Results from another survey (from CBC RadioTelevision)
Canada makes top five in education: UNICEF
Last Updated Tue, 26 Nov 2002 15:45:52
GENEVA - Canada has placed fourth in a United Nations survey of student
performance, with South Korea capturing the top spot.
The UNICEF report rates students in the most developed countries. Students
from 24 nations were judged in reading, math and science. The study
provides a "big picture" comparison of the effectiveness of education
systems.
Educational Performance
South Korea
Japan
Finland
Canada
Australia
Austria
United Kingdom
Ireland
Sweden
Czech Republic
New Zealand
France
Switzerland
Belgium
Iceland
Hungary
Norway
United States
Germany
Denmark
Spain
Italy
Greece
Portugal
"It is based not on the conventional yardstick of how many students reach
what level of education, but on testing what pupils actually know and what
they are able to do," the report said. Five different tests are given to
14- and 15-year-olds in each country. The results are averaged out. The
study says that "educational disadvantage is born not at school but in the
home. Learning (is fostered) by a loving, secure, stimulating environment."
The report was not able to conclude what the factors are in getting better
results from students. Some countries spent less and got better results.
"We found out there was no one answer," said Patrick McCormick of UNICEF.
"We tried linkages with teacher-student ratios, with various things, and it
didn't work."
The report notes: "Norway and Denmark, traditionally high-taxing,
high-spending countries with well developed public services, languish in
the bottom half of the...table."
It tries to explain Korea's high ranking by listing several possible
reasons - teacher training, the 220-day Korean school year, and "the
passionate attitudes of both students and parents towards education."
Finland's high standing has been attributed to the long winter evenings and
to the relative ease of learning the Finnish language, which may help
children to read and write more easily. McCormick says, in the end,
well-educated parents tend to have better educated children. The report
said Canada gives poor children and immigrants a better chance of success
than most countries. "This serves to highlight the challenge faced by every
rich nation in ensuring that minority groups receive the help they need to
overcome the particular disadvantages they face," the report said.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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