10 Countries with the Best Education: Find Out Where Your Country Ranks - TRAVEL,

The quality of education systems around the world varies greatly, with some countries performing much better than others when it comes to creating an atmosphere that fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and all-around academic skills. But which countries are leading the pack? In order to get an idea of where you might want to study, this infographic takes a look at the 10 countries with the best education systems in the world. Some of them may surprise you!

1) Finland

The World Economic Forum ranked Finland as having one of the best education systems in the world. Finland has one of the highest literacy rates in Europe and its students consistently rank at or near the top on international tests. The country also has a low dropout rate. International comparisons show that Finnish 15-year-olds perform significantly better than their peers in reading, mathematics, and science.

A significant number of Finnish students choose to go to university after high school graduation. They are required to pay part of their earnings to the government while they are working because they will receive benefits when they retire. These student payments help fund tertiary education institutions throughout the country. (Source)

2) Japan

The country of Japan is one of the best places to get a quality education. With some of these benefits, it's no wonder that Japan ranked number two on Forbes' list of Top 10 Countries with the Best Education in the World. Students are given an average of 15 hours of homework each week, which isn't very much when you compare it to other countries on this list. The education system is made up of six different school years and students graduate from high school at age 18. To attend college, Japanese citizens have to go through three stages of entrance exams. Upon graduating, many find themselves employed right away due to their strong work ethic and excellent communication skills. 

Japanese public schools also offer juku or private tutoring lessons for students who want extra help after regular school hours. These lessons take place during weekends or after school so they don't interfere with the regular day-to-day activities of their classmates who aren't enrolled in juku lessons.

3) South Korea

South Korea's education system is one of the most competitive in the world. It has been consistently ranked first or second in global rankings of mathematics, science, and reading comprehension. The country's educational philosophy is based on education for all concepts, meaning that access to education is one of South Korea's major priorities. There are a total of 10 different types of high schools in South Korea, allowing students to choose which school they would like to attend depending on their interests. At these schools, children are encouraged to participate in various extracurricular activities such as art, sports, and volunteer work. In order to graduate from high school, every student must complete 12 years of formal schooling. They also need to pass the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a series of exams administered by the Korean Educational Testing Service that includes both multiple-choice questions and essay-writing assignments in order to be accepted into college.

4) Canada

Canada's education system is one of the best in the world, ranking 3rd on this list. Canada offers compulsory and free primary and secondary education to all its citizens. The country ranks highly in tests such as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) for math and science, and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) for math, science, and reading. Children are aged 5-14 are required by law to attend a school or be enrolled in a program that teaches them skills necessary for employment. Students learn through various methods, including lectures, discussion groups, and practical work activities. Subjects include language arts, mathematics, sciences, geography, and history. 

It may not come as a surprise that Finland has the best educational system in the world—it ranked #1 out of 71 countries studied by Education First in 2012 based on their assessment of educational processes from preschool through high school.

5) Netherlands

The Netherlands has one of the best education systems in the world, which is no coincidence. The country spends over 6% of its GDP on education and ranks number two on UNESCO's list of countries with a high-quality education. If you want your children to grow up educated, they will be given a solid foundation in this country. 

This is because the government provides funding for early childhood development as well as lifelong learning to ensure that all citizens are aware of what they need to know about their rights and responsibilities as an individual.

6) Poland

Poland is ranked number 10 on this list. However, it is worth noting that Poland has made significant strides to improve its education system in recent years. In addition to this, they have a number of different choices for private schooling which can be very helpful for those who are not satisfied with the public schools available to them. In general, Poland's school system has many different benefits and drawbacks which are worth considering before choosing whether or not it would be a good place for your children to go to school. The quality of teaching, curriculum, and educational materials vary greatly from one region to another, making Poland somewhat unpredictable as far as what you'll find when you look into the schools. The country also ranks 36th out of 40 on the PISA exam which measures academic performance among 15-year-olds across OECD countries. However, despite these drawbacks, Polish students score well above average when compared to students in other OECD countries.

7) Denmark

Denmark is ranked as the number one country in terms of education, according to a recent OECD report. The country's schools are designed to allow children to learn at their own pace and in their own way. Classes are small and offer the opportunity for collaborative learning. Schools also have an emphasis on fostering creativity, communication skills, and critical thinking skills. In addition, kids can participate in physical activities every day which helps promote health and well-being. 

For example, elementary school teachers only teach four hours per day and each class only has 20-25 students.

8) Sweden

Many people would say that Sweden has one of the best education systems in the world. In fact, this Scandinavian country ranked first in a recent study for the overall quality of education. While there are many factors that go into determining a nation's educational ranking, it seems like Sweden is doing something right. Not only does the country rank high when it comes to student assessment, but also when assessing gender equality, poverty, and class size. And while the system may not be perfect (it ranks below average when considering graduation rates), there is much to admire about its dedication to creativity and innovation as well as its focus on equity and inclusion.

9) Ireland

Ireland is one of the best education systems in the world. PISA tests measure students' performance in reading, mathematics, and science every three years. The last time Ireland participated was in 2015 when they ranked 3rd in reading and 5th in both mathematics and science. Ireland also ranks 4th on the list of countries with the highest graduate employment rates. 

The country also has a 98% secondary school completion rate as well as an overall literacy rate of 98%. 

Finally, in 2017 Ireland had 24 institutions place among the top 500 universities worldwide - more than any other country in Europe.

10) Taiwan

Taiwan has a highly-educated population with a literacy rate of 99.2% and an average of 15 years of schooling. Taiwan consistently ranks among the top 10 countries in education, and is ranked number one in Asia and in the top five worldwide. It also has one of the highest numbers of research papers published per capita in the world and only spends 3% of its GDP on education. In addition to this, Taiwan's students rank within the top five most improved over time from 2000 to 2011 when it comes to reading comprehension.