The U.S. Ranks 17th in Math, Reading and Science

OECD has published popular findings in its world rankings of education. The study assessed math, reading and science skills across the globe. Approximately 450,000 15-year olds in 65 countries participated within the study.  The report is considered relevant and offers opportunities for policy makers and school administrators to adjust their actions to improve upon educational quality. 

According to the Market Oracle the U.S. has around 3.8 million job vacancies and 11.8 million people looking for work. A study by the ManPower Group indicates that 48% of employers are struggling to fill jobs because of lack of skills. Where there is a mismatch between skills and available jobs new training and education are necessary to improve the situation. 

When looking at the report you will find that 4 of the top 5 countries are Asian while only 1 is from Europe. When you look at the top 10 you will find European countries predominate between the 5^th-10^th ranking.  You might also be shocked that the U.S. is about 17^th on its total ranking. 

It should be no wonder that emerging Asian countries have matched their education to their actual job skills the market needs. They focus more on the elemental aspects of reading, writing, and science in earlier education and then become increasingly complex in later classes. Likewise, soft skills such as teamwork and communication are not ignored. 

Education starts in the home and then moves into public school and finally through college. Some lucky students make their way into graduate and doctoral programs. Some might wonder if there is a need for families to develop the right skills in young students and encourage additional structure in their lives. Without a proper perspective students often move through and finish high school further behind the global and local market needs.

International Rankings 

Decade of Global Skills Updating-OECD Report

Education at a Glance covers a number of global concepts in higher education. It was published in 2013 from OECD which seeks to create a better understanding of educational issues as well as disseminate information on the education industry of its members. Within the report one can find valuable information on global trends, changing demographics, incomes and much more. Some of the highlights are related to gender flattening, higher level of educational attainment, and potential returns on educational investments.

OECD participating countries found that women are becoming education than at any point in the past. Younger populations across both genders have increased in their educational attainment. This is an international phenomenon. Since 2011, 33% of women and 30% of men have obtained a level of higher education. It is expected that 83%of all OECD young people will eventually obtain some level of upper secondary education.

Upper secondary education means that students have either gone to college or some trade school. Higher education generally means college work. The world has become a much more technical place and people are adjusting by learning new skills and abilities. Men are still seeking skills in engineering, manufacturing and construction while females are looking for programs in business, law, social sciences, health and welfare. 

In the United States, Brazil and Greece people without an upper secondary education generally earn about 65% of those with. The skills and abilities needed over the past 10 years have changed dramatically. People need higher levels of understanding and abilities in order to compete in a more technologically connected world. Those without that higher level of education seem to be losing income and opportunities in many nations. 

The report also indicates that in general society earns a higher rate of return when it invests in higher education. The graduate earns more than the cost of education and society also earns greater than its investment. This return comes in the form of higher taxes, higher employ-ability, and as a result of the products/services production. The report argues that higher levels of skill development and education can be as much as 3 times in the United States. 

Education is becoming an important part of world education. As industrial technology makes its way around the globe and information is transferred through global business networks the need for higher levels of complex thinking is needed. Higher education fosters that greater complexity but costs a significant investment in time and money. The past decade has seen a global shift in worker demographics leaving many behind but also creating opportunities for others. 

The types of people who are likely to be successful are those who are lifelong learners who seek out knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge. This is why it is important for students to not only the understanding of concepts but how they actually apply to both their lives and the working world. Those who do not have the motivation or faculty to continue to learn will find themselves falling behind those who are pushing forward in search of greater opportunities. 

OECD Report-Education at a Glance 2013

OECD Reports on Canadian and U.S. Higher Education

According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Canada ranks first in percentage of educated citizens followed by the United States. Fifty percent of Canadians, forty-two percent Americans, and twenty-nine percent of the British have degrees. The Canadian population is one of the most educated among the 34 OECD and the nation s but at a higher cost.  

Canada’s post-graduate degrees such as master’s degree or doctoral degrees lag behind Korea and Japan. Younger Korean and Japanese citizens are earning higher grades which mark a fundamental shift in where higher education is being centered. With young Asians pushing hard to achieve their goals they will become new sources of discovery and revenue. There is little doubt as to the association of education with economic activity. 

The system found that those with higher degrees had about a 5% unemployment rate while those who didn’t had an 11.7%. This helps highlight the idea that education may reduce unemployment due to the variability of skills. It is these skills and general understandings that afford people the opportunity to find meaningful work. 

It may also be an indication that manufacturing and other physical labor positions are on the decline in first world nations. Cost competitiveness of manual labor is lower in developing countries such as China and India where North American companies would need to automate their operations to achieve parity. 

The report further indicated that 6.6 percent of Canadian GNP went into education from kindergarten to college while 7.3% of U.S. GNP went into education. The difference being that the majority of educational monies went to higher income student populations than in Canada. Even with higher U.S. monies American students ranked lower on international tests. 

American primary education was less developed than other nations. The key years in a child’s education, which determines in many ways their chosen paths in life, was lacking. It is possible that the declining amount of students choosing higher education and overall competitiveness upon graduation may be part of a general decline in national educational achievement. 

Fewer foreigners were coming to the U.S . for education than in the past. They were opting to stay within their countries or other places where the educational system more matches their needs. Europe was the most popular place to get a higher education. The U.S. received only 21% of the total foreign population when compared to Europe receiving 48%. 

The report should act as food for thought for higher education decision makers. The traditional educational system needs reform in order to make it more effective. From early childhood development to graduate school the system should be focused more on teaching methods that actually enhance learning. It could consider the advantages of using virtual higher educational platforms to reach out and recruit international students who can study without having to leave their home countries. 

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