A CLOSER LOOK ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF SELECTED COUNTRIES

There are variety of educational systems around the world. These educational systems
will serve as guide and basis for information and knowledge on what specific educational
system does a certain country observe. The following countries are Australia, China, Japan,
South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand and the Philippines.
In Australia, which is called as the last paradise on earth, has a high quality of education,
primary school is for six years, high school, six years and for college or university, three to six
years. The entry age of compulsory education is 6 years old and exit age is 15 years old which
was provided by government and non-government schools. A junior secondary level comes
next for four years, ages 12 to 16. Afterwards, a senior secondary level is provided for two
years. The main purpose of Australian Higher Education are (1) to enable individuals to develop
their capabilities for effective participation in the workforce, for constructive contribution to
society and personal growth and fulfillment, (2) to advance knowledge and understanding, (3)
aid the application and understanding for the benefit of the economy and the society, (4)
enable individuals to adapt and learn, consistent with the needs of an adaptable knowledge-
based economy at the local, regional and national levels, (5) contribute to democratic civilized
society.
In China, the most populous country in the world has the largest educational system
which is highly centralized. The subject matters and instructional contents are uniform for all.
The first six years is for primary education, three years of junior middle school, three years of
senior middle school, six years of university and varieties of technical and vocational schools.
Class ranges from 40 to 60 students and students have to cover all topics in order to pass
national examinations.
Education in Japan is highly centralized and is administered by the Mombusho or
Ministry of Education. There educational system is seen as a model on how to operate schools.
They produce students who perform far better than others. They are well-behaved and envied
around as law-abiding citizens. The educational system is divided into five basic levels:
kindergarten, elementary school (six years) lower secondary school (three years), upper
secondary school (three years), and university (usually around four years).
In South Africa, the Constitution guarantees equal education for all. They observed
values and principles which include equity and redress, access to basic education opportunities
for lifelong learning, quality, in terms of providing learners with learning opportunities of
acceptable standards, efficiency, democratic participation, sustainability of development, and
relevance of education. Formal education is categorized into sectors or levels. These includes
public ordinary school education, independent school education, special school education,
technical college education, teacher training, technikon, and university training. These levels
pre-primary, primary, secondary, and higher education.
 In England, education is compulsory for children ages 5-16. It is mandatory for all state
schools to provide a balanced broad-based curriculum. The core subjects include English,
Mathematics, and Science. The stages of education includes foundation stage, key stage one,
key stage two, key stage three, key stage four, and post 16 education. Afterwards, go to
universities if they wanted to or seek for a job.
The levels of education in the US are similar to those in other countries. Their basic
education includes pre-primary education, primary education, middle school education,
secondary education. Higher education is US begins at the post-secondary education.
In New Zealand, the educational system is world-class, modern and responsive. It
combines proven, traditional principles of education with innovation, creativity and fresh
thinking to produce learners and citizens equipped for the 21st century. School is compulsory in
New Zealand from ages 6 to 16. The core subjects in which they focus on are English, Health
and Physical education, Language, Mathematics and statistics, Science, Technology and the
Arts. They are also giving importance to national competencies which must be developed by
learners. This includes thinking, using language, symbols, and text, managing self-a “can do”
attitude, relating to others and participating and contributing. Their educational system
includes early childhood, primary school, intermediate school, secondary school, and tertiary
level. Their school year is divided into four terms namely: term 1- Early February until mid-April,
term 2- Late April until the beginning of July, term 3- Mid-July until late September, term 4-
Mid- October until Mid-December.
Lastly, in the Philippines, recently, they have been adapting the K to 12 educational
system. It consists of Kindergarten six year of elementary, four years of junior high school, and
two years of senior high school. Grades 1 to 10 was taught basing on the core of the academic
subjects using the spiral progression approach. Mother Tounge is used as a medium of
instruction from K to Grade 3. Elementary education is concerned with the learner’s mastery if
basic skills and competence. Higher institutions are supervised by a government agency called
the Commission on Higher Education. Most of the college degree programs are four years for
baccalaureate degree.