March is the beginning of the new semester in South Korea, so, naturally, schools are filled with fresh excitement and vigor. In Korea, compulsory education includes six years of elementary school and three years of middle school, with three years in high school and college afterward being optional. This is known as the 6-3-3 system. How does the education system work in ASEAN countries? Which have long and short compulsory education systems, and which have high levels of enthusiasm for education? Let’s also find out which subjects are taught in ASEAN countries.
The 6-3-3 education system has been adopted in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand, just as in Korea.
In recent years, Cambodia has made outstanding progress in helping children achieve their fullest potential, however challenges remain. On the one hand, illiteracy still affects around twenty-five percent of primary school children. Yet, the number of children enrolled in preschool since 2007 has more than doubled, while the number of children enrolled in primary education is now over ninety-seven percent. Though some students are falling behind, especially in rural areas, strong government action and family support are quickly overcoming these obstacles.
Indonesia has adopted a primary and secondary compulsory education system, and beginning in 2013, twelve years of education-from elementary to high school-has been made compulsory. Students can attend elementary and middle school at either general public schools or at religious schools, while high school students have the additional option of attending vocational institutes. Wealthy families may send their children to expensive private schools, while lower income families typically must rely on cheaper public schools.
Thailand also provides compulsory education from elementary to secondary schools, and the new school semester begins in May at the start of the Songkran New Year Festival in April.
Brunei Darussalam has one of the most extensive educational systems-students are able to attend college after completing six years of elementary school, four to five years of middle and high school, and two years of college preparatory curriculum. All public schools, including college, are provided for free. The state also provides financial support to students who would like to study abroad, provided that they first fulfill the necessary academic standards.
Likewise, Malaysia requires a six-year primary education, five-year secondary education(three lower, two upper), and one to three years of preparatory schooling. Education is free of charge up to middle school.
In Lao PDR, five years of primary school is compulsory, and secondary school spans seven years, which combines the duration of middle and high school curricula in Korea.
In the Philippines, the education system includes six years of primary school, four years of secondary school, and two years of high school. Compulsory education is up to middle school. Education at public schools is offered for free, and the level of education is relatively high.
Myanmar’s curriculum stipulates one year of preschool, five years of primary school, four years of secondary school, and three years of high school, however it is compulsory to attend only up to elementary school. College tuition is very affordable, if not virtually free. This is because most schools, including universities, are operated by the Ministry of Education, and most of the teachers are civil servants. The country operates a British-style education system, which excludes music and physical education courses from the regular curriculum.
Singapore is well known for its educational fervor. Here, the curriculum entails six years of primary education and four to five years of secondary education. Depending on the performance in the elementary school graduation test, they are sorted into “Express,” “Normal(Academic),” or “Normal(Technical)” curricula. However this merit-based secondary education system will be phased out by 2024. As for high school, according to the student’s performance at the time of graduation from the secondary program, the options are divided into pre-university centers(two years) to continue academic pursuits, technical schools (three years) that provide professional training, vocational education centers(1-2 years), and art institutions(3-6 years). Students who have graduated from the pre-university course and passed the exam can attend one of six universities in Singapore.
Viet Nam is also undergoing reform with a focus on segmented education. Five years of elementary school are compulsory, and after four years of secondary school, students may either attend high schools or receive vocational education in technical schools. As for three years of high school education, in addition to the general high school, there are schools that teach natural sciences, social sciences, and technical sciences.
KOREA FOUNDATION
