universal education. With universal education, every child has the opportunity to learn regardless of ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic roles.

By Sarahi