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South Korea’s education system outperforms 208 nations

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Human Rights Advocate
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South Korea best every country on the planet in education, again in 2016. By out ranking its closes competition for over the last three years Japan, by 3 points.

South Korean student’s college graduation rates are the highest in the world (69%). And their 10 and 14 year olds overall international test scores in math, science and reading are second. The only area of weakening in their education system seems to be affordable early-childhood enrollment for children 3 to 4. 

What Does this Mean?

Each year, tenths of millions of new workers enter the global economy. Each group of these workers represents their country’s strengths and weaknesses in every day society.

To bring this point home more clearly, without a strong foundation to develop and prepare a future workforce. Countries would be living in weak economies that will result in higher crime and poverty rates. That destroys human lives. Look at all the poor countries in Africa for an example.

Countries like South Korea, and other major Asian nations, realize prevent is the best solution for the here, now and the future. By concentrating on building a strong education system, they are creating a workforce that will sustain their economic growth.

The World Top 20 Poll Ranking System

NJ MED (New Jersey Minority Educational Development) is a member of the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council of NGOs (Non-Government Organizations). The purpose of ranking and monitoring 193 country members of the UN, and sixteen other nations; is to help identifying the weak areas of nation’s education systems for students 3 to 25 year olds.

And to annually and quarterly report on the world’s best 20 countries education systems, on how they prepare children for school entrance, through early-childhood enrollments. Student’s development in critical thinking, problem solving and comprehension skills for 10 to 14 year olds, through Science, Math, and Reading.

The last two levels of reporting on educational development focus on the task and social development in high school completion rates for students 14 to 19, and the number of students seeking higher skilled careers through college completion rates for 18 to 25 year olds. 

How the Data is Gathered for the Rankings

The statistical data gathered to develop the ranking system is compiled from 6 international organizations – the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (UNESOC), The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS). Then send to each country’s Ministry of Education Department to assure the data is accurate.

Each country is then, ranked in five educational levels: early-childhood enrollment rates; two Primary levels- (5 to 10 year olds) Math, Science and Reading scores; (11 to 15 year olds) Math, Science and Reading scores; High School Graduation rates, and College Graduation rates.

Each level consists of ranking the top 20 countries in each category. By giving a country 20 points for a first place rank, 19 for a second place rank, and so on down to 1 point for a twenty rank. The data, is then used to produce the nation’s ranking from a combined score from all five levels.

The 2016 Top Ranked Countries

South Korea outperforms Japan to remain number one in NJ MED’s final rankings for 2016. Japan, for the third year in the row finishes second. Russia’s education system has moved up two places from last year’s rankings, to number 3, and now represents Europe’s best education system.

Singapore’s education system remains as the world 4th best. Again, their primary level student’s international test scores in Science, Math and Reading, rank number one in the world. Finland, considered by most educators, as having the world’s best education system. Reach their highest ranking in the Poll system, to number five.

The United Kingdom fell three places to number six. While, the United States rises 10 places to number 7. Their biggest improvement came from international primary test scores.

Denmark moved up three places to number 8, and China advanced 4 places to number 9. The Netherlands remains at number 10.

Israel’s education system drops out of the top 10 position for the first time, in four years, to end number 11.  Canada also fell out of the top 10, to number 12. While Germany and Hong Kong, moved-up one place from last year, to number 13 and 14.

Ireland dropped seven places from last year’s ranks to number 15. Norway has returned to the top 20 rankings this year, after not making the ranks last year for the first time, and finish number 16.     Slovenia also returned, to rank number 17.

The last three ranked education systems are led by first-timer Sweden, who were projected to finish number 18. Which they did accomplish, followed by France that was ranked number 19. Hungary’s education system also made the ranks for the first time and round out this year’s top 20 ranks, at number 20.

Here are the 2016 results:

  1. South Korea
  2. Japan
  3. Russia
  4. Singapore
  5. Finland
  6. UK
  7. USA
  8. Denmark
  9. China
  10. Netherlands
  11. Israel
  12. Canada
  13. Germany
  14. Hong Kong
  15. Ireland
  16. Norway
  17. Slovenia
  18. Sweden
  19. France
  20. Hungary

Is South Korea Really the Best?

In the last three years, South Korea remains the world’s best-educated country. Some educational expertise argue, that the countries focus on test taking is not really a sign their children will become successful later in live.

The expertise point out, the stress created to do well on standardize testing has caused poor social skill development for students went they become adults. (South Korea has the world’s second highest suicides rate, and the highest among developed nations).

Do you agree with the expertise? What is your opinion? Please leave your comments below.

Rural poverty line is still hindering children’s access to education in Uganda

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Human Rights Advocate
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Uganda

By John Bosco Ssenyondo
Abaana Community Outreach Africa

Despite the growth in Ugandan economy over last decade, the Human Poverty Index is about 27 per cent of all rural people. However, many families are still living below the national rural poverty line, on less than $1.25 a day limiting children’s access to education.

Children in rural areas are now entering early child marriages and labour markets at very young age, involving themselves in cattle rearing, working on peoples’ plantation as casual labourers and others resorting to petty stealing as a means to be able to earn an income – at least be able to afford food, soap, salt, sugar, scholastic materials and other basic amenities for their households all of which seriously affects their growth and well-being, despite government’s effort to enable every body access education through introducing universal primary (UPE) and secondary education (USE), many children in rural communities have still  failed  to enroll or continue  with their education.

This is mainly common in rural communities of Rakai, Mityana and Lwengo districts among others

This is a routine incident and widely spread in the above mentioned rural communities.

The very low level of education among the whole population of the communities which has been attributed to the increasing number of orphans as a result of HIV and AIDS scourge  that has hit the communities of Rakai, Mityana and Lwengo district for many years. Subsistence agriculture being the major way of livelihood has made it very difficult for the parents to send their children to school due to the increasing cost of education.

Children found in their home and had spent 3years not attending school but were supported to attend school

Many of these children in the above rural communities are either neglected/abandoned  and orphaned children having a surviving parent — usually their mother — or live with a close family, these orphans and vulnerable children face multiple risks as HIV and AIDS increases family poverty and distress through loss of income or livelihood.

To find out how you can help visit here.

South Korea Goes For A Repeat In 2015

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Human Rights Advocate
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Korea

NJ MED’s First 2015 Quarter Report of the World Top 20 Poll, projects South Korea to be crowned as the top country in education again.

NJ MED released its first quarterly report of the world’s best education systems this week. And the World Top 20 Poll’s number one ranked country in education last year, South Korea, was selected number one, and is projected to retain its title as the most educated country on the planet in 2015.

The annual poll’s first quarter report is a projection of which countries will end up as the top 20 education systems, out of 209 nations, at the end of each year. The first quarterly poll rankings are calculated from last year’s results from 2 of the world’s most prestigious international education polls ranking systems (Pearson/ Economist Intelligence Unit and MBC TIMES) and NJ MED’s final poll results.

The Chosen One

This year’s choice for number one South Korea was projected to finish number 3 last year in the World ranking Poll, behind the number one 2013 Poll winner Japan and number two, the United Kingdom.  South Korea, however, overtook both countries in last year’s final rankings, and became the number one ranked education system in the world in 2014, and now hopes to become the first two-time World Top 20 Poll winner.

Albert Mitchell II, NJ MED’s CEO, said “Last year, we used government’s spending on education and a public opinion poll to select who’d constitute our final top 20 ranked countries. This year, we have decided to use a more accurate approach to project; which countries could reach the final rankings. By, focusing on the previous year’s results, using 3 international poll results to start the year, and allow educators, teachers, parents and students to select which country, they believe, has the best education system, in our second quarter rankings.”

2015 World Top 20 Education Poll

NJ MED’s last year’s first quarterly report had 15 of the top 20 nations ranked in the final poll. With five nations – Hong Kong, Iceland, Spain, Switzerland and Slovenia- breaking into the final rankings. This year’s poll rankings will start with 4 new countries, hoping to reach the final top 20 rankings on December 31, 2015.

Here is the First Quarterly Report Rankings for NJ MED”s 2015 World Top 20 Education Poll:

1. South Korea (59) Last Year Finish: 1 Last Year Projected: 3
2. Japan (55) Last Year Finish: 2 Last Year Projected: 1
3. Singapore (51) Last Year Finish: 4 Last Year Projected: 11
4. Finland (48) Last Year Finish: 9 Last Year Projected: 4
5. UK (48) Last Year Finish: 3 Last Year Projected: 2
6. Hong Kong (43) Last Year Finish: 13 Last Year Projected: NR
7. Netherlands (42) Last Year Finish: 6 Last Year Projected: 5
8. Canada (41) Last Year Finish: 5 Last Year Projected: 9
9. Denmark (29) Last Year Finish: 11 Last Year Projected: 7
10. Germany (28) Last Year Finish: 8 Last Year Projected: 18
11. Ireland (28) Last Year Finish: 15 Last Year Projected: 13
12. Russia (23) Last Year Finish: 7 Last Year Projected: 12
13. New Zealand (18) Last Year Finish: NR Last Year Projected: 14
14. Poland (18) Last Year Finish: NR Last Year Projected: NR
15. Switzerland (16) Last Year Finish: 18 Last Year Projected: NR
16. Israel (15) Last Year Finish: 10 Last Year Projected: 15
17. Australia (14) Last Year Finish: NR Last Year Projected: NR
18. USA (12) Last Year Finish: 20 Last Year Projected: 10
19. China (9) Last Year Finish: 12 Last Year Projected: 17
20. Belgium (8) Last Year Finish: NR Last Year Projected: 8

South Korea Capture Title as World Best Educated Country

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Human Rights Advocate
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South Korea overtakes Japan in the NJ MED’s Annual World Top 20 Education Poll that monitors nation’s education systems from early-childhood enrollment to college graduation rates.

Three of the top five ranked nations are from Asia (South Korea, Japan and Singapore), with Europe being represented by the United Kingdom at number 3, and Canada representing North America, rounding out the top 5 at number five.

South Korea secured the top spot by only one point over last year’s winner Japan and maybe hard to takedown in 2015.

Here is the result of NJ MED’s World Top 20 Poll’s rankings.

1. South Korea: PTS: 72 Last Year Ranking: 2 Population: 50,423,955

To compete in today’s global economy. Nations must invest in education and few countries are more invested than in this department than South Korea; whose parents spend 15% of their annual income on education, tutoring and supplemental education materials. South Korea’s return on their investment is bearing fruit, by improving at early-childhood enrollment boosting them ahead of Japan in this year’s poll. South Korea faces legitimate questions about how their students can maintain such a rigorous pace, with their high primary education test scores in math, reading and science; an excellent secondary graduation rate and, of course, the world’s highest post-secondary completion rate at 66%. South Korea’s plan to go 100% digital this year, and have textbooks in all of their schools accessible from a computer, tablet or phone, would put an awful lot of distance between them and many other nations, but at what psychological cost to their students?

2. Japan: PTS: 71   Last Year Ranking:  1    Population: 127,070,000

Japan dropped to number two in this year’s poll and look to improve last year’s performance. It is hard to imagine Japan falling past the top two spots, however, the greater question now is whether Japan elects to increase their investment in early-childhood education. Despite displaying top performances in proficiency, reading, math and science in primary and secondary levels and having the world’s second highest college graduation rate (59%), it was also widely assumed that Japan’s high school graduation rates would be better (ranked 7th in the world). Even though it’s highly unlikely Japan will drop further down the poll, the country needs to reevaluate their thinking in two key areas, as they seek to regain the title as the World’s Best Educated Country.

3. The United Kingdom (UK): PTS: 58   Last Year Ranking: 3   Population:  64,105,654

The UK’ ranking remains the same from last year’s finish, but some of the country’s top education leaders are concerned that after years of improvement in secondary student levels are declining, and now is in danger of going into reverse. The Country’s Department of Education believes they are well-suited to address the problem, starting with their plan to recruit 17,500 new math and physics teachers over the next five years to increase standards. Obviously, if the UK hopes to advance in the rankings, they must improve their secondary levels, which was the only area, their nation finished out of the top 10 (number 15th).

4. Singapore: PTS: 52 Last Year Ranking: 4   Population:  5,469,700

Singapore continues to show they’re a force at the primary and secondary education levels, and show flashes of being capable of earning the top spot in the poll. Adding better ranking points from early-childhood enrollments and high school graduation rates seems like the logical choice. The poll’s ranking system is still won or lost at the five education levels, but if Singapore a small country with fewer students to make progress with; spent less than 4% of its GDP on education. Their opportunity to move-up in the rankings will lie with their willingness to spend more.

5. Canada: PTS: 50   Last Year Ranking: 7   Population:  35,675,834

Canada’s success in education continues to grow, by moving up two spots from last year’s poll. Canada’s improvement in high school graduation rates is where the boost came (23rd to 14th). The next move for the country, is improving its early-childhood learning and skills development to help prevent over 20% of Canadian children entering school with learning delays, behavioral problems or other challenges. Canada’s reputation of having grit and go get it attitude shows they should make the upgrade in early-childhood education.

6. Netherlands: PTS: 50 Last Year Ranking: 8       Population:  16,884,100

The Netherlands clearly made, progress in this year’s poll, especially at improved high school graduation rates, but if the Netherlands is to advance higher in the poll rankings, they have to continue to invest in their early-childhood education policies aimed at “groups at risk”, which are children that have a migrant background, language deficits, or have parents with lower educational qualifications. Given the fact they only trail Europe’s Best Educated Country by eight points, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Netherlands achieving that gold next year.

7. Russia: PTS: 44 Last Year Ranking: 5     Population:   146,300,000

For all the concerns about Russia’s economic issues, the biggest impact may be felt on reduce investment in education. Given the country only spends 5% of its GDP on education, Russia, like many other nations, spends less on early-childhood education, which explains their drop in the poll’s rankings. With the World’s 3rd highest college completion rate (57%), it’s hard to predict, if they will have the capacity of remaining in the poll’s top 10 rankings. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to count Russia out.

8. Germany: PTS: 41 Last Year Ranking: 15       Population:  80,783,000

Germany has the economic resources to compete as one of the world’s best education systems, but lack post-secondary graduation rates to make a leap into the poll’s top 3. Advancing seven places from last year’s poll rankings, demonstrates a dynamic capability to become Europe’s best educated country to complement their increase in international high school graduation rankings from 14 to number 3. Germany led Europe in this category, which could pay immediate dividends in improving their post-secondary graduation rates for this year’s final poll ranking.

9. Finland: PTS: 41 Last Year Ranking: 6     Population:  5,472,421

Finland has dropped-three places from last year’s poll, but it would be a huge mistake to assume their education system has gotten worse. Their education quality as measured, by international data may have not changed at all, but the introduction of other nation’s education systems that focus on taking tests has made Finland results appear worse than they really are. However, if they hope to regain their position, developing a more robust early-childhood education system could help their cause.

10. Israel: PTS: 36 Last Year Ranking: 10       Population:  8,281,900

Israel has the highest standard of education in the Middle-East, and maintains their world ranking at number 10. With a moderate decline in higher education completion rates and with Israel’s population growth might be their biggest challenge to move-up the rankings. Currently, Israel spends 5.9 of their GDP on education, second highest among nations in the top 10, but if they want to challenge for a top 5 spot, they would be best served focusing on investing in early-childhood and at the primary education grade levels.

11. Denmark: PTS: 35 Last Year Ranking: 16        Population:  5,655,750

Finishing number 11 in this year’s poll, Denmark elevated five spots, and if they could have improved their secondary and post-secondary levels would have pushed them into the top 10. Denmark invests more in education than any country in the Top 20 Poll rankings, and boasts one of the world’s best early-childhood learning environments, and offers free higher education for its students. Improving their secondary and post-secondary completion rates is doable, and would make sense, as well as, increasing the number of primary students’ math, reading and science levels. Denmark has Europe’s most potential and matches up well with any Asian nation’s education system.

12. China: PTS: 33 Last Year Ranking:  11   Population: 1,367,510,000

As the world’s largest populated country, China has a lot of flexibility, including potentially making a top 10 spot finish. A major challenge is reaching their rural population, and providing them with quality teachers and schools. China also has to concentrate on upgrading their early-childhood education system; with 100 Million children under the age of six, only 6% of them have, access to high quality early childhood education. Since, 2010 China’s Government has developed a new policy and committed resources to address the problem, now they are awaiting those outcomes.

13. Hong Kong: PTS: 33   Last Year Ranking: NR        Population: 7,234,800

After, major protest in 2012, over the Government’s proposed new education curriculum, it will be launched this year. The old “saying that don’t fix it if it’s not broken”, then why is Hong Kong trying to fix-it? Hong Kong has finished behind mainland China in this year’s global rankings. With more data available in early-childhood and upper-secondary education levels, Hong Kong’s ranking could be much higher. Their primary and secondary results show there teachers and school’s capabilities. If the Government’s new philosophies, is not counterproductive Hong Kong, will remain an elite educated country.

14. Norway: PTS: 32 Last Year Ranking: 13     Population: 5,156,450

Norway compares well with other nations in upper-secondary and especially in early-childhood education, but in the primary and lower-secondary levels they are struggling. None of their 4th and 8th grade proficiency levels in math, reading and science finished in the top 10 in these categories. The Norwegian education system is well funded, and will probably remain a middle ranked country in global rankings, until their 10 and 14 year olds testing results improve.

15. Ireland: PTS: 32 Last Year Ranking:  9            Population:  4,609,600

Blame Ireland all you would like for falling six-places in this year’s ranking, but their decline isn’t based on their performances; it’s based more on other nation’s catching up. Ireland has the world’s sixth highest college graduation rate, but saw their high school graduation rate ranking drop, five spots from last year. Ireland also must start to address early-childhood education, where over 40% of children that live in urban disadvantaged areas, who are most at risk of not succeeding in education, lack adequate schools and teachers. Ireland’s education system has been more willing than most European nations to gamble on improving higher education but may now need to focus on lower levels.

16. Iceland:  PTS: 32   Last Year Ranking: 27              Population:  328,170

Iceland is the smallest populated country in the rankings, but invests more of its GDP (per-capita) on education, than any other nations in the global rankings. Iceland investment has paid off by moving from 27th last year, to number 16th this year. Iceland ranks number six in early-childhood enrollments and number four in high school completion rates, but don’t be surprised if they remain a top 20 ranked nation, and get an opportunity to advance even higher next year. Adding a more proficient primary reading, math and science level could even help turn Iceland’s potential into a top 10 finisher.

17. Spain: PTS: 29 Last Year Ranking: 25   Population:  46,507,760

Spain leaps into the World Ranking. Spain advances five places from last year, with an increase in high school graduation rates – 80% to 93%. Despite their success, Spain still has the world’s highest youth unemployment rate 53%. Spain’s next step will require improving their primary test scores, which have been relatively low in reading, and link to why it’s much harder for students to develop the marketable skill set to secure a job. Spain’s struggle at the primary levels has been their downfall, but it is also their starting point for tangible improvement.

18. Switzerland: PTS: 29 Last Year Ranking:  22   Population:  8,211,700

Missing results cost Switzerland a top 10 finish in this year’s poll ranking. Despite moving into the top 20, Switzerland were less competitive at early-childhood enrollments and lower-primary levels. Providing more focus on the upper-primary and secondary levels seems to be a priority for the Switzerland education system, however, especially children with low socio-economic or immigration backgrounds seems to hurt those results. Switzerland is a viable contender for a top 10 ranking, but must improve access for these groups of children, if they hope to attain that goal.

19. Slovenia: PTS: 29 Last Year Ranking: 21     Population:  2,065,208

The Slovenia’s early-childhood and high school education levels have been good enough to make them competitive, but the lack of a higher college completion rates, limits the country’s upside and future opportunity to break into the Poll’s top 10. Slovenia’s new immigration policies promise to boost education achievement for all their students, who climb the ladder towards higher education, which will make them, a nation to contend for a top 20 spot each year.

20. United States of America (USA): PTS: 28 Last Year Ranking: 18   Population: 320,132,000

The US retains its Top 20 ranking and provides evidence that other nations are becoming more invested in education. With the US falling two spots from last year’s rankings, the US again failed to make progress in early-childhood enrollments and high school completion rates, which explains why. Given the resource the country has, re-structuring of both their low performing levels, the US can reverse their fortune against dropping out of the global rankings, and moving up to a top 15 finish.

Japan holds onto a One Point Lead over South Korea as the World’s Best Education System

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Human Rights Advocate
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The World Champs

South Korea committed to be the World’s Best Educated Country; But Japan refuses to give-up that title

The 2014 World Top 20 Poll 3rd Quarter Report was released this week, with the two

best ranking nations from last year’s poll set to face off for this year’s top spot. Japan has endured and emerged as the World’s Best education system for the last 19 months, but South Korea stands strong to overcome them this year, by reducing Japan’s lead from 10 points to only one.

South Korea began this year in third place, behind both Japan and the United Kingdom (UK), and fell 19 points from the lead, but by the end of the third quarter poll report it saw a new-found gain in educating 3 and 4 year olds that secured a move into the top 20 ranking for early-childhood enrollment.

Japan, on the other hand, has dropped fourteen points from last year, and seen a decrease in the number of children educated from 3 and 4 year olds, 97% to 86%. The impact has brought them back to the pack, with the UK, Canada and the Netherlands, inching within 11 and 20 points.

Both Japan and South Korea have looked convincing in secondary-education, but both have dropped in the rankings from 2nd and 3rd, to 7th and 12th in high school graduation rates. They now have to trust in the results of their proficiency levels from 9 to 14 year olds to decide this year’s winner for the world’s best education system.

Comparing Japan and South Korea’s Education Approach

Education is everything in South Korea, from their social status to their marriage prospects to their job is determined by where they went to college. South Korean parents spend more on education (15% of their gross national product) than any other nation. Their children school days start at 9 AM and end at 5 PM, and most go to extra class until 10 PM. (READ MORE)

In Japan, education itself is based on standardized testing. Children in Japan need to take entrance examinations to enter public high school or college. Students attend school from 8:30 AM to 3 PM, however, children are expected to be at school 1 to 2 hours before it starts, and attend after-school programs until 5 PM. (READ MORE)

So Who Will Be NUMBER ONE December 31th

Rightly favourites to remain number one, Japan, they have all the ingredients required to find a way through a standardize testing system to outperform every nation on the planet. However, South Korea has shown they are better at testing, yet it may not be enough.

Who Do You Think Wins?

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