Which is a reason for low school attendance in some poor countries?

families needing children to work. Poverty keeps children out of school.

How does class size affect learning?

in very large classes each pupil gets less of the teacher's attention. One teacher's time is divided among everyone.

Which factor especially limits girls' education in some countries?

early marriage. Girls leave school to marry or to work in the home.

What do international tests allow?

comparison of pupils' achievement between countries. The same test is taken in many countries.

Why might two countries with the same level of wealth have different educational results?

cultural values, class sizes and the way schools are organised also differ. Money matters, and so do other things.

Global differences in education · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology

In plain words

A child in one country sits in a class of twenty with a tablet on the desk. A child of the same age in another walks an hour to a class of ninety with no books, or does not go at all. Where you are born is the biggest educational advantage or handicap there is.

8 things to know

The pattern: countries differ greatly in how many children attend school, how many years they stay, how many adults can read, and how well pupils do in international tests.
Availability of schools: some countries have too few schools and trained teachers, especially in the countryside, so children travel long distances or do not attend. War destroys schools and scatters families.
Poverty and wealth: poor countries cannot fund free schooling for all. Poor families cannot afford fees, uniforms or books, and may need their children to work. Rich countries provide free schooling for ten years or more.
Access to education for girls: in some countries far fewer girls than boys attend, because of early marriage, housework, safety on the journey and beliefs about the role of women.
Class sizes: a teacher with 80 pupils can give each very little attention. A teacher with 25 can give much more.
Norms, values and cultural differences: societies differ in how much they value schooling, how much they respect teachers, and how many hours children are expected to study.
Access to the internet and digital resources: pupils with devices and a connection have a library and a classroom in their hands. Pupils without them are shut out, which is called the digital divide.
Evaluating the explanations. No single factor explains achievement. Class, gender, ethnicity and country act together. Factors at home and factors in school both matter, and pupils are not passive: they respond in different ways.

Worked example

During a period when schools were closed, lessons moved online. Explain why this widened the gap between pupils in rich and poor countries.

Online lessons need a device, a connection and electricity.
Most pupils in rich countries had them. Many pupils in poor countries did not.
So some pupils carried on learning and others stopped altogether.
The digital divide turned a pause in schooling into a lasting gap.

Tips and tricks

Use the six factors from the syllabus: availability of schools, poverty and wealth, girls' access, class sizes, cultural values, and digital access.
Link global differences back to the other units. A poor girl in a poor country is held back by class, gender and country together.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Global differences in education: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

Which is a reason for low school attendance in some poor countries?
- too many teachers
- classes that are too small
- too many free schools
- families needing children to work (the answer)
Poverty keeps children out of school.
How does class size affect learning?
- larger classes give each pupil more attention
- in very large classes each pupil gets less of the teacher's attention (the answer)
- class size has no effect
- small classes have no teacher
One teacher's time is divided among everyone.
Which factor especially limits girls' education in some countries?
- early marriage (the answer)
- school uniform
- the school timetable
- international tests
Girls leave school to marry or to work in the home.
What do international tests allow?
- pupils to skip school
- governments to close schools
- teachers to set no homework
- comparison of pupils' achievement between countries (the answer)
The same test is taken in many countries.
Why might two countries with the same level of wealth have different educational results?Stretch
- wealth is the only factor that matters
- results are a matter of luck
- cultural values, class sizes and the way schools are organised also differ (the answer)
- one country must be hiding its results
Money matters, and so do other things.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Global differences in education

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by the "digital divide"?[2]
Show answerHide answer
The gap between those who have access to the internet and digital technology and those who do not.
I got this one
Explain two reasons why educational achievement differs between countries.[4]
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Any two, each explained: poorer countries have fewer schools and trained teachers; families in poverty cannot afford school costs and may need children to work; in some countries girls have less access to school; very large classes mean less attention for each pupil; access to the internet and digital resources is unequal.
I got this one
Explain why no single factor can explain differences in educational achievement.[4]
Show answerHide answer
Achievement is affected by class, gender, ethnicity and country at the same time. Factors outside school, such as income, combine with factors inside school, such as labelling. Pupils also respond differently to the same situation, so explanations have to be used together.
I got this one

Answers: Global differences in education

1. The gap between those who have access to the internet and digital technology and those who do not.
2. Any two, each explained: poorer countries have fewer schools and trained teachers; families in poverty cannot afford school costs and may need children to work; in some countries girls have less access to school; very large classes mean less attention for each pupil; access to the internet and digital resources is unequal.
3. Achievement is affected by class, gender, ethnicity and country at the same time. Factors outside school, such as income, combine with factors inside school, such as labelling. Pupils also respond differently to the same situation, so explanations have to be used together.