The notion of education differs throughout the globe. A prominent example is when Western and Eastern Schools are juxtaposed. For example, in Hong Kong, public schooling was extremely selective. So at times, many people might attend private or international school instead. However, Western schooling is very much seen as a necessity and requirement up to the 12th grade.
Key Differences
A large aspect of these schools is rote memorization. There are handfuls of content that are the foundation for testing and examination. There is an emphasis on knowing content and knowing a lot.
However, a lot of western schools have less of a focus on memorization and more on understanding concepts, teamwork, and presentation. It is much less of a textbook type of learning environment.
Learning is very centered around the teacher in Asia, with the content and materials being sourced from the teacher with very little discussion by students. In many western settings, students often discuss the material and the teacher is less of a strict figure.
Outside of school in Asia, education does not stop when school ends. Many countries have a culture where students continue lectures at private tutoring schools. Conversely, the US has much less of a basis on extracurricular education.
Asian schools often score higher on standardized testing than western counterparts. However, the western system’s priority on communication and building soft skills offers advantages otherwise not found. Also, in places like the US, students often can find opportunities that can expand their horizons. Education is also much more accessible, and it is not limited to the top students like it is in Asia.
The differences do lead to noticeable disparities among different regions. However, these choices by the schools often carry their own pros and cons.
Moreover, public schooling in Asia also mandates uniforms, something that many public schools in the west do not institute, mainly private schools. This is an immense difference in culture as well.
