Top 5 Educational Reforms around the World

After a long wait of 34 years, finally, India has seen an educational reform. With new educational policies, India aims to provide students with more practical knowledge and reduce the burden of the students. 

Before understanding the top 5 educational reforms around the world, here are the keys highlights of the new educational policy 2020.

1. Easy Entry at all Levels of School Education
2. Early Childhood Care and Education
3. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
4. Emphasis on Mother Tongue
5. Fair and Inclusive Education
6. Improving the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)
7. Financial Support for the Students
8. Online and Digital Education
9. Promotion of the Indian Languages
10. Leveraging Technology in Education

According to the data from U.S. News & World Report, below are the top 5 best countries for education. 

1. The United States
2. The United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. Germany
5. France

With new reforms in the Indian education system, there is a slight probability that the Indian education system will also rank amongst these countries. At present, India ranks 33, with a quality index of 59.1 and an opportunity index of 48.21. Quality index and opportunity index are the two factors used for comparison. 

Using the above list, we will now understand the top 5 educational reforms around the world which happened recently. 

• The United States

2020 is the big election year in the US and also the COVID-19 has hit the country. Education policy is the central topic of the US.  Here are 6 education policies that might change in the coming years: 

1. Early childhood education
2. School climate
3. K-12 funding
4. Teaching
5. College affordability
6. Workforce development

• The United Kingdom

Established in 1988, the National Curriculum is responsible for providing the framework for education in England and Wales between the ages of 5 to 18. According to the article published on Wikipedia, the United Kingdom has a 99% literary rate in 2020.  Below are the key education policies that changed between the year 2008-2019 in the United Kingdom:

1. School improvement: Prioritizing on reducing the workload of the teachers.
2. Evaluation and assessment: Balancing on accountability and improvement in the schools
3. Governance: Focuses on efficiency and providing sufficient funds to most disadvantaged schools.
4. Funding: Access across all forms of tertiary education.

• Canada

Over the years, Canada’s spending on education has increased showing a great sign for the aspirants who are looking to study in the country—an increase of 22.3 percent from 2012/2013 to 2016/2017. The 2011 education plan is considered as the key turning point in Canada’s education system. Here are the 5 key elements in the education reforms: 

1. Personalized learning for every student
2. Quality teaching and learning
3. Flexibility and choice
4. High standards
5. Learning powered by technology

• Germany

Over 99% of Germans aged 15 and above are estimated to be able to read and write. To strengthen the education system in Germany, the government passed acts are mentioned below: 

1. Childcare funding act
2. Good Daycare Facilities Act
3. Excellence strategy 
4. Bonus program
5. A national education evaluation (2018)
6. Stepping into Childcare (Kita-Einstieg, 2017)

• France

Since the time Napoleon began the French university and secondary educational system, France never looked back. Currently, it ranks in the top 5 best education systems. In a span of three years, France issued many new educational policies.

2020

• Educational continuity

 2019

• General Inspectorate of Education, Sport, and Research (IGESR)
• Law for a school of trust (Loi pour l’École de la confiance)

 2018

• Action plan for the protection of schools
• Plan mercredi (Wednesday plan)
• Baccalauréat 2021: general and technological baccalaureate reform