Reviewing the educational systems of Europe

(Part I)

To manage the full Basic Education of the Operation Brotherhood Montessori schools, the Italian government gave me two borsa di studio (scholarship) to acquire the two internationally licensed Montessori training courses at Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) at Perugia in Umbria, Italy for preschool teacher training and Bergamo, at Lombardy near Milan for elementary school teacher training. Dottoressa Maria Montessori established both centers herself to ensure the faithful implementation of the universally tested scientific education system. My quest took longer to understand the concept of scuola professionale or vocational high school, which Dottoressa Montessori advocated for the last stage of childhood – the high school years of 12 to 18 to enable young adults to join the job market. Ambassador Solera’s travel grant was godsent so I was able to visit the scuola professionale in Venice, Milan and Florence.

Voc-tech high schools in progressive European countries

The various school systems of European countries respected this right of the adolescent children to become economically independent and thus provided the dynamic curriculum described below.

England

Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education and Department for Business and Skills. Full time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16 (inclusively). Students may then continue their secondary studies for a further two years (sixth form), leading most typically to an “A” level qualification.

The leaving age for compulsory education was raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008. The change took effect in 2013 for 17-year-olds and 2015 for 18-year-olds. State-provided schools are free of charge to students, and there is also a tradition of independent schooling (or private). It’s the parents’ choice where to enroll their children.

Higher education typically begins with a three-year Bachelor’s Degree. Postgraduate degrees include Master’s Degrees, either taught or by research, and Doctor of Philosophy, a research degree that usually takes at least 3 years.

Germany

In Germany, compulsory school attendance starts with 6, the age of entry to 15, the age of exit. The school is free. A violation to this rule subjects the parents to “coercive detention” (Erzwingungshaft), while the children are referred to children’s home.

Primary Grade School or Grundschule covers four years, from six years old to 10 years old. This is followed by academic Lower Secondary (Hauptschule) of 5 years, age 10 to 15; Technical Secondary School (Realschule), a total of 6 years for students aged ten to 16.

For higher age level of 16 to 19, the three-year course of Higher Education (Berufliches Gymnasium/Fachgymnasium) is provided. Vocational Secondary part-time courses (Berufsshule) lasting three years are provided for 15- to 18-year-old working students. The full-time Fachoberschule for 16- to 18-year-olds (Junior) lasts for only two years. They are awarded with Fachhochschulreife and vocational leaving certificate. For the older bracket of 18 to 20 years old (Senior) the certificate/diploma awarded is Fachgebundene Hochschulreife/Allgemiene Hochschulreife inclusive of a second foreign language.

Italy

School years in Italy cover a three-year preschool education - Scuola dell’ Infanzia (nursery school, non compulsory); primary education – Scuola Primaria (primary school), Grades I to V is attended by children ages six to 10 years old; secondary education – Scoula Secondaria di Primo Grado (first grade secondary school) is the junior high school level or Scuola Media for the 11 to14 years old. It covers 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year high school. The child receives a Certificate of Licenza di Scuola Media; Scuola Secondaria di Secondo Grado (second grade secondary school) is from 14- to 18-year-olds. The student is awarded with Diploma of senior high school or Diploma di Scuola Superiore; Scuola Professionale (Professional high school) is from 14 to 19 years old. The student receives the Licenza Professionale.

College – Laurea (Bachelor’s degree) is Years 1 to 3 from age 19 to 22. Year 4 (22 to 23 years old) is only for sciences of primary education, necessary for teaching in nursery or primary schools. Lurea Magistrale/Specialistica (Master’s Degree) is Years 4 to 5 (22 to 24 years old). Among the courses offered for this year level are Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Architecture and Engineering. Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry are taken only in Year 6 (24 to 25 years old).

Netherlands

Basic Education in the Netherlands covers the Dutch children age four to 12, where they attend groep I to groep 8. The six succeeding groep 3 to 8 means almost all start at the age of four and five (nursery). The three R’s are learned from the age of 6. English is taught to groep 7 to 8. By Grade six the Cito test (Central Institute for Test Development) is given to assess which type of high school will be recommended to groep 8 (Grade VI) graduates.

For high school, Dutch children (then usually 12 years old) go directly to high school (voortgezet onderwijs; literally “continued education”), depending on the score of the Cito test. Pupils are assigned either to VMBO, HAVO or VWO.

When it is not clear which type of secondary education best suits a pupil, there is an orientation for both VMBO/HAVO and HAVO/VWO to determine this. In addition, there is a second orientation year for HAVO/VWO when inconclusive.

The VMBO (Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs, literally “preparatory middle-level applied education”) lasts for four years, from the age of 12 to 16. It combines vocational training with theoretical education in languages, mathematics, history, arts and sciences. Sixty percent of students nationally are enrolled in VMBO.

Praktijkonderwijs (practical education) consists out of mainly vocational training. It is meant for pupils who would otherwise not obtain their VMBO-diplomas that lead to MBO level of tertiary education. After obtaining this diploma pupils can enter the job market without further training.

For all of these levels there is a learning path, supporting education intended for pupils with educational or behavioral problems. These pupils are taught in small classes by specialized teachers.

Secondary education, which begins at the age of 12 is compulsory until the age of 18. Both HAVO and VWO can be characterized as selective types of secondary education. The VWO curriculum prepares pupils for university, and only the VWO diploma grants access to WO (research universities). The last two years of HAVO or upper secondary education, pupils focus on one of four subject clusters (profielen), to prepare pupils for programmes of study at the tertiary level.

The HAVO (Hoger Agemeen Vootgezet Onderwijs, meaning higher general continued education) has five grades and is attended from age twelve to seventeen. A HAVO diploma provides access to the HBO-level (polytechnic) of tertiary education.

The first three years together are called the Basisvorming (basis forming). All pupils follow the same subjects: Language, Mathematics, History, Arts and Sciences. In the third year, pupils must choose one of four profiles. A profile is a set of different subjects that will make up for the largest part of the pupil’s timetable in the fourth and fifth year.

Cultuur en Maatschppij (literally “culture and society”) profile prepares for artistic and cultural training at the HBO. It emphasizes arts and foreign languages (French, German and less frequent Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Turkish).

Economic en Maatschappij (literally, “economy and society”) profile prepares for social science and economics training at the HBO. It emphasizes social sciences, economics, and history.

Natuur en Gezondheid (literally, “nature and health”) profile is necessary to attend medical training at the HBO. It emphasizes biology and natural sciences. The Mathematics classes focus on Algebra, Geometry and Calculus.

Natuur en Techniek (literally, “nature and technology”) emphasizes natural sciences. The Mathematics classes focus on Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. This profile is necessary to attend technological and natural science training at the HBO

Tertiary Education or MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwij, literally, “middle-level applied education”) is oriented towards vocational training. Many pupils with a VMBO-diploma attend MBO, which lasts one to four years. After MBO, pupils can enroll in HBO or enter the job market.

The emergence of the “new man”

I was caught in an embarrassing situation during one visit to Hong Kong. During a conversation with an outspoken Chinese matron at the lounge of Hongkong Peninsula Hotel, she remarked aloud, “The Philippines used to lead the countries of Asia between the fifties to the sixties. Why are you so foolish to let things go? Your economy grows weaker and weaker, so today Philippines is perceived to have been left behind all of us.”

Since the 70s we began neglecting vocational education, emphasizing purely academic studies in high school aimed at pursuing a college degree. Yet, 70 percent of the population is poor. Even if we provide free schooling in more than 100 state-universities, students who enrol are not really literate to follow a sophisticated tertiary education, whereas they would easily qualify for technical training. So many such technicians are assisting doctors, engineers, architects and pharmacist degree holders in America. Unless we restore skills training to the senior high school of K-12, we will not see “the emergence of the new man, who will no longer be the victim of events but will have the clarity of mind” to mold the bright future of our country.

(Part II – Reviewing the Educational System of Asia)

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