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           Most of us know what education in America is like. Six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, and four years of high school, all required by law; then any number of years at a college. But, for students in other countries, it is often quite different.

 

            In Japan, a student’s entire career builds up to admission to a well-known college. During the six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, and three years of high school, a great weight is placed on the shoulders of students to excel so they can get into a “good college.” The school week goes from Monday through Saturday, and the summer consists of two weeks in July and the month of August. Once accepted into a top-ranked college, a student can focus on things other than academics. In Japan, it doesn’t matter what you studied or how well you did; what matters is what college you went to. Going to one of the four main colleges—the University of Tokyo, the University of Kyoto, Keio University, or Waseda University—almost guarantees you one of the best jobs available. The standards are so high, though, that many students attend one of the other five hundred universities.

 

            If you were a student in Australia, you would likely start school at age five and continue on through six to eight years of elementary school and five to six years of secondary school. Then, you’d go on to one of the thirty public colleges for a few years. Living in the more populated areas would almost guarantee that you would go to a public school. But, if you lived in a rural area, most of your schooling would likely be by a correspondence course, an online system of classes, or two-way radio schools.

 

            In most African countries, especially the southernmost ones, there is no real law requiring children to go to school. Some countries, like Morocco, have public schools available to be used, but the majority of children need to stay home and help their families make a living. Many schools in Africa are run by missionaries and organizations such as World Vision. Public education is generally encouraged more in the northernmost countries. Most countries, though, are working to provide better laws and opportunities for education to their country’s children.

 

            Each German school system is controlled by the separate states. Generally, a student will go to elementary school for four years, and then move on to one or a combination of three different types of schools. One, called a gymnasium, is a typical middle- and high-school that focuses on preparing students to enter a university. Another school, a hauptschulen, focuses mainly on training students for jobs. A third, an intermediate school, combines both. The majority of students go on to one of the sixty or so universities, which include some of the oldest colleges in the world.

 

            Brazilian students start school at age seven and are required by law to go on until age fourteen. Many students drop out of school after the required time and go to work. Those who do go on to high school usually attend a private Catholic school for a yearly fee. For those who can’t afford this, many government plans are in place that rotate teachers to rural villages and have academic radio broadcasts. Mission schools are also a part of rural Brazil’s education. In the more populated portions of Brazil, universities draw some students. There are about 65 colleges in various places in Brazil. Most college graduates have more successful careers than those who didn’t graduate from college.

 

            In many counties in the world, the standards of education are not as high as America’s. Some, though, like Japan’s, are much higher in certain areas. As you prepare to graduate from high school—maybe in a few months, maybe in a few years—think about these different types of education; perhaps even consider going to college abroad. Whatever you choose, there’s sure to be an adventure ahead of you!

 

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