Which country has the best education in the world? - The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

The most common measure for comparing global education systems is the PISA test, taken by 15-year-olds in about 80 countries. These tests, introduced by the OECD, assess reading, maths, and science, providing data for countries to compare their educational achievements. Initially contentious due to cultural and economic differences, the tests highlight that national education systems are not inevitable and can perform differently, influencing policy and national self-assessment.

East Asian countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong consistently perform well in PISA tests. Estonia and Canada also show strong results, while Finland's performance has recently declined. Poorer countries in South America, Central America, and some parts of the Arab world often perform poorly. Interestingly, many large European countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK's education systems are not as strong as generally perceived, being outpaced by fast-growing nations.

The definition of a 'good education' is debated, as high PISA scores in some East Asian countries are associated with high stress levels for students. While PISA primarily focuses on academic subjects, the OECD has tried to incorporate 'softer skills' like creativity and wellbeing through questionnaires. Countries take PISA rankings seriously, as educational outcomes are linked to economic prosperity. Countries like Singapore have intentionally invested in education to transform into high-skill, high-income economies, making education a crucial economic driver.

Successful education systems prioritize equality, ensuring all pupils achieve a certain standard regardless of background, as seen in Estonia and Shanghai. Many top-performing PISA countries are small, new, ambitious nation-states often located near larger neighbors (e.g., Estonia near Russia, Singapore, Taiwan near China). These countries frequently lack natural resources and focus on education as a target for national improvement.

There's no clear international evidence on the optimal age for children to start formal schooling, as early education can occur in various forms before formal school. Teacher quality is a significant factor in student learning gains, though its precise impact on international differences is hard to quantify. Funding also plays a critical role, as seen in areas where increased investment led to improved standards. While money is vital for resources like teachers and equipment, the effectiveness of spending and policies (e.g., class sizes) varies.

The US education system shows massive disparities, with states like Massachusetts performing at the top while others like Mississippi fare poorly, resulting in a mediocre national average. Globally, 224 million children need educational support, with 72 million unable to attend school due to war, conflict, distance, climate, and poverty. A lack of education has devastating long-term impacts on individuals and societies, being linked to poverty, poor health, and vulnerability to extremism. The denial of education to girls, particularly in places like Afghanistan, perpetuates cycles of poverty.

In OECD countries, girls often outperform boys in specific subjects like reading across almost all countries and time periods. In mathematics, the performance gap is more nuanced, with some countries showing an advantage for boys. Education systems can evolve through deliberate policy choices and investment. Successful systems prioritize ensuring all children, regardless of background, have a fair chance at a good education. The structure of an education system is not an accident of nature but a product of societal choices and can be changed to benefit more people.