Comparison/Contrast essay 'Education system (draft 2)'

The Education System of the United Arab Emirates Different from Korea 

 

    There is a saying, “Humans are said to be animals that study until death.” Most people spend a lot of time at school to spend the future well. There is something in common under the name of education, but each country also has their own education system. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country that Korean can feel unfamiliar geographically far from Korea. Thus, there are many similarities and differences between them.  

 

    The first point that compares between South Korea and the UAE is school systems. As for the first South Korea and the UAE are same year the number of elementary education, but education starting age is different. South Korea and the UAE are elementary school six years and both middle and high school for three years. However, people enter elementary school at the age of 8, middle school at 14, and high school at 17 in South Korea. On the other hand, people in the UAE go to elementary school at 6, middle school at 12, and high school at 15. 

 

    Although the education until middle school is compulsory in both countries, on the contrary, there is another difference between two countries about tuition. The free education has been from elementary school to middle school, and recently started high schools in 2021 in Korea. Most of them are made up of taxes from the people. Whereas, The United Arab Emirates provides the cost of all education in the country and even pays for it if its citizens wish to study abroad. The UAE provides government support for all education, even universities and overseas studies. 

 

    There is other difference in the curriculum. Common subjects in Korea include Korean, mathematics, English, society, science, and Korean history. While, the essential subjects of UAE are Islamic education, sociology, and Arabic education which include the religious characterisitcs for its citizens in the curriculum permitted by their official education department. Peculiarly, only Muslim students can enter the Islamic department of the university in the UAE. On the other hand, in Korea, students can freely enter the Department of Religion regardless of religion. 

 

    Not only UAE but also Korea have difference, but they have also similarity. Many people in both countries be educated at the college or university. The college enrollment rate of both South Korea and the UAE is higher than that of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. According to the 2015 OECD education index, the university enrollment rate of OECD countries is 41% . Whereas, Korea has consistently topped the university entrance rate, 79.4% of students entering university in 2020. The UAE students, 95% of women and 80% of men, go to college or choose to study abroad. 

 

    To sum up, Korea, which values college entrance exams, and the United Arab Emirates, a religion-based culture, were compared. The two countries show something in common that the college enrollment rate was high. However, there are various differences between education expenses, school system, and curriculum containing national culture. Also, more commonalities and some differences than expected about the education system will help us understand each other. 

 

    “UAE 교육”. 주아랍에미레이트대사관. https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ae-ko/index.do. 2017. Web. 15, Nov, 2021.  

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