Education Systems: US and Europe Compared France, Germany, UK and Finland

1. Education Systems: US and Europe Compared France, Germany, UK and Finland Institute For European Studies Dr. Luise McCarty Associate Professor Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Indiana University School of Education October 28, 2013 lmcccarty@indiana.edu

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Population 5.3 Million Population 62.4 Million Population 81.7 Million Population 65 Million

5. 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

6. 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?

8. 2009 PISA Results

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

10. US Comprehensive System

11. 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

12. The French System

13. 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

14. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Devolution: Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland Scotland: strong comprehensive and non-selective state schools • Mandatory for ages 4-16 • Denominational state schools Wales: Compulsory Welsh language instruction to age 16 and Welsh as first language in 22% of primary schools • Community based comprehensive schools N. Ireland: managed Catholic and Protestant schools leads to highly segregated education system - Immersion of Gaelic and English into successful bilingual education

20. The German School Chart

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. The Finnish Education System

25. Unique Features of 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.

26. 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

27. Secret to Finnish Success: Well Educated Teachers • 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

28. 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

29. Discussion Question 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?

30. 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.stm Compton, 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=active Economist 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-en OECD (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 Press http://rossieronline.usc.edu/u-s-education-versus-the-world-infographic/