What is wrong with our education system?

[InoCabdi]

primary schools in england have teachers and teaching assistants

[BlackVelvet]

Summer you know how in the West there is a lot of emphasis on making the lesson interactive? That's the main difference and everything really diverges from that point. In Kenya the teacher writes on the board, you copy what they've written then you repeat this in the exam. Also the exam part, we had them every year whereas in the UK you just keep going to school and then the final few years of high school you do the GCSE's.

Things like that, if you are thinking of moving there then I can go into more detail but the most important thing is, make up your mind and stick to it. Don't move kids back and forth because it can be difficult to adjust. There's things that are great about the Kenyan system and things that could be improved.

[SummerRain]

I'm not sure if copying from the board is much of true learning. I'm not sure about the UK, but here in US, teachers try to collaborate different learning objectives including copying from the board. That is the note taking part, but like you said they emphasis on making learning interactive. I can appreciate that because, for many children learning comes best when they are engaged and can visualize.
Also, growing up we were given end of chapter quizes or exams, so things are not dumped on students all at one time. There is a process and you are given the opportunity to see your weaknesses and strenghts. With that being said, I think given the social inequality everywhere, Education is a personal experience that depends on where you live and what resources you have. I can't speak for African education system, but here where you live and what school district you attend can determine the quality of education you receive and whether you go to University or not.

The issues the OP is addressing are evident in charter schools or unresourceful public schools that hire inexperienced teachers just so they can satisfy the cultural expectations of their demographics (students...parents etc).

I'm not planning to move to Africa and I don't think I will. But I do agree that families who decide to move should stick to their decision and stay there. But Somalis are nomads, they can never make long term commitments.

[BlackVelvet]

lol nomads till the end.

You are right about socio-economic factors playing a part, if you can afford it you could send your kid to private schools that that are a production line into Oxbridge. However individual student performance cannot be discounted in Kenya for example the high school you get into depends on your KCPE (primary school) grades and in the UK it depends on entrance exams. Granted the primary school you went to, tutors you got etc all play a part but I went to school with people who didn't have half as much support as I did and they still beat me in the exams

No matter what or where your kids are learning I think the most important thing is parents who are actively involved. Knowing what your kid is good at, what they struggle with, how they learn best and supporting them through the system and also privately is ultimately what sets them apart. That said, there are kids who have it all and therefore have zero hunger for success.

It's a difficult balancing act. Ilaahey ha noo gargaaro

[Hyperactive]

teach your kids from beggining, math, reading and writting, how to research infos by themselves. schools not to teach you evrrything..... just to cover basics. after that should be your own teacher and with good instructor you are set.

in arab countries as most of 3rd world, is just memorizing and that isnt good way of learning. you may get 100% in the exams, depends your memorizing ability!

[Lillaahiya]

The purpose of the school system is 2 fold.
1. To keep children out of the workforce preventing them from competing for scare jobs.
2. To break the will and spirit to condition children to become obedient servants to the system as adults
Education is the least priority.

Bring me any illiterate street kid of average intelligence and I could get him to pass high school exams and do high school level maths in 6-8 months.

Also to prevent delinquency.

[SultanOrder]

I realized today the reason the "dumb" students stay behind is because no one likes helping them

[CilmiDoone]

You think 1:18+ is a high number? Seems like quite a small class, we had 1:54 ratio.