British vs US education: Cairo-based educational services provider BalancED tried to answer the age-old question of which is better British or American education during its annual conference, which took place on Saturday under the title “The British & the American Systems in Egypt: Similarities & Differences.” Enterprise was in attendance, along with representatives from Pearson Education, Cambridge Assessment, Florida Atlantic University, Education First, the British Council, and the British University in Egypt.

BalancED has experience with both, as it tries to cater to different parent’s preferences. Last September, the company opened the British Asten College, with investments of EGP 920 mn, the company's vice president for strategy Omar El Bakry told Enterprise. It also manages the New Generation International Schools, which follow the US system.

“The matter of choosing between the British and American education system has been a hot topic among parents for years,” BalancED Managing Director Salma El Bakry told Enterprise. The question also concerns teachers who are interested in professional development and investors in the Egyptian education sector, she added.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT-

The main difference between the two: How students are examined. While the British system uses projects and coursework to assess students from grades one to nine, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) involves passing standardized exams that almost entirely determine the student's grade. The US system, on the other hand, involves standardized tests to receive the US diploma, but their weight in the final evaluation is almost as important as the cumulative GPA that the student earns throughout all stages of their education.

These examination methods serve overlapping but distinct educational goals. The US system encourages individuality and equips students with entrepreneurial and innovative skills, making active participation in school and extracurricular activities crucial for final assessments before university, shared Omar El Bakry. Supporters of the British system, on the other hand, believe that assessing hundreds of thousands of students through various projects and activities over several years could compromise integrity and fairness in British international schools, which are accredited in 160 countries. Therefore, they prefer standardized tests to measure academic performance, said Kathryn Booth, head of Pearson School Qualifications in MENAT.

One thing the British system offers is centralized school accreditation. The British Council, affiliated with the British government, liaises with British schools and mediates between them and international accrediting bodies like Pearson and Cambridge. This helps standardize the educational experience among schools, explained Maysaa Barakat, associate professor of education leadership at Florida Atlantic University. In contrast, US schools lack a central body for coordination with international accrediting organizations. This decentralization reflects the differences in accreditation requirements and enrollment conditions across various US states, leading to significant variations in the implementation of the US system. These inconsistencies can sometimes harm the system’s reputation and cause confusion among parents when choosing schools, Barakat noted.

BREAKING DOWN THE MISCONCEPTIONS- Parents have accumulated their own views and beliefs about each of the systems — which don’t always paint the systems in the best light.

#1- The British system: “Parents feel that the British system is the hardest route to obtain the IGCSE and prefer other pathways they see as easier,” said Omneya Kassabgy, head of the Career Development and Consultations Academy. However, she views this as a flawed approach to evaluating educational pathways. The British system takes a comprehensive approach, which aims to enrich students with multidisciplinary academic knowledge and ensure fair and honest assessments through standardized exams, she explained.

#2- The US system: “Some say it's for students who can't complete the British pathway, or that it's a way for the wealthy to buy university entrance, or that it lacks the discipline of the British system. These rumors are baseless," Barakat explained, noting that the US diploma is relatively new in Egypt compared to the established British system. “One of the best aspects of the US system is its vibrant student life, designed to encourage regular attendance, active participation, and teamwork. We should maintain this. If one school misuses this approach, it doesn’t mean the system itself is flawed,” BalancED’s Academic Director, Nabil Michel, said.

Getting with the times: The Cambridge program has introduced study materials on digital literacy and coding for middle schoolers. It has also begun experimenting with fully digital exams in various regions depending on the preparedness of their digital infrastructure, said Tabinda Mazhar, Cambridge Assessment’s head of educational projects for Pakistan and MENA.

Both systems are working on tackling the rise of AI: The development of AI language models poses a challenge when it comes to evaluating students through research and practical projects. Currently, projects are being piloted that allow students to use tools like ChatGPT in their work, Booth added. “Initially, Google search was considered a means of cheating, but it is now used for research and analysis. It's the same with AI,” Michel explained.

THE BIGGER PICTURE-

Choosing the right school is crucial. Whether opting for the American or British system, the key difference lies in the institution's commitment to comprehensive educational programs that meet standards. International accreditation ensures a school meets minimum requirements, such as having scientific laboratories and appointing social and psychological specialists, explains Booth. However, maintaining high educational quality and leveraging professional development for staff requires serious initiative from schools, she continued.

Schools must localize international education programs. It's crucial for these systems to adapt to local social and cultural contexts — some American school graduates excel in personal and academic skills but lack proficiency in Arabic and knowledge of Egyptian history and culture.

At the end of the day: Each educational system has its strengths and develops different skills in students, whether it's the American, British, Egyptian public, or vocational education systems, Salma El Bakry added. The choice ultimately depends on parents' perceptions of each system and the student's needs and personality, she added.

Your top education stories for the week: Education Minister Reda Hegazy isparticipatingin the World EducationForum 2024 in London from 19 to 22 May. The minister is set to discuss the country’s work to develop school curricula, technical education, and make education more accessible to people with disabilities.

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