How is the schooling system structured in your country? (for non US individuals)

[Derek]

United States public education, as most everyone knows, is a train wreck. From what little I've read about European and Asian education, they do have public school, however it is decentralized. The money follows the students. Thus the students parents' can choose which school to send their children to, forcing the schools to compete. Hence, excellent public education. In the united states, no such competition occurs, because of the entrenched Teacher's union and the department of education. So much for the land of the free.

I'd like to know what our European and Asian friends on this website think about education and how it should work. Is it decentralized in your country (does the money follow the student, or does it just go to each school)?

[ramithediv]

I think it's funny that we, in England, call Private schools "Public Schools".

[zheer]

I think it's funny that we, in England, call Private schools "Public Schools".

  You know i strongly believe that today in England if a child is going to have a good education (or any education), the parent has to pay for it, so either public schooling or private home tuition. I know since i was lucky enough to have one year in a public school, the difference was massive,it was at a public school that i learnt how to read and write.The privat school was like a dumping ground,seriously some teachers would just read a newspaper through the our long class.  

[thalbergmad]

  You know i strongly believe that today in England if a child is going to have a good education (or any education), the parent has to pay for it, so either public schooling or private home tuition.

I am convinced you are correct.

Thal

[zheer]

I am convinced you are correct.

Thal

  Thanks, a lot of things are going down hill, the health service,education,employment,housing,family,crime,trust in goverment,war abroad,people you name it.

[thalbergmad]

It is incredible how many politicians that tell us how great our schools are, send their kids to private ones or send them abroad.

Thal

[Bob]

In the U.S., I think the money following the student idea is called vouchers.  I don't remember the arguments against it, but I think one may have been segregation -- What happens if groups of people start picking certains schools?  That's not the melting pot and doesn't create equal schools.  Not that it's perfect the way it is now.

I met a guy from Romania who said he trained to be a musician from early on.  Each level of schooling, people got weeded out.  Eliminated and sent to another profession.  If he hadn't made it during the last part, he would have been sent into the army.  Practice and improve and beat out your friends or you go off to the military.  No pressure there, huh?