Education is one of the most important things, to both grow as a country and as individuals. While most countries have differing systems of education, they all aim to help youth grow into capable adults. This may include private schools, vocational training, or prestigious universities, but the countries with the best education are mostly in Europe and North America. Learn more about these six countries with the best education, and what sets them apart.
6. Switzerland
Taking sixth place for countries with the best education is Switzerland, with their school systems determined by each canton in the country. Primary school starts at six years old, continuing until grades four through six depending on the school.
The real personalization comes in secondary school, where pupils are assigned classes based on their capacities split into three sections. The fastest learners get advanced classes, while other students get an education based on their needs. Switzerland has 12 universities, with the largest being the University of Zurich with nearly 25,000 students.
5. France
Ranking fifth for the countries with the best education is France, with both private and public education. All public education in the country is free and administered by the Ministry of National Education, which creates the curriculum, employs staff, and exercises authority as the head of academics.
This centralization has been slowly taken apart since the 1980s, as students sought a greater voice in higher education. Nowadays, the communes take care of the primary schools, while secondary education, like college, is monitored by the départements.
4. Canada
Fourth on our list of the countries with the best education is Canada, which is mostly public and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is mostly divided into primary education, secondary education, and post-secondary education. The nation’s top three ranking universities are the University of Toronto, McGill, and the University of British Columbia.
According to a 2022 report by the OECD, Canada ranks high worldwide for the percentage of adults having tertiary education, with over 56 percent having attained at least an undergraduate college or university degree. Canada also has 89 percent of adults from 25 to 64 that have earned the equivalent of a high school degree, nearly 15 percent higher than the OECD average.
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3. Germany
Jumping into the top three countries with the best education is Germany, with education being the responsibility of the individual German states over the federal government, which plays a minor role. While kindergarten is optional, education is compulsory for children 6-18. As they age, students get the chance to participate in school leaving qualifications, ranging from more vocational options (Hauptschulabschluss or Mittlere Reife) to more academic (Abitur).
Once in college, a bachelor’s degree is often followed by a master’s, with 45 percent of all undergraduates heading to graduate studies within two years of graduating.
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2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom earns the second spot for countries with the best education, spread across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. While each country has its own intricate rules about education, most of them follow five stages of education: early years, primary secondary, further education (FE), and higher education (HE).
Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 18, but advanced education is non-compulsory and varies from student to student. The fifth stage, higher education, usually takes place in universities and colleges after students have passed A-levels or BTECs.
1. United States
Taking the number one spot for the countries with the best education is the United States, providing education in public and private schools as well as homeschooling. State governments set the overall educational standards, most often through mandated standardized tests for K-12 schools. Private schools determine their own curriculum and staffing.
Education is compulsory between 5-8 to 16-19 depending on the state. Once out of high school, students can attend public or private colleges and universities that offer a wide range of post-secondary education. The majority of the world’s top universities are in the United States, including 19 of the top 25, and the most prestigious, Harvard.
