United States Education System vs European Education System

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United States Education System vs European Education System

Introduction

The United States’ education system offers a wide variety of choices both for domestic and international students. The language of instructions in the United States is English. Many people assume that the system used in the country is similar to other European countries like the United Kingdom, which also use English as the primary language of instruction. However, there are diverse differences between the education system in the United States and many countries across Europe. Equally, there are fundamental similarities between the U.S education system and some European countries. There are several factors to consider when analyzing similarities and the differences between the education system in the United States and other European countries. Some of the factors to consider include the structure of the education system, education curriculum, the grading system and the overall education culture in learning institutions.

Structure of Education System  

In the United States, the education system structure is different from most countries in Europe. Before joining higher education, students in the United States go through primary and secondary schools, commonly referred to as “first through twelfth” grade. Most students in the United States join elementary school at the age of six, and they study for six years before joining junior high school and eventually high school. Upon graduation from high school, students in the United States are awarded a diploma or certificate to proceed to college or university (Collins and Halverson, 2018). In contrast, the structure of the education system in other countries like the United Kingdom requires students to start school at a tender age. In the United Kingdom, children start going to school at the age of four, and they focus more on academics, unlike the United States, where children start schooling at the age of six without a sharp focus on academics. Children in most countries in Europe undertake examinations in key stages, which culminates in a two-year program that normally starts at the age of fourteen. After completing this program, students in European countries undertake another program commonly referred to as A-LEVEL, which equips them with the necessary knowledge for specialization. The A-LEVEL graduates are eligible to join universities and colleges.

The Content of Education Curriculum

The quality of education is often determined by the curriculum established by education stakeholders in a country. In the United States, the education curriculum is broad compared to other European countries. Unlike many countries in Europe, students in America are taken through a wide range of subjects like math, science, English, physical education, among other subjects. This often occurs to students at the elementary level to twelfth grade. At the high school level, students in the United States can choose more than one subject that covers areas of their interest. Typically, the broad education system in the United States does not allow students to pick an area of specialization at an early age. Instead, the system generalizes their performance, unlike in most countries in Europe.

There is a similarity between the United States and other countries in examining students at the end of each grade. However, administering examinations in the United States does not have a strong bearing on students’ progression from one grade to the next. Importantly, this can have a bearing on the course that a student can take in the future. In most countries in Europe, the administration of examination is taken seriously and has a strong bearing on a student’s progression from one level to another. Another major difference between the United States curriculum and most countries in Europe is how math and science is taught. In America, math and science are taught sequentially, unlike in other countries where it is taught simultaneously. For example, in the United States, a student doing physics will have to do it for a whole academic year before taking another class in biology. However, physics and biology are taught simultaneously in other countries like the United Kingdom.

Grading System

In the United States and other European countries, students who wish to join college and university must submit their transcript before they are admitted. However, the grading system in the United States differs from the grading system of other countries in Europe. In the United States, the uniformity of grading students often differs depending on the interpretation of the institution head. Markedly, the interpretation of grades is different in various institutions depending on the school that one attended. For example, a student who attends a prestigious school deemed challenging is often considered to have performed better than a student from an average school even though they have the same GPA. One of the reasons this variance exists in the United States is diverse education standards in various institutions. In other countries, the grading system is uniform among students irrespective of the school one attended, enabling them to join the institutions of their choice based on their qualifications. In the United States, two students with similar GPAs can have one get admitted in institutions while the other student gets rejected because of the grade interpretation (Rojstaczer and Healy, 2010).

Adaptability

Many students from developing countries move from their countries of origin to the United States and other developed European countries to pursue courses that suit their career choices. In America, several foreign students from Asia and Africa have joined colleges and universities spread across the country. This is also true for France, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is important to note that most developing countries adopted the education system of their former colonizers. Therefore, in many countries in Africa (for example), their system is largely attributed to European countries like France, Britain, and Germany. Consequently, most of these students often find it difficult to adapt to the United States education system. For example, students undertake several subjects simultaneously in most developing countries, unlike in the United States, where students undertake subjects like math and science sequentially. According to Yan and Berliner, (2009), the cultural practices in most schools in America are equally different from other countries in Europe. Time management is one of the cultural practices that diverse in the United States compared to Germany. In America, the time between class period ranges between 4-6 minutes, while in Germany, it is often around 15 minutes. Students do not have to leave their classes to attend different lessons in Greece and France. Instead, teachers often go to class to teach. In contrast, American students move from one class to the next, attending different lessons. These are some of the challenging factors foreign students often encounter in the United States.

Sports Culture

According to Bona (2021), sports is a part of schools culture in the United States. Students love sports, and they are diverse, ranging from basketball, soccer, and football. One of the cultures that make America unique is that schools take sports seriously and support students who have special interests in sports. It is important to note that students who wish to join institutions of higher learning can have an added advantage if they are good in a particular sport. Traditionally, many institutions in the United States value students who have excelled academically with additional talent that can bring value to the institution’s sport. The culture of sport in the United States is not surprising, considering that the American education system does not emphasize the examination. In most European countries, education and sports are not tied together. This is attributed to factors like the significance of examination in determining students’ progress to the next level. Although football sports are highly valued in countries like Britain and Germany, their education system does not prioritize sports. Instead, these countries concentrate on ensuring that students excel academically.

Cost of Education

Globally, the cost of education has gone up over the years, and this is expected considering the ever-changing dynamics in the education sector. Although education is expensive in most countries in Europe, the cost of education in the United States is way higher, beginning from elementary school. Factors contribute to the high cost of education in America, including the length of time a student takes to complete a degree. In America, a student takes a year longer to complete a degree program compared to other countries in Europe (DeVane, 2013). The organization of universities in Europe also makes it a bit cheaper than the United States. In Europe, most universities have constituent colleges that are independent, making the application process faster and cheaper. In contrast, admission in America is made by the central university admission department, which makes the process and management a bit expensive.

Conclusion

There are some similarities between the education system in the United States and most countries in Europe. However, there are differences in various aspects of their education system. The structure of the education system in the United States differs from most countries in Europe. Equally, the grading system is another factor that differs between America and Europe. In America, the interpretation of GPA depends on the standards of the academic institution. Sports is also a big cultural part of America’s education system. Students in America undertake various sports, and they are supported by their institutions, unlike in other countries in Europe. The cost of education is another factor that makes America an expensive country to undertake any academic program.

References

Bona, M. (2021). The Reason We Play: American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them. Rowman & Littlefield.

Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2018). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. Teachers College Press.

DeVane, W. C. (2013). Higher education in twentieth-century America. Harvard University Press.Rojstaczer, S., & Healy, C. (2010). Grading in American colleges and universities. Teachers College Record.

Yan, K., & Berliner, D. C. (2009). CHINESE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ACADEMIC STRESSORS IN THE UNITED STATES. College Student Journal, 43(4).