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http://lifeglobe.net/entry/6971
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There are a lot of ratings defining best
educated countries around the world; one of them is conducted
by the Programme of International Student Assessment
(PISA) made every third year on a 15- year old teenagers,
testing their knowledge and skills. The measures are taken from 70 different
countries and within varied economies. What is mainly taken into account is how
an average student ranks on reading, mathematics
and science. Japan , South Korea, Canada, Finland, UK , Singapore, Hong Kong
and Netherlands were always the leaders,
however, in the qualification in 2012 Poland (in the top 10!), Taiwan and
Estonia rose to their rank. What helped us was for sure the abandonment of the
educational system of the communist regime, focusing on technical, vocation
skills and global economy.
Meanwhile Finland, which from 2000 led in
ratings, fell in to number five and was outstripped by Asian countries. Was it because
of too short school days, lots of breaks every day, no homework for young
children or no exams until the age of 13? I don’t believe so, keeping in mind
that the rest of the day is fulfilled with school-sponsored educational
activities, which help students to acclimatize in the school society. Unlike in
other countries schools in Finland are allowed to choose books, curriculum
materials and so on. Teachers are the best trained in the world, they have to have a Master’s Degree.
There are maximum 16 students in science class and similarly to other nations
school starts at the age of 7.
I don’t see a rational reason for such a decline
despite the fact that simply others have
become better; although, the Finland authorities decided for total revolution
in a school system, a change which will fit the 21st century – that is
the removal of all current school subject. How is this possible? The key point here is studying phenomena and
events in an interdisciplinary way rather than individual subjects. Students
will choose courses taking into account their abilities and desires for the
future, for example, when they take “working in a Café” they will learn economics,
communication skills as well as the English language and the WW2 will be taught
from different perspectives such as geography, history and math. Students will
work in groups, discuss problems instead of sitting behind the desk. The school
reform will require a lot of cooperation between teachers, who have already
started training courses, which will result in a pay rise.
What do you think of Finnish education reform?
Do you agree we need a modern change to adapt to present times?
What’s your opinion about the Polish education system? Does it work properly? Will eight
years of primary school be a positive change in our society?
Sources:
Comments
In my opinion eight years of primary education sounds good. I don't have any strong opinion about that, as I don't have that deep knowledge about education in general, but I feel like it'd be a good change for both students and teachers, not to mention that overall level of education would probably also go up.
Polish system, in my opinion has three problems:
- to much so called universities, where you get the diploma just to "get it", because of society pressure and so on.
- our high school exams are too easy, few daceds back if you finished high school you were quite skilled person, now its just some paper that everyone can get(and because of that there are many colleges from point above)
-older generations tell youngester that basci vocational schools are for loosers, which is totally not true. Pushing children to get maturity exam is just stupid, look up average salary for someone with high school education and compare it to entry level mechanic
I totally agree with you that we don't need so many useless courses on some universities with meaningless papers. I believe a good step will be making public universities paid. That way only people who really want to study would go there. I know there are some people who can't afford paying for universities, however the talented ones would fight for scholarships and study anyway and we don't need not gifted people in higher education institutions. That only does not eliminate one perennial problem that wealthy but not inteligent people still will study anyway and pay for their papers.
What's more, I know a lot of people who try to judge educational system based on ratings, but they don't think about the ways of creating of it. The most important for them is a place there, not the effects.
There are many countries that shaped much better educational system, but I cannot agree it's so bad in Poland. Of course, we can improve a lot, but we should remember there is always something to improve. 'We can improve this, this and that' is not a determinant.
Unfortunatelly, I agree with the fact that there are people who study just to get a diploma (as Paweł said). They graduate and then... nothing. This ascpect definitely should be improved. We should more differentiate levels of high schools, because often very good people study with 'a little' worse. I believe good example is situation in PJATK - the first year of study is lost for most of us. Why? Because everybody is able to get accepted, but not everybody is able to survive. In my opinion, students should be checked on the beginning.
To sum up, I think our educational system is not as bad as many people say. There are some aspects that can be changed, but first of all we should change thinking - it kills not only system, but also our position in the international arena. I know we are not 'top of the top', but we will never be if:
1. our opinion is based on ranks,
2. almost everybody would study in the same group, not only school - regardless of the level and possibilities.
To be honest, my conclusion is: 'if somebody wants to learn something, our educational system is quite well prepared'
1. Less Structure = More Trust
2. Fewer Students = More Individual Attention
3. Less Homework = More Participation
4. Fewer Topics = More Depth
5. Less Testing = More Learning
6. Fewer Classes= More Breaks
7. Fewer Accepted Applicants= More Confidence in Teachers
8. Fewer Teachers = More Consistency and Care
9. Fewer Instruction Hours = More Planning Time
10. Less Time in School = More Rest
11. Less Formal Schooling = More Options
In my opinion it is impossible to adopt it in Poland even in 100 years. We will be still learning more and more by hard rather than learning how to thing in the right way.
I have the impression that there are two divergent views.
What's more, what about poor people who are really good? The amount of scholarships is always reduced. So in fact, there would be some geniuses who get scholarships and a lot of richer ones who are not at the same level, but have money. What about poor and much more intelligent than rich ones?
1. More mathematics, physics and IT, less other subjects.
2. History focused more on modern period (30% before 1900; 70% after 1900).
3. More skill training; brain training; less memorization.
4. More presentations and long-term projects; less repetetive tasks.
For higher education: I would make all of it paid, but with high grants for good students, so you would actually go study the subject only if you really, really want to, not just because you want any kind of deegree.
On the 8 year primary school change, in a couple of years it can turn out to be positive. But definitely not right now as it is a 100% political decision. Schools aren't prepared for that change nor are curriculums, I really feel sorry for the kids that will go through this change soon, because the government is completely cluelessly experimenting with their future.
In high school I knew that I wanted to go to "PJATK" and learn informatics. Unfortunately I had to learn geography, biology etc. For me this is stupid.
There are a lot of countries not only in Europe but also around the world where people pay for public education and it's quite normal for them, so I quess it's not so strange.
I agree with you that it's not so badly with our education, though I can't admit I'm satisfied with it.
We could put pre-studies courses into practice, as it's in Italy for example. That way people who are acknowledge to the university course they chose won't be on the same year with people who wrote well the matura exam, although they have no knowledge of the chosen course yet.
I was reading an article about the best education systems in 2015 and I have found out that Poland education system is not that bad, it was in the eleventh position.
In my opinion one of the worst education system in the world is Egyptian one
And the way how I see the education system right now it limits the creativity of the children and makes them focus on the given Curriculum and does not adjust with different students’ abilities
I'll be watching the Finnish reform with curiosity, and hope we will bring some of their ideas to our education system.
In Ukrainian schools teachers pays low attention to students as individuals, but as a group. Everyone has the same classes and the same evaluation. Refers to the system, everyone one who is good in math is smart, and everyone who is good in history, for example, isn't as smart as a math person. There are lots and lots of issues in the educational systems, no reasons to write about them all. However, in my opinion, the best way to prepare a person for a real world life is to make more social classes in school. I think, it's great that children in Finland can choose what they would like to learn. If they won't like it, they can change a program in school. They won't need four years in university ti understand that they don't like courses they take and they want to do something totally different in life.
I think we should teach children more practical things and try to teach them through fun and games. This way they will think that learning is great thing and will expand their knowledge by themselves.
The first thing that we should take care of is the level of teachers.
I never was a fan of our education system. I always hated teachers strictly forbidding eating or drinking, using your phone, not to even mention a computer during lessons. Methods like those are incredibly outdated. I like that we get to learn a lot of general knowledge but the atmosphere should be way more relaxed. Learning how to pass tests by simply memorizing stuff won't help anyone in their adult life. Learning how to think on your, how to take part in discussions, learning languages own should be the most valuable thing in school. It's been quite a while since I went to school but I heard not much has changed - I can only imagine how hard it is for younger people to adapt tho those archaic conditions.
history lessons and after some time i know it was my mistake. To be smart, fully educated person you need to read a lot and be interested in a lot of fields which interpermeate.