Here’s something we can all agree on with regard to the effective development of societies: the more educated we are, the better off our communities will be. The power of education has been lauded by major thinkers such as Socrates, and it has also been praised by great political leaders such as Nelson Mandela. While it is true that public health and social welfare should be prioritized, we should not lose sight of education and the sheer societal benefits it can provide.
Managing educational systems is not easy, but it is not as complicated or expensive as national defense or public healthcare. What is difficult about education at the government level is the issue of giving it the right priority. Some countries start off with a determination of an absolute minimum portion of gross domestic product dedicated towards education; by doing so, they can later increase this allocation. Other countries are more strategic in the sense of following non-competitive models whereby education involves more than just learning how to make a living; it becomes a way of life and a matter of national pride.
Here are some countries that have set their priorities straight with regard to education. We can all learn from these models, which are largely based on educating their citizens so that communities can feel empowered.
Republic of Finland
Outside of the Nordic countries, not much is known about education in Finland except that this country often ranks pretty high on the PISA charts. The reality of the Finnish education system is that it seems different than other systems in Europe and the Americas. First of all, formal preschool programs are not very popular, and many students do not start their elementary education until they turn seven years old. Second, standardized testing and assessments do not start until about the third grade. Finally, the curriculum in the early years of primary school includes many activities related to ethical development through playtime. The pedagogical strategy in Finland is centered on treating play as the work that children must perform in their early years for the purpose of building their future roles in society.
Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
When most people think about the United Arab Emirates, oil riches immediately come to mind, but this is not the case in all of its seven political divisions. Ras Al Khaimah is an emirate that has been enjoying incredible economic development without the benefit of crude oil production, and this can be explained in great part by its strategic commitment to improving quality of life through education. A recent message from Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, supreme ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, is an example of the careful educational strategy that this emirate has been undertaking.
In essence, the aforementioned message explains the rationale for building a partnership between public and private sectors interested in funding the Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University: training healthcare professionals is conducive to a healthy community, but there is more than just patient care being taught at this institution of higher learning. His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr has a keen understanding of current trends in the business world, which is why RAK Medical and Health Sciences University also offers advanced courses in health sciences fields such as pharmaceutical chemistry and medical devices engineering; the idea is to entice companies operating in these sectors into setting up shop in Ras Al Khaimah, where they will find job candidates whose university degrees match their business goals.
Republic of Costa Rica
In 1948, “more teachers than soldiers” became an unofficial motto for Costa Rica, an oasis of peace in the turbulent region of Central America. Ever since the country abolished its armed forces, its neighbors to the north and to the south have experienced turmoil and armed conflict that Costa Rica has been able to avoid, thus becoming the oldest and most stable non-interrupted democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, and this distinction has a lot to do with the country’s focus on literacy and access to education.
