America is a leading education nation. It has a rich history of educationists, education systems, and innovation. The history of education and the people who have participated in its development have shaped the American education system uniquely.
While the world knows a lot about the American system of education, a lot remains untold. For instance, has the quality of education in America improved compared to 30 years ago relative to other nations? Is the internet accessible in public institutions and how is it shaping learning?
Here are interesting facts about the American education system.
40 million students don’t have access to high-speed internet
The internet is a great source of educational resources. Students, tutors, researchers, and administrators use the internet daily for education-related activities. For many people, it is unimaginable to spend a day without high-speed internet. Surprisingly, 97% of students in low-income areas rely on the school internet for their studies. Unfortunately, 40 million students have no access to high-speed internet in schools.
The lack of high-speed internet in schools means that their education potential is compromised. If they have to research or learn online, parents and guardians have to bear the cost. The lack of high-speed internet means that the education system is escalating inequality.
The need for online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic highlights the need to reach all schools through reliable internet. Learning will be ineffective if all students cannot access quality internet. The few economically deprived students continue to suffer through an unequal education system. Such shortcomings must be addressed swiftly.
Failure to graduate from high school leads to the loss of billions, years down the line
The impact of failure to graduate from high school is felt in waves. A person who did not graduate from high school earns less than a graduate. Parents feel that their resources and the future of their children were wasted. But what happens to the nation? Use professional thesis writing services to avoid dropping out of school because of homework, essays, coursework, or any school assignment.
It is estimated that students high school students who did not graduate in 2011 caused the nation to lose more than $370 billion in ten years. When the impact of the loss is compounded for every non-graduating class, the figures would be mind-boggling. Educationists must look for solutions to keep as many students as possible in college.
America is ranked 36th in the world in the provision of quality education
America is a leader on many fronts but is beginning to trail in education. 30 years ago, America ranked among the best countries in the provision of quality education. Unfortunately, it has slipped down the rankings to position 36.
The slip cannot be associated with funding because the USA remains among the countries spending the most money on public education. Efforts by other countries seem to be overtaking the results obtained from the USA. Successful governments have also tried to invest in and improve the American system of education.
Ranking reports also fail to point out the parameters used in judging. A general overview could be misleading because college education remains admirably competitive. Education infrastructure is also not a reliable indicator of the quality of education. If the focus remained on the competitiveness of the graduates coming out of the American education system, the country would still rank admirably high.
50% of teachers resign by the 5th year of employment
How attractive is the education system in America? How many teachers would wish to retire in class? The surprising fact is that 50% of teachers resign from the profession before their 5th teaching birthday. Why do they not want to remain in class?
The answers are poor pay and excessive rights for students. While the system expects the teacher to graduate the best cohort, he has no leeway to discipline or develop a unique teaching formula. Such huge human resource losses deprive the education system of the expertise that comes with experience.
Administrators must find a way of holding onto teachers.
90% of new jobs require post-high-school or college education
The education system is tasked with preparing the future workforce. The changing work environment means that the system must rethink the skills of its graduates. It must prepare the workforce for 90% of the new jobs that require a college education or post-high school qualification.
The system must modify its systems and content to meet future needs. The American system is facing out the traditional courses and replacing them with newer ones. However, the old courses remain relevant to cover the 10% of new jobs that require traditional skills.
Only 25% of high school graduates are ready to handle college material in the 4 core subjects of math, science, reading, and English
How well can high school graduates handle college materials? Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 high school graduates is ready for college math, reading, English, and science content. Some have to bridge their studies to gain entry into college. Others struggle or change their career focus because they lack the requisite understanding of these critical subjects.
Lack of proper preparation before joining college could be blamed for the poor college completion rate in the USA. Despite advanced infrastructure and quality of education, America still ranks 14th in college completion. Such a low figure leaves a lot to be desired from the leading world power.
Over 4.5 million Americans are getting their degrees from other countries around the world
It is estimated that more than 4.5 million Americans are studying abroad. They are in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. They form a pool of college graduates that will blend the American system of education to improve its quality.
In reverse, America hosts the largest number of international students in the world. They come from Australia, Spain, New Zealand, and Asian countries. Such educational swapping demonstrates the compatibility of the American education system with others around the world.
The American education system continues to evolve. It is shaping the workforce but also responding to changing professional requirements. Overall, the American education system is serving its role locally and internationally.
