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There was some puzzlement when a recent issue of ExchangeEveryDay ("Best Educated Nations"; August 30, 2010) reported that the USA ranks #25 in terms of education. Here are a sampling of the responses and some explanations:
"Can't believe the USA was at the bottom."
Response: Actually, USA was near the top of the 100 countries ranked in the report.
"Why was Switzerland listed twice?"
Response: Our error — one of two errors we made: Sweden ranks 19; Poland (also left out) ranks 17, and the USA actually ranks 26.
"This list is based on one thing: nationalized health care."
Response: Health care was not a factor at all. Rankings are based on student test scores in long standing international assessments such as PISA — the Programme for International Student Assessment, a standardized assessment administered to 15-year-olds in schools around the world. Results are assessed for proficiency in reading, math, and science.
“Newsweek obviously doesn't consider special educational needs, nor social equality important variables. Many of the countries on this list don't educate children who have difficulty learning to read beyond the 5th grade.”
Response: Like all rankings and indices, what is included and excluded in the scoring is crucial and open to debate.
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For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.
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