Educational Systems of selected countries

Group Task

1. Compare and Contrast the educational system of Australia and China.

Ans. In China, the education is divided into three categories: basic education, higher
education, and adult education. Basic education in China includes pre-school education
(usually three years), primary education (six years, usually starting at the age of six) and
secondary education (six years). Secondary education has two routes: academic
secondary education and specialized/vocational/technical secondary education.
Academic secondary education consists of junior (three years) and senior middle
schools (three years). Junior middle school graduates wishing to continue their
education take a locally administered entrance exam, on the basis of which they will
have the option if continuing in an academic senior middle school; or entering a
vocational middle school (or leave school at this point) to receive two to four years of
training. Senior middle school graduates wishing to go to universities must take National
Higher Education . By law, Education system in china have a 9 years cumpulsory in
education and have the freedom wether to continue or not. And if they will continue to
higher education, it has divided into two categories: 1.) universities that offer four-year
or five-year undergraduate degrees to award academic degree qualifications; and 2.)
colleges that offer three-year diploma or certificate courses on both academic and
vocational subjects. Postgraduate and doctoral programmes are only offered at
universities. They also have an adult education ranges from primary education to higher
education. For example, adult primary education includes Workers’ Primary Schools,
Peasants’ Primary Schools in an effort to raise literacy level in remote areas; adult
secondary education includes specialized secondary schools for adults; and adult
higher education includes traditional radio/TV universities (now online), most of which
offer certificates/diplomas but a few offer regular undergraduate degrees.

On the other hand, in Australia the Educational system also divided into three
categories: Primary school runs for seven or eight years, starting at
Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or 7. Secondary school which Runs for
three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10. Senior secondary school which runs
for two years, Years 11 and 12. Tertiary education includes both higher education
(including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).

The difference of the Educational system of the two countries are the years spent and
the freedom of their students after middle school or secondary education. In china
primary Education is called basic Education which runs into 9 years whilst in Australia
runs into 7-8 years. If china has higher education after basic Education which runs into
6 years ( 3 years for Junior and 3 years for Junior middle school), Australia also has
secondary school which runs into 3-4 years. Also, in China after higher education,
students have a choice wether to take academic or vocational subject while in Australia
called it Tertiary Education both higher education and vocational education and training.
In addition, China offers adult education for those undergraduate individuals from
remote areas aiming to raise literacy level in remote areas. Moreover, the Educational
approach in China is quite different from Australia because in China they have formal
education which means teachers are the only one moving inside the classroom, it is
somewhat a Teacher-centered curriculum where the teachers do spoon feeding of
knowledge to their students. On the other hand, Australia is informal Education where
students are the movers inside the classroom and the Teachers only are the facilitators
of learning.

2. Compare and contrast the educational system of Japan and South Africa.
Ans.  The educational system of Japanese schools has three semesters and each new
school year starts from April. Due to the three-semester system, Japanese students will
have spring, summer and winter vacation of 2 weeks in winter and spring, six weeks in
summer. Japanese education usually starts when a child is about three or four. Parents
usually send their children to local kindergartens until they are six. Then they must go to
elementary school.

Japan has a compulsory education of nine years. The government requires all children
to finish their elementary school and middle school. Thanks to this system Japan has
one of the highest literacy rates in the world, reaching as high as 99 percent.

Middle school in Japan follows right after elementary school, with more intense
homework and harder class material. Ever since elementary school students are given
vacation homework in order to keep them busy, in middle and high school this
phenomenon continues to prevail. Now students will have a specific teacher for specific
subjects with an additional teacher as homeroom teacher. The teacher also serves as
an adviser who offers advice to students about choosing high school. In high school the
adviser will make suggestions to students about their college according to their school
grades. The first year of high school is just like the freshman year of USA college, which
has a generalized education schedule, but since the second-year students schedule will
be much more individualized, their course will be in accordance with their own future
orientation.

In South Africa, Education in South Africa is continuing to take strain as the government
attempts to achieve equal opportunities for all. The system is divided into 3 strata,
namely general education and training, further education and training, and higher
education and training. The process is compulsory through to grade 9, and spans 12
grades in total. The first 6 years are spent in primary school where literacy and
numeracy are established. The following 3 years are spent in middle school. Subjects
taught continue to be academic with a flavor of vocational training. Completion brings
with it a basic education and training certificate. Secondary education is administered
through a network of previously mainly-white government schools and private colleges.

The difference between the Educational system of the two countries are the ways they
split each time in school. For instance in Japan, they have three semesters and each
new school year starts from April. While in South Africa, the system is divided into 3
(also) strata but with different descriptions, namely general education and training,
further education and training, and higher education and training. In Japan, it usually
starts when a child is about three or four. And parents usually send their children to
local kindergartens until they are six. Then they must go to elementary school. In South
Africa, the first 6 years are spent in primary school where literacy and numeracy are
established. Also, in Japan it has a compulsory education of nine years. Whilst in South
Africa, the process is compulsory through to grade 9, and spans 12 grades in total. In
Japan, their middle school follows right after elementary school, with more intense
homework and harder class material. Ever since elementary school students are given
vacation homework in order to keep them busy, in middle and high school this
phenomenon continues to prevail. On the other hand in South Africa, the following 3
years are spent in middle school. Subjects taught continue to be academic with a flavor
of vocational training. Completion brings with it a basic education and training
certificate.