Education system in Saudi Arabia and the United States - Research Paper Example

Education system in Saudi Arabia and the United s Introduction The education sector has experienced a widespread transformation in the recent past. Apparently, several robust developments can be observed in the education systems of many countries. The governments of various republics have established policies that are aimed at reforming and developing the education system. The modern education system is more organized and comprehensive than the ancient education system. Most countries have made public education free and accessible to all citizens despite the financial or ethnic backgrounds. The developments in the modern education are characterized by factors such as government funding, multiracial population and subsequent levels of learning (Bender, Smith, & Project Muse, 2008). An evaluation of modern education system reveals that religion has a great influence on education. In order, to understand the nature and structure of education in various parts of the world, the paper intends to compare and contrast the education systems of the US and Saudi Arabia. Similarities between the US and Saudi Arabian education systems In both countries, the government has a great influence on education. For instance, governments of both countries fund the free public education. It is mandatory for children to attend school in both countries. Education is offered by the public and private institutions in both countries. Public institutions are obliged to follow a common curriculum set by the various education boards. The private institutions are free to develop their curriculum, but the designed curriculum should be within the limits of low. The private institutions have freedom determine the fee to be paid by students for offering the education services. In both countries, the higher education has gone through massive improvement and transformation (Cordesman, 2003). The number of universities and tertiary institution in both countries has been on an increase in the past few decades. The government and the private sectors have been involved in developing the higher education in both the US and Saudi Arabia. In addition, the systems in both countries facilitate awarding of scholarships to students wishing to pursue higher education. Awarding of scholarships is open not only to the residents of the respective countries but also students from foreign countries. Essentially, the education systems of both countries accommodate foreign education exchange programs. The education systems in both countries follow a common pattern just like many other systems in the world. The lowest level of education in both systems is the early childhood education, which is followed by the primary school. The primary education level is then followed by the middle school, secondary school and finally the post-secondary education. However, it is important to note that in the US, primary education is referred to as elementary school, secondary school as high school and postsecondary education as tertiary education The education system of Saudi Arabia has experienced massive improvements over the years (Smith & Abū, 2013). . During the formation of the Saudi Arabian kingdom, education was only accessible to a small portion of the population. In essence, education was only accessible to the rich members of the community residing in cities. However, the education system has developed subsequently and presently there are over fifty universities in Saudi Arabia. The education system of Saudi Arabia provides that students be provided with free education, free books, and free health services. Differences between the Education system of the US and Saudi Arabia The education system of the US is more developed than that of Saudi Arabia. For instance, the US education system focuses on practical learning and talent development (Carl, 2011). In this regard, the system gives students an opportunity to specialize in their field of interest. On the contrary, the education system of Saudi Arabia is job oriented and does not focus much on talent development. Actually, students are educated on how to work in offices and develop careers. In addition, the system does not give more emphasis on practical education. Instead, more emphasis is given to Islamic education and cultural construct of the Muslims. In the US, each state develops its own policies relating to education and curriculum development unlike in Saudi Arabia where education policies are developed by a central body. Essentially, the Supreme Committee for Education Policy is the highest authority charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling education activities in Saudi Arabia. In the US, the federal government works with the state government in regulating and controlling education activates. Actually, the US system of education is more diversified than the Saudi Arabian system since it involves many states. The Saudi Arabian system of education is uniform in all parts of the country since the nation is located in the same geographical area. In the US, the system of education is not uniform in all states due to geographical factors and complexity in management. The education system in Saudi Arabia is highly influenced by religion. In essence, the Saudi Arabian education system is based on the Islamic teachings and the sharia role. The Quran emphasis on the acquisition of education for all Muslims in the world.in essence, education is a requirement for every Muslim in the world. For this reason, the Saudi Arabian government has aligned the education system with the provisions of the Quran. The American education system is not heavily influenced by religion. The US education system gives students from any religion equal opportunities to education. In essence, the US education system is not based on a single religion and, therefore, people from all religious groups are included. The use of technology in education is another factor that differentiates education systems of the US and Saudi Arabia. The US education system has moved several miles ahead of Saudi Arabia’s system as far as the use of technology is concerned. The US education system has incorporated the modern technology in almost all aspects of education (Goldin & Katz,2008). For instance, the system offers students an opportunity to learn via online platforms either at home or in the available libraries. In addition, technologically based researches have been instituted in various institutions of higher learning. On the other hand, the use of modern technology has not taken roots fully in the education system of Saudi Arabia. In essence, several modern technology related loopholes can be observed in the Saudi Arabian education systems. For instance, insufficiency of modern technology infrastructure in the system has delayed the government’s effort to move from the manual to electronic education platforms. Therefore, it can be observed that the Saudi Arabian education system has a long way to go as far as the use of modern technology in education is concerned. Rules of the US education system According to Kirp (2013) the US federal and state governments have developed several rules to be followed in the education system. For instance, several laws have been passed to guard the welfare of students, as well as teachers. Teachers are required by law to execute their duties with discrimination or favor. In addition, the law exempts psychically challenged students from engaging in certain education activities to protect their health and wellbeing at school. Additionally, education rules overrule discrimination of students for whatever reasons. In the US, teachers are expected to be professionals in their area of specialization. To ensure that this rule is followed, teacher colleges must produce prove of their graduates classwork upon request by any education body. Employers are required to evaluate the credibility of teacher’s certificates before allowing them to work in schools. Rules of the Saudi Arabian education system Brobergn(2002) states that there exist several rules in the education system of Saudi Arabia, which are tailored to enhance equality and fairness in the provision of education. The rules relating to the education system in Saudi Arabia are designed by the Supreme Committee for Education Policy. The committee provides that schools should accommodate students of all ages. The committee discredits discrimination during school admissions on whatever basis, especially in the public schools. Schools are expected to admit students on free and fair basis. Additionally, the committee provides that all education activities should be aimed at promoting religious prosperity, social, cultural and political developments of the country. Provision of quality education to students with disability is another key rule in the education system of Saudi Arabia. The rule aims at improving the welfare of children with disability through educational empowerment. In essence, when people are provided with quality education, other life aspects develop automatically. In this regard, the education system in Saudi Arabia appreciates the fact that all people should be empowered despite their physical, psychological and mental condition. Conclusion The education systems in Saudi Arabia and the US have undergone a massive transformation over the past few year. The system of education in the two countries share many things in common. However, several differences are observed in the two education system. Major similarities are seen in the education levels and government involvement in the education sector. Differences of the two systems are observed in the use of modern technology and the structure of the education systems. In summary, both the US and Saudi Arabia have experienced an educational renaissance in the past few decades. References: Smith, L., & Abū, A. A.-R. M. (2013). Higher education in Saudi Arabia: Achievements, challenges and opportunities. Dordrecht: Springer. Broberg, C. (2002). Saudi Arabia in pictures. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications. Cordesman, A. H. (2003). Saudi Arabia enters the twenty-first century: The political, foreign policy, economic, and energy dimensions. Westport, Conn: Praeger. Kirp, D. L. (2013). Improbable scholars: The rebirth of a great American school system and a strategy for Americas schools. Top of Form Bender, T., Smith, W., & Project Muse. (2008). American higher education transformed, 1940- 2005: Documenting the national discourse. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins University Press. Buchen, I. H. (2004). The future of the American school system. Lanham, Md: ScarecrowEducation. Goldin, C. D., & Katz, L. F. (2008). The race between education and technology. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Carl, J. (2011). Freedom of choice: Vouchers in American education. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger. Bottom of Form Read More