Education Systems: US and Europe Compared

France, Germany, UK and Finland

Institute For European StudiesDr. Luise McCarty

Associate ProfessorEducational Leadership & Policy StudiesIndiana University School of Education

October 28, 2013lmcccarty@indiana.edu

Comparing the US Education System with those of Four European Countries: What can we

learn?Comparing and contrasting different systems of education reveal strengths and weaknesses, similarities and differences in each.Comparison fosters appreciation of the history, culture, goals and societal values that create the unique features of each education system.Reforms reveal current concerns with education in each country.

Caveats

• I will introduce the structure of each country’s education system and highlight unique features that are different from those of the US.

• I will not compare the four countries to each other. They are all different, given their histories, but they are also part of the European Union and share common goals, such as lifelong learning, student exchange, and Bologna alignment of higher education.

Population5.3 Million

Population 81.7 Million

Population 62.4 Million

Population65 Million

Topics to be compared:

• Structure of elementary and secondary schools • Unique structural features (child care, early

childhood, vocational education, funding, curriculum, testing, teacher status)

• Integration of immigrants and minorities• Religious instruction• Access to higher education • Status of Teachers

Comparing the Systems

• Governance: Who has primary authority to control education?

• Is the system centralized/decentralized, uniform or differentiated. If differentiated, at what level?

• Who is primarily responsible for funding education?

• Who sets the curricular guidelines?• Frequency of testing and by whom?

Country Governance/Centralization

PrimaryFunding Source

Curricular Control

Testing+ frequently- infrequently

Focus for discussion

US LocalStateCharterDecentralized

LocalState

StateLocal

StateNational++

France NationalCentralized

National National National--

Early childhood educationImmigrants

UK Mostly municipal & independent/PrivateDifferentiated

National National National ++

Differentiation of schoolsDevolution

Germany StateCentralized

State State State -

Vocational EducationReligious instruction

Finland MunicipalDecentralized

Muni-cipality

National National-

Child careTeacher status

2009 PISA Results

Reading

1 Shanghai 556

2 S. Korea 539

3 Finland 536

17 US 500

19 Germany 497

21 France 496

26 UK 494

OECD Avg 493

Science

1 Shanghai 575

2 Finland 554

14 Germany 520

16 UK 514

23 US 502

27 France 498

OECD Avg 501

Math

1 Shanghai 600

2 Singapore 562

6 Finland 541

16 Germany 513

22 France 497

28 UK 492

31 US 487

OECD Avg 496

Gross Domestic Product, Spending per School-Aged Child and Teacher Salaries (Source: OECD ilibrary.org)

US Comprehensive System

Societal Values Regarding Education and Purposes of Schooling

• US: focus on individual growth • Prepare for future career• Become a contributing citizen to your

community• Demonstrate your knowledge through tests• Sports develops character, loyalty to school

and community, and group spirit

The French System

The French Centralized System of Education

• Originated by Napoleon: primary/secondary/tertiary + vocational (introduced later)

• Teachers are national state employees• Centralized national curriculum• Early childhood education very important• Primary education similar to US, incl. subjects• Very different secondary system, mandatory to age

16, then differentiation into tracks• Testing: Exit exams

What are Current Educational Issues in France?

• Early childhood education a political issue• Reinstating teachers and putting more in early

childhood education• Change school day back to 4.5 day school

week for primary schools• Releasing a secular code of conduct to enforce

a secular morality > head scarves• Immigrants and religious instruction

Unique Features of the UK Educational System

• Dramatic reforms of schools since 1989 to reflect market values: choice, competition, performance

• Devolution 1998: Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland have their own education system with the Scottish deviating the most from the English system

• Great variety of school types (equivalent to US charter schools) in the public and private/independent sector

• School uniforms required

Unique Features of the English System of Education

• A National Curriculum for all grades • Local/municipal control of education • School choice within regional/county school district• Regular national assessments at key points• A large sector of fee-based independent or private

schools • Preprimary school starts at age 3, compulsory age 5• Range of types of primary and secondary schools that

have selective admissions according to student scores

Current Issues in the UK

• Frequent testing at each key stage• Raising mandatory school leaving age from 16 to

18 in 2015• Parental choice • Home schooling possible • Large independent/private sector at secondary

level• Some tuition for secondary schools and tuition up

to £9,000 p.a. for university education

Devolution: Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland Scotland: strong comprehensive and non-selective state schools – Mandatory for ages 4-16– Denominational state schoolsWales: Compulsory Welsh language instruction to age 16

and Welsh as first language in 22% of primary schools– Community based comprehensive schoolsN. Ireland: managed Catholic and Protestant schoolsleads to highly segregated education system- Immersion of Gaelic and English into successful bilingual

education

The German School Chart

Unique Features of the German System

• Tripartite system after primary education• Special education in separate schools• Dual vocational system• Tests only for entrance and exit into a new

level of school• Teachers are civil servants with tenure• University education is in a chosen

discipline/career path (no general education)

Unique Features of German system• Mandatory schooling from age 6 to 15 + 3• Early differentiation of schools: tripartite system

requires school choice at age 10• Vocational education as collaboration between

private sector and special school• Funding of elem. & sec. schools by state; local

authorities are responsible for maintenance• Subsidiary principle: private/denomination

institutions provide majority of child care• Religious or ethics instruction mandatory

Recent Educational Reforms

• Major expansion of early childhood education and after school programs

• More financial support for parents to have children• Increased opportunities and integration of non-native

students• Reducing the Gymnasium by 1 year from 9 to 8• Return to tuition free university education • Increase number of students to enter higher education • Reduce # of tenure positions for teachers and offer

contracts instead of civil service privilege

The Finnish Education System

• Education is highly valued in Finnish society• Goal of Government to achieve a high level of

education and competence for the whole society • Every student has basic right to free basic

education and equal opportunity to further education

• The local school is a source of pride and is financed and administered through the local municipality

• A national curriculum guarantees uniform education guidelines that are adjusted locally by teachers to fit community and individual student needs.

Unique Features of the Finnish Education System

Unique Features of the Finnish Education System

• Dual language instruction: equal instruction in mother tongue for Swedish minority

• High quality free and universal childcare: children start compulsory education at age 7 but have been well prepared through pre-primary child care from 8 months on

• The child’s individuality and care about others are primary values.

• The municipality pays mothers for 3 yrs. who want to stay home to raise their child

• Teacher quality is viewed as the most important ingredient to Finnish student success

• All teachers have completed four years of teacher education and obtained their Master’s degree

• High selectivity: Only 10% of applicants to Teacher Education Institutions are accepted

• Professional development is valued throughout a teacher’s career

• Teachers are relatively autonomous professionals

Secret to Finnish Success: Well Educated Teachers

Conclusion• Many reform ideas were developed in the US and then

adopted in Europe• The English system is most closely copying the current US

system of choice, privatization of schooling, and frequent national testing

• International test results such as PISA are provoking political attention to education and, thus, reform

• Reform initiatives are negotiations between established structures and values and new solutions to perceived or real problems >> slow progress

• In Europe, education is seen as one of the most important investments necessary to secure future growth and progress >> more funding is required

• Lifelong learning is a goal for the whole of Europe

If you were able to influence education policy and you could change one thing about education in the US, what would you want to adopt based on this presentation today?

Discussion Question

Some References: R. Arnove & C.A. Torres (eds.) (2003) Comparative Education. 2nd ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, BBC World News America. (2010, April 6). Finland’s education success. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8605791.stmCompton, R. A. (2011, Feb. 24). The Finland phenomenon: Inside the world’s most surprising school system. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcC2l8zioIw&safe=activeEconomist Intelligence Unit. (2012). Lessons in Country Performance in Education. Pearson.Niemi, H., Toom, A., & Kallioniemi, A. (Eds.). (2012). Miracle of education: the principles and practices of teaching and learning in Finnish schools. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers.OECD. (2004). Learning for Tomorrow’s World. OECD Publishing.OECD. (2011). Lessons from PISA for the United States, Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education. OECD Publishing.OECD. (2008) Teacher salaries. Retrieved from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/teachers-salaries_teachsal-table-1-1-enOECD (2009). PISA 2009 Assessment Framework—Key Competencies in Reading, Mathematics, and Science.Pearson Foundation. Video Highlights (various countries). Retrieved from http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/oecd/Public Broadcasting System. (2010, December 9). Need to Know: Why Finland leads the world in education [Television broadcast].Sahlberg, P. (2011). Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? New York, NY: Teacher College Presshttp://rossieronline.usc.edu/u-s-education-versus-the-world-infographic/