Page 59 - 2023-Mag_90-2

Educational Excellence

Exploring Education in DKG Countries

To show commonality as well as differences, the International Educational Excellence Committee
posed questions to several members regarding the current educational systems in their countries. The
committee would like to thank the following who provided answers: Bianchinetta Benavides-Segura,
Costa Rica; Donne-Faye Madhosingh, Meredyth Kezar, and Daina Moore, Canada; Kaija Teikari, Finland;
Claudia Estrada, Guatemala; Ingibjörg Jónasdóttir, Iceland; Paula Fabian, Japan; and Yvonne Gatley,
United States. Data cited in this article are from personal communications with these individuals from
April 2023; accordingly, their names are cited after each data point.

What are the compulsory ages for a child to begin and end their schooling?
Each country has set compulsory ages, and they are usually dependent
on a student’s birthday within the calendar year. For instance, students in
many U.S. states must be 6 years old by September 1 to enroll in school
(Gatley). Most countries have set age 6 as the beginning age for formal
schooling that is provided free to all students. The earliest beginning age
of compulsory school attendance is age 5 in Great Britain (Laas, 2023).
Formal education is determined to begin at age 7 in Finland (Teikari).
Many countries offer kindergarten or preschool programs that are funded
at no costs to families. In this case, children will be attending school at an
earlier age. Iceland municipalities run a “play school” for children ages
2 to 5 (Jónasdóttir).
The age to end compulsory schooling also varies, with age 16 being the most common age at which a
student is no longer mandated to attend school. This age can also vary from state or provincial laws that
dictate a longer age—to 17 or 18 (Benavides-Segura; Madhosingh, Moore, Kezar; Teikari; Jónasdóttir;
Gatley). Data from other countries show a wide variance in the ages and years that students are required
to attend school. Japanese students are required to attend school from Grades 1–9, which include the ages
of 6 to 15 years old (Fabian). Students in Guatemala begin at age 5 and end their compulsory schooling
at 12, which is also the age at which free public education ends (Estrada). Although schools are available
for students beyond the age of 12 in Guatemala, the fees for these schools must by paid by the student’s
family.

What percentage of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is allocated for education?
With numbers ranging from 3.1% on the low end to 11% on the high end, the gap is apparent in
what each country allocates to educational spending. Educational systems in Canada (11%; Madhosingh,
Moore, Kezar) offer options not found in those systems operating in Guatemala (3.1%; Estrada). The
average GDP devoted to education in DKG’s member countries stands at 6%. Although these numbers
fluctuate on a yearly basis, what stands out is the disparity in the support of education provided to students
in our member countries. Our outstanding DKG members from our neediest countries work miracles with
what they are allocated.

How are schools financed?
Funding for public schools is mostly collected through a system of taxes on individuals, businesses,
and properties. The way those funds are distributed is often dependent on the population of the country.
Schools in our largest member country, the United States, are funded from revenue collected mostly at
the state and local levels, with a small percentage contributed at the federal level (Kober et al., 2020). In
Costa Rica, the Ministry of Public Education is the government entity that funds and regulates all aspects
of public education (Benavides-Segura).

Collegial Exchange · 57