The grass is always greener...

This is an article from the BBC that I find very interesting. Many Koreans don't like the high pressure education system here and, if they can afford it, they send their kids abroad. A lot of the public school teachers here don't like the educational system and dislike focussing their students on university entrance exams from an early age. In addition, the government is working hard to try to level the educational playing field so that families living outside of Kangnam, Apkujong, and a few other wealthy suberbs are not disadvantaged. And still, there are always some places that are worse - places where the education system is - dare I say - Third World.

Coming from a background of teaching high school in Canada, I can certainly sympathize with those who bemoan educational systems that are leveling themselves downward in an attempt to include everyone and avoid failing anyone. A happy medium would be nice. Korea has done an amazing job, but do we really want to hold the Korean education system up as on to be emulated? Is there any way to encourage kids to value education without burying them under endless hours of private school classes?

Europe's skills fall behind Asia

South Korea has especially high attainment levels in education

Europe is falling behind Asia in terms of education and skills, a report published by the Brussels-based Lisbon Council think-tank says.

It blames France and Germany which are criticised for mediocre education systems and their inherent class bias.

....

South Korea and Finland are highlighted as positive examples where investment in education has taken priority.

...

"Education and skills will be key for Europe to achieve its ambitious goals," he says.

...

Mr Schleicher praises the "miracle" of South Korea - a country which in the 1960s had a lower national income than Mexico and South American countries and sat near the bottom of the 30 OECD countries in terms of educational qualifications.

Demand

Today, 97% of South Korea's 25 to 34-year-olds have high school education - the highest rate among the main industrialised countries.

He says South Korea was transformed by its positive response to a demand for education.

"When demand for education began to outpace supply, students were not sent home," he said. "Instead, class size and schooling hours were extended."

Parents also invested in private tuition for their children.

"The incentives driving these reforms forward was a plethora of merit-based learning opportunities where progress depended on what children were able to do, not where they came from."

Mr Schleicher says this differs from France, Germany and Italy, where class distinction is a cause for concern.

"Europeans from difficult socio-economic backgrounds don't receive the same educational opportunities as children from rich and middle-class families," the study said.