(sadammer)
(durendal)
This report also stated that non of the countries score equally well in all the same areas.
For instance the UK was rated last overall but when it came to education it scored quite high compared to other countries.
Did you by chance receive your education in the UK......?
High = Bad, in this instance....
Not necessarily. British education standards vary from region to region and school to school. The grammar schools and many (thought certainly not all) private schools have a very good reputation; so good, in fact, that a lot of fee-paying boarding schools have about 30% pupils from overseas (obviously, most people can’t afford the fees though). Some comprehensive schools are excellent, others not so good. Some private schools have a good reputation which they don't really deserve; they cherry pick the cleverest 13 year olds, and then miraculously produce clever 18 year olds with four A levels.
As for adult education, there’s a huge variance in standard too. You can find ‘universities’ where the standard of a bachelors degree is relatively low. On the other hand, you have several of the world’s most reputable universities in Britain. Without really thinking hard, I could name Oxford, Cambridge, London, Durham, Leicester, Manchester, Birmingham, St Andrews, Cardiff, and don’t forget the Open University; the first university in the world to open itself to anyone who’s motivated for distance education, at a reasonable cost, and with a world class reputation in social sciences, business and increasingly in the natural sciences. A degree from any of these universities will be recognized as top class just about anywhere in the world.
If British schools are really all that bad, how can Britain have some of the world’s best universities, a leading position in scientific research and Europe’s strongest financial services industry? OK, some of the people involved in these sectors are from abroad, but that’s just a good thing as it combines insights from all over, and none of these sectors can operate without strong literacy and numeracy.
The big issue in British education is more to do with equality; unfortunately the opportunities aren’t as readily available to every person in every region; the best schools tend to be in the wealthiest areas, and the houses in the catchment areas of good schools are simply too expensive for many people. Reform in the UK’s education system has always been aimed at ‘standards’, while it should be about promoting diverse, but high quality regional systems combined with improved accessibility for everyone.
I can't say I have a very strong opinion about UK eduction - in fact, I know sweat F-A about it, I was merely trying to point out to the author of the post that a high score IN THIS PARTICULAR REPORT, reflects that THE REPORT deemed the brittish schooling as bad (or not as good as others, or worse than others), while the author seemed to have got it the wrong way around. Hence the jokingly intended remark about the authors possible schooling background....
I am sure you have some very fine universities but, I THINK....... a report like this probably more reflects a kid who is born in the projects' chances to reach these fine universities through the "normal" schooling system rather that the quality of the universities.....but I don't know.
