Abstract
This analytical essay presents a comparison between the educational systems of the United States and Colombia. The Works Cited page appends two sources in MLA format.
Introduction
Education in the United States is basically provided by the government with control and funds coming in from three levels: federal, state, and local. School attendance is necessary and nearly universal at the elementary and high school levels. Locally elected school boards with jurisdiction over school districts set the school curriculum, funds, teaching as well as other policies at this level. Local jurisdictions and school districts are usually separate, with independent officials and budgets. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are usually made by state governments.
The exceptional quality of Colombia’s educational system is the composition of public and private enrollments at the diverse levels of education. Where most primary (81 percent) and secondary (72 percent) students go to public institutions, 70 percent of students attend private higher education institutions. This dissimilarity has to do with higher education institutions’ role as comparatively good businesses and public institutions having their intensification limited due to fiscal restraint. The educational system is inclusive of kindergartens (preschool facilities), primary schools, secondary schools, and other educational facilities that present training in the industry, domestic science, veterinary science, business, nursing, theology, and art. The preponderance of the country’s universities is located in the capital city, even though there are colleges in other main cities such as Medellín, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Popayán, and Cali (Colombia Education, p.1).
Comparison and Personal Opinion
Concerning the age of entry to school education in the U.S., it is different, according to the state, between 5 and 7 years of age, 6 being the most common; and the age of leaving differs between 16 and 18 years of age, the most common being 16. The extent of primary education differs from four to seven years. According to its length, it is followed by three years of middle school education. Secondary education occurs in grades 7-12, depending upon the rules and policies of states and local school districts. No national structure, curriculum, or governing law is present.
There is no national structure, curriculum, or governing law; all laws and policies are laid down and imposed by the 50 state governments and the over 14,000 local school districts. The twelfth grade has been set as the completion of secondary school, and the widespread name for the secondary graduation qualification is the High School Diploma. This diploma name covers a diversity of awards for a variety of curricula and standards. There are Honors/Regents, academic/college introductory, professional, and general/basic high school diploma tracks. There is a state-wide minimum course obligation and other graduation requirements in each State which more often than not corresponds to the general/basic track. Vocational and academic/college preparatory or honors/regents diplomas regularly have extra set curricular requirements and/or standards that aspirant graduates must meet or exceed. What is more, is that the bulk of US secondary school districts and private schools allow students to partake in the Advanced Placement (AP) program of the College Board. This program permits capable students to take college-level introductory courses in selected subjects taught by certified faculty. A vast number of secondary schools also present the International Baccalaureate (IB) as an elective path; completion of IB needs usually requires an additional summer or semester of study beyond the 12th year. The title “High School Diploma” remains the most commonly recognized name for the U.S. secondary school leaving diploma.
Higher education in the U.S. is also called post-secondary education. Sectors have not been formed for it as are some other national systems and it is a varied and independent community of publicly and privately sustained institutions. It is said that, “current data indicate that there are some 2,819 institutions offering a Bachelor’s or higher degree; 2,657 institutions offering at least an associate’s degree but less than a bachelor’s degree; and 4,927 institutions offering shorter non-degree programs of less than two years duration. The federal government has no jurisdiction or authority over the recognition of educational institutions, members of the academic professions, programs or curricula, or degrees or other qualifications. Nearly all U.S. postsecondary institutions are licensed, or chartered, by a state or municipal government to operate under the ownership of either a government (if public) or a private corporation (if independent), and maybe for-profit or not-for-profit enterprises. Religious institutions are considered independent or private” (the United States of America, p.1).
The Ministerio de Educacion Nacional (Ministry of National Education) has complete authority over the educational aspects of Colombia, and it puts forward the principles for both civic and private edification at all levels. The Columbian government provides for around 85% of elementary education, 60% of secondary education, and 40% of higher education. In recent years, research has shown that there are 375,951 students attending preschool, 4,386,398 students going to elementary school. 2,425,496 students present in secondary schools and 475,000 students registered in higher education.
Education in Colombia is divided into the following categories:
- Preschool Education (Educación Preescolar).
- Elementary Education (Educación Primaria).
- Secondary Education (Educación Media).
- Higher Education (Educación Superior).
Private schools play an important role in the Colombian educational system. They are chiefly operated by a variety of religious and private sector organizations. There are two academic calendars: “A” and “B”. Calendar “A” is used by most of the country and is divided into two cycles or semesters. The first semester lasts 18 weeks, starting in February and finishing in June. The second semester lasts 20 weeks, opening in July and concluding in November. Calendar “B” is used in the southern states of Valle, Cauca, Nariño, and Putumayo, where the first semester of the calendar starts in September and ends in December. The second semester begins in January and ends in June. Both calendars follow a 198-day school year. Fundamental primary education lasts for five years, followed by one year of pre-school education. A new system is gradually being brought in which restructures the education system with reference to periods of basic education. Triumphant completion of studies leads to the Bachillerato in the field of the student’s choice. As said, “higher education is provided by university institutions, Institutes of Technology, Technical Professional Institutions and Military Academies. The first three types include both official and private institutions. In university institutions, each faculty is divided into departments. Distance education is provided by universities and regional centers” (Colombia: Education System. p.1).
Conclusion
In the light of the above discussion, we can hereby culminate that the educational systems of the United States have some common aspects and some dissimilarities like the presence of two calendars in the Colombian education system.
Works Cited
Colombia Education. 2007. Web.
Colombia: Education System. (2001). International Associations of Universities. Pp.1.
United States of America. (2002). International Associations of Universities. Pp.1.