Similarities and Differences on Education Systems Between Canada and China

Similarities and Differences between Canada and China
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Similarities and Differences between Canada and China An education system refers to all the elements and mechanisms that support and promote public schooling both at the community and national levels. The elements include policies and regulations, allocation of resources, transportation services, among others. The education systems in various countries are affected by a number of geographical, economic, socio-cultural, historical, political, and technological factors (Volante, Klinger, Bilgili, & Siegel, 2017). In Canada, education is mostly public and is foreseen and funded by the provincial, federal, and local governments. The education system is divided into primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. The curriculum is under the jurisdiction of the provinces. The system also consists of various private schools. In China, education is run by the state under the ministry of education. All citizens are required to attend a nine-year program funded by the government that includes six years of primary education (Lo, 2016). While the education systems in these two countries may appear similar at a glance, there exist various variations. This paper seeks to look deeply at the similarities and differences between the education systems in Canada and China. Similarities The education systems in both countries are similar in that they both seek to prepare the students for the future. The respective governments also fund the education system to certain levels. There is also a compulsory age during which one must be in school. The age is either 16 or 18 years in Canada depending on the province and nine years in China. Both China and Canada perform decently in studies carried out to determine the efficiency of education systems in various countries around the world. Both countries also attract many foreign students every year, meaning that their education systems appeal to the world. The same way Canada has several approved elite colleges, several Chinese universities are also considered prestigious. Just like in Canada, students in China acquire a bachelor’s degree and then progress upwards in Chinese universities (OECD, 2016). However, there exist many glaring differences between the education systems of the two countries. Differences in Structure The most basic difference between the Canadian and Chinese education system lies in the structure. The Chinese education system is majorly divided into primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. The pre-college system in Canada is commonly referred to as the K-12 system since it runs from kindergarten to grade 12. The system can be dissected into elementary, intermediate, secondary, and post-secondary education. While in Canada all students are required to complete 16 or 18 years of education, China requires that all citizens complete nine years of education. While entry into high school is a right in Canada, in China, children are required to sit tests to gain entry into their preferred high schools. In Canada, students are allowed to choose between some subjects while in China, students take the same subjects through to college. Entry into college is determined by a number of fact...