Asia: New Top of the Class | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Professional Development
    • Global Ed Explorer
    • Online Courses
  • Educator Resources
    • Teaching for Global Understanding
  • About the Network
    • Meeting History & Agendas
    • Approach and Impact
    • Reports
  • About the Center for Global Education
    • Who We Are
    • Where We Work
    • Results and Opportunities
    • News and Events
Search
Global Cities Education Network
  • Professional Development
    • Global Ed Explorer
    • Online Courses
  • Educator Resources
    • Teaching for Global Understanding
  • About the Network
    • Meeting History & Agendas
    • Approach and Impact
    • Reports
  • About the Center for Global Education
    • Who We Are
    • Where We Work
    • Results and Opportunities
    • News and Events

Asia: New Top of the Class

Asia is top of the class and the United States is lagging behind, according a new world-wide survey of the skills of school students.

The results of Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) were released today by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The global assessment compared the reading, math, and science skills sets of 15-year-olds in 65 countries.

Shanghai was first, with Hong Kong SAR in second place and Finland third. Eight out of the 10 top spots were taken by Asia-Pacific countries or regions.

Meanwhile the United States—once a leader in education through much of the 20th century—came in a disappointing 26th when the results of the three categories were averaged out.

"The rise of education in Asia is no accident," said Asia Society President Vishakha Desai in New York (read her opinion piece on CNN's website). "It reflects deliberate policies and long-term investments that recognize the centrality of quality education to a nation's economic growth.

"Studies on PISA data show that higher test scores in math and science are associated with higher growth rates that, in turn, lead to higher incomes….

The time has come for America to learn from -- and with -- Asia and the world. Our ability to compete and lead in a global economy may well depend on it."

The U.S. ranked 14 in reading, virtually the same ranking as the 2003 test, 17th in science, which is an improvement from 21st in 2006; and 25th in mathematics, the same ranking as 2006. The good news is that U.S. students, especially those with the lowest performance, have significantly improved in science since 2006.

"The 2009 PISA data demonstrate the rise in the quality of education in Asia—among the top performers were Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Korea," said Tony Jackson, Vice President, Education, at Asia Society

"Aligning education goals to economic development, Asian nations have scoured the world for models of effective education systems, and implemented them consistently through deliberate policies and long-term investments.

"Any definition of a world-class education must include knowledge of Asia and the language and cultural skills to deal with Asia.  It’s a two-way street: America must now learn from—and with—Asia and the world."

Jackson said that despite the latest figures the United States remains a model of innovation with experts from around the world still studying advances in American education. However, these innovations are not being taken to scale so all students can benefit. While other countries continue to learn from the U.S., the U.S. can learn from other countries.

"It is critical for states to learn from each other and from the highest performing countries on the PISA exam to improve student learning. We are encouraged by the improvements in science made by our students and hope to see this trend continue," said Council of Chief State School Officers Executive Director, Gene Wilhoit.

"It is clear there is still a great deal of work to be done and states are committed to implementing reforms that prepare students for college, work, and life in the global community."

Bob Wise, President of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia, described the PISA results as "an important international lesson for U.S. policymakers" with economic ramifications.

"The fact that the lowest-income American students facing the longest learning odds are matching the average score of Finland, one of the world's best performers, shows the importance of pushing aggressive reform efforts everywhere,” he said. “But only having some students competing at this high level isn’t enough. For the United States to remain the world’s strongest economy, it needs the brainpower of all students.”

International comparisons are increasingly relevant and important to understand in today's global environment. No longer do the residents of American cities and states vie only with each other for jobs; their competitors are located in countries around the world.

To remain competitive, the U.S. must reform its education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Steps have already been taken in this direction through the Common Core State Standards.

"Governors recognize the irrefutable links between a quality education, a productive workforce, and a sound economy. Our competitiveness relies on an education system that can adequately prepare our youth for college and the workforce," said Dane Linn, Director, Education Division, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.

"A foundation for helping all students become globally competitive are the Common Core State Standards, internationally benchmarked college- and career-ready standards that have now been adopted in states representing 87 percent of the nation's K-12 public school population. When our students have the skills and knowledge needed for today’s workforce, we will be positioned to compete successfully with any country in the world."

Explore School Systems Around the World

  • Students in class in Vietnam (Vanessa Shadoian-Gersing)

    Education in Vietnam

    Vietnamese students surprised the world with their 2012 PISA results. Vanessa Shadoian-Gersing, a former OECD analyst who writes and consults on global education, offers observations based on her recent work in Vietnam.
  • case study word cloud
    article

    Case Study: Catholic Regional College Sydenham

    Students are able to choose from an extensive range of vocational education and training (VET) certificates offered either at the College or at an external training provider as part of their senior secondary studies.
  • case study word cloud
    article

    Case Study: Northern College of the Arts and Technology

    The College has a reputation for quality curriculum design and engaging vocational education and training (VET) programs across the arts, trades, and technologies.
  • Best educational practices are not-so-secret. (Tomwang112/iStockPhoto)

    Learning from the "Shanghai Secret"

    Shanghai's “Four Traditionals” and “Eight Moderns” which the U.S. education system could adapt.
  • The race for excellence and equity in education. (abdulrahman.stock/iStockPhoto)
    report
     /  Education

    Transforming Learning in Cities

    Advice on how to offer an excellent education to every student.
  • It keeps Singapore economically strong. (TommL/iStockPhoto)
    article

    Singapore: Innovation in Technical Education

    Different sectors in Singapore gather to study workforce demands of the future, and plan how to create a supply of highly qualified workers.
  • Classroom supplies (Liz (perspicacious.org/flickr)

    Top School Systems Announced

    Asia dominates the top of the list; the United States, stagnant.
  • Students work on computers

    Asia: New Top of the Class

    A worldwide new education survey ranks US students well behind many of their Asian counterparts. Can America still catch up?
  • People in Hong Kong (caspermoller/flickr)

    Hong Kong: Reform that Works

    An international port city reformed its education to meet the new opportunities of a knowledge economy.
  • Students in Shanghai (plastic spatula/flickr)

    Shanghai: The World's Best School System

    What they do right, and what the rest of the world can learn.

  • Top School Systems Announced

    Asia dominates the top of the list; the United States, stagnant.
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC