Every parent around the world wants the best possible education for their child. However, parents’ motivations can vary depending on their culture, personal experiences, and individual values. Education , whether at home or at school, leads to a better quality of life. Indeed, having the opportunity to study and learn allows them to become independent as adults and ask legitimate questions about their own development.
A quality education provides a wide range of learning experiences, encourages talents and interests, and most importantly, promotes personal and emotional development.
The educational system in which a child develops is therefore decisive for their future life. Here is an overview of the best educational systems in the world, which can be a source of inspiration for our French system.
Which country has the best school education?
There is no universal consensus on which country provides the best education. Education systems vary in the criteria and methodologies used to assess performance. However, some countries are often cited as having high-quality education systems. Providing a good education for children, however, can be more complex than simply instilling academic knowledge. Children need to learn many interpersonal skills to become thoughtful and successful adults.
1. The Finnish education system
In 2025, the Finnish education system, which previously emphasized prior learning assessment, was reformed. Today, it is widely considered one of the best in the world. Several factors explain this success. First, teachers are rigorously selected and receive higher salaries than their French counterparts. They also enjoy good working conditions, allowing them to optimally impart their knowledge and skills.
As for children, regardless of their level, they benefit from personalized support. As a result, Finland has a very low repeater rate. Students are trained from a young age to become empathetic and helpful citizens through various modules. Moreover, they are exposed to the world of work earlier than their French counterparts, which helps them avoid making mistakes in their career paths.
2. Singapore’s Education System
Singapore’s education system is internationally recognized for its academic excellence and outstanding performance. Singapore consistently achieves high results in international assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Education is bilingual. English is taught as the primary language, with a mother tongue (Chinese, Malay, or Tamil) being the primary language. Teachers in Singapore receive rigorous training. They are encouraged to pursue professional development throughout their careers and participate in professional development programs. In addition to academic subjects, education also places importance on developing non-academic skills such as leadership, creativity, and critical thinking.
While Singapore’s education system is often praised for its high performance, it also sparks discussions about the level of stress and pressure placed on students.
3. The Japanese education system
Japan is renowned for its rigorous approach to education. Students are subject to high expectations and strict discipline. The Japanese education system has two major positive aspects. First, there is a strong culture of respect. From the earliest years of school, students actively participate in school chores, such as cleaning their classrooms and helping with cafeteria service. This partly explains why Tokyo’s streets are so clean. Furthermore, teachers enjoy the respect not only of students but also of parents.
Furthermore, culture plays an important role in Japanese education. Japanese students begin learning music and visual arts from a very young age. This demonstrates the importance placed on artistic development and creative expression in the Japanese education system.
4. The education system in South Korea
South Korea emphasizes intensive learning, and students often devote long hours to their studies. However, there is strong social pressure to achieve good academic results. Parents and society place a high value on academic achievement, which can lead to a competitive atmosphere and high expectations for students.
Exams are very important in South Korea, especially the national university entrance exam, called Suneung. Students prepare intensively because their success determines their academic and professional future. They are also ranked and compared based on their results. Top students gain access to the best higher education and employment opportunities, while lower-performing students may face additional challenges.
Teachers in South Korea enjoy a respected status. Students perceive them as authority figures. They play an important role in transmitting knowledge and guiding students.
5. Canada’s education system
Canada has a high-quality education system and is committed to inclusive education. Canadian students consistently achieve high results in international assessments.
The Canadian system is decentralized. This means that each province or territory has its educational policies, curricula, and requirements. Public education is free and compulsory for all children in Canada up to a certain age, usually until age 16 or high school graduation.
Canada is officially a bilingual country, with English and French as its official languages. In the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, French is the primary language of instruction. The Canadian education system is inclusive, meaning it seeks to provide equitable educational opportunities to all students, including those with special needs or disabilities.
What are the best education systems? (Ranking)
Comparing education systems is not easy, as it requires finding the right indicators to use for comparison. However, there are international rankings that allow each country to position itself on a comparative scale. They provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each system and can serve as a basis for identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
1. Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA):
PISA assesses the performance of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science. The latest test is PISA 2025, published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
For reading skills, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and Macau (China) achieved the highest scores. Nordic countries, such as Finland and Estonia, also performed well.
In terms of math skills, China (Shanghai), Singapore, and Hong Kong (China) recorded the highest scores. East Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea, also achieved high results.
In science, the top-ranked countries were China (Shanghai), Singapore, and Estonia. Canada, Japan, and Finland were also among the top performers.
The 2018 PISA report highlighted that performance gaps between students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those from more advantaged backgrounds persist in many countries. It also examined student well-being and found that study-related stress was a widespread problem, particularly among students in Asian countries.
2. The Education for All Development Index
The Global Education Index is a component of the Human Development Index published annually by the United Nations Development Programme. Along with economic indicators and the life expectancy index, it measures educational attainment. It takes into account several factors, such as access to education, the quality of teaching, and student achievement.
3. World Bank Human Capital Index
This index measures the contribution of education and health to the future productivity of workers. According to the 2025 index, the countries with the best education systems are Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Finland, and Ireland. The Human Capital Index is a tool developed by the World Bank to assess a country’s human capital. It aims to measure an individual’s potential contribution to the economy by focusing on key indicators such as education, health, and employment.
Comparing the advantages of international education systems
It’s difficult to talk about “advantages” in international education systems. On the one hand, it’s difficult to establish a causal link between education and a country’s healthy economic development. On the other hand, each society’s needs and values ​​differ, so no single system prevails over the others. Finally, education is linked to a country’s economic status, but a country’s economic status does not necessarily determine the well-being of its inhabitants. However, here are some comparisons between the education systems that top international education rankings.
