A grades are only worth a C in Hong Kong?

[Hamishbear]

Read this recently GCSEs

My first thoughts are these are different exam systems (?) so surely comparing apples with pears?

Having said that, a letter appeared a day or so later from the guardian of an Vietnamese girl studying in the UK. She allegedly found the children in Vietnam were so far ahead academically compared to those in the UK that the girl would have to drop back a year if she returned to Vietnam. I suspect this is about a different system being in place and suspect it would always have been the case rather than UK standards suddenly declining.

Should we be concerned?

I have a Chinese SIL and she seems to have quite mixed views on this subject: clearly unimpressed by some aspects of European education but rather in favour of others.

(Incidentally, her parents don't seem to have shown any involvement in her education, but basically let her be brought up by grandparents and nursery- but of course that was in a different era)

Reportmenow I've found international schools abroad to be not as strong academically as the best UK independents. I've found Western parents in Asia to be surprisingly laid back about the academics - the school being largely a temporary holding bay in their minds. We're at a international school that's considered outstanding yet we have 25 in our class and our our GCSE results would mean we'd feature towards the bottom of any independent league table. Teacher quality can also be hit & miss - teachers in the past seeing international jobs as a one way ticket & career teachers at the best independents being unlikely to leave. There are plus points though & increasingly great teachers want to come to Asia.

The 21st Century belongs to Asia - China's growth etc is no flash in the pan (in reply to 'could be a fad' comment). The first non-franchise Public school - Marlborough - opens in August in Malaysia, Mandarin will be offered every day. There will be a chance to spend time at the UK school if at the school in Asia etc. Agree also that both East & West have much to learn from each other in terms of education.

it is about time though, the uk's elite education system really could do with being held up against the rest of the world

we need to understand that we are in a global economy now where it's what you know that works not who you know

As a teacher I once had a new boy arrive straight from India. His mum brought in his school report to show me what he could do. It was full of amazing maths (think multiplying fractions etc) and grammar skills.

He could not use a pair of scissors though.

lol, oh no! he could not use scissors

I find that HK schools tend to neglect humanities and other subjects that aren't considered vocational. I attribute this to the pragmatic oriental mind set. I mean, you won't find too many orientals reading French Romantic Literature at uni.

The top end of the UK education system, on the other hand, produces IMO highly academic AND well rounded individuals. By 'top end' I of course include the many excellent comprehensives.

The problem is with your 'average' UK school. Listening to some people in the Real World and here on MN talk, their little dear's head will explode if you put them under too much pressure. Children should be children blah blah blah. As if a child couldn't be a child that plays with an Xbox, watches TV, plays sports AND studies.

Generally agree Poosh but please 'oriental' is an adjective that should be used to describe carpets and works of art, not people. Sorry, but brings to mind FIL and his conversation about 'those Orientals'.

Next you be telling me that I shouldn't use the terms European or Westerner to collectively describe people with common characteristics. :)

Anyway, [puts on nosey hat] what came before 'those orientals'?

PooshTun, I think you mean south east Asians.

7 out of 10 best jobs which are most sought after now didn't exist 10 years ago - our educational system prepares kids for unknown - no one can predict future
only thing we can hope is that our kids will be flexible enough to fit in and play to their strength as they keep changing their careers

I work in the company which started 10 years ago and deals in Social Business which wasn't heard about 10 years ago - half of job titles are made up as we go along - trying to be sensible and offer clients what we think they need :)

Apart from good grades we need kids who aren't afraid of change and unpredictability

@sue - probably

happy - our top end schools prepare our kids for the unknown. The remainder prepare our kids to service the rich south east asian tourists.

Poosh - I couldn't agree more ....

@happy - I recently read that degrees in tourism management is one of the most popular degree choices at non Russell Group unis so I suspect that others agree with my 'joke'.