Students

How much time do students spend in the classroom?

On average across OECD countries, the teaching of reading, writing and literature, mathematics and science represents nearly 50% of the compulsory instruction time for 9-to-11-year-olds and 40% for 12-to-14-year-olds. For 9-to-11-year-olds, the proportion of compulsory curriculum devoted to reading, writing and literature varies widely from 13% in Australia to 30% or more in France, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Instruction time in formal classroom settings comprises a large element of the public investment
in student learning and is a central component of effective schooling. The amount of instruction
time available to students can determine the amount of classroom teaching they receive and
therefore their opportunities for effective learning.

Teaching of reading and writing, mathematics and science

How effective are school systems at providing young people with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will equip them for life and learning beyond school? OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assesses student knowledge and skills in science, mathematics and reading at age 15, i.e. towards the end of compulsory education.

Watch this video explaining what the OECD/PISA programme is and progress made so far.   Best practices? Watch these video clips about some schools in Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and Mexico.

Who studies abroad and where?

In 2006, over 2.9 million tertiary students were enrolled outside their country of citizenship. This represented a 3% increase from the previous year in total foreign student intake reported to the OECD and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

• France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States receive 49% of all foreign students worldwide. The largest absolute numbers of international students from OECD countries are from France, Germany, Japan and Korea. Students from China and India comprise the largest numbers of international students from partner countries.
  
  
• International students make up 15% or more of the enrolments in tertiary education in Australia and New Zealand. International students make up more than 20% of enrolments in advanced research programmes in Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  
  
• 30% or more of international students are enrolled in sciences, agriculture or engineering in Finland, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Further reading:

• Education at a Glance 2008: OECD Indicators
• Science rocks
  The future of science is a matter of concern in many countries, especially as students show mixed feelings about the subject.
• Attitudes and abilities
  Schools have much to do in how they deal with disabled students.