Education Systems of 195 Countries | Complete A

All 195 country education-system guides in this eduKateSG series are published and verified live as of 13 November 2026. Choose a country below to find how its education system actually works: the compulsory school stages, age and grade sequence, primary and secondary school structure, important examinations, awarded qualifications, technical and vocational education, and university progression. This is the complete A–Z directory for the series “Understanding the Education System of [Country]”; it links to all 195 dedicated country articles, not to a collection of promised or unfinished placeholders.

The guiding rule is simple: compare education systems by qualification and stage, not by matching grade numbers alone. A Singapore PSLE Score is not an American GPA. A Scottish Higher is not a French upper-secondary baccalauréat. A Dutch VMBO diploma is not the same thing as the university-qualifying VWO certificate, and a Holy See ecclesiastical academic Baccalaureate is not a child’s secondary-school leaving award. Every link in the index points to a live guide, with its own country-specific information and official-source references. Policies change; use the receiving school and examination authority to confirm important 2026–2027 decisions.

195 of 195 country entries live: each title below opens the published article.
Choose by name: use the alphabetical jump navigation for fast lookup.
Start with the actual country and education authority: look for school phases, ages, curriculum, exams and certificates.
For transfer or admissions: verify the awarding institution, language, subject results and next programme’s eligibility.
For related coverage: the How Education Systems Work directory tracks a different country series and remains available separately.

Find a country: complete A–Z list of 195 published guides

Jump straight to A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · Y · Z. Each country entry includes a short preview from its published guide; select the linked country name for its full explanation, worked examples, FAQs and references.

A — 11 countries

Afghanistan — Afghanistan education system explained: Grades 1–6, 7–9 and 10–12; girls’ education restrictions in 2026; languages, credentials, learning and study pathways.
Albania — Albania education system explained: compulsory nine-year basic education, Grades 1–5 and 6–9, gjimnaz, vocational programmes, PKAB, Matura 2026 and universities.
Algeria — Algeria education system 2026: primary 5 years, middle 4, secondary 3; BEM and BAC exams, streams, vocational and university pathways, plus 2026–2027 English and French reforms.
Andorra — Andorra education system 2026: three coexisting Andorran, French and Spanish school systems, compulsory ages 6–16, languages, diplomas, batxillerat, vocational and university pathways.
Angola — Angola education system in 2026: Grades 1–6, 7–9 and 10–12, national examinations at Grades 6, 9 and 12, language, school access, vocational and university study.
Antigua and Barbuda — Antigua and Barbuda education system 2026: kindergarten, primary Grade Six assessment, secondary Forms 1–5, CSEC, CAPE, Spanish-language policy and UWI Five Islands.
Argentina — Argentina education system 2026: compulsory ages 4 through secondary, provincial 6+6 or 7+5 school structures, technical schools, qualifications, university admission and updated fees.
Armenia — Armenia education system 2026: 4+5+3 twelve-year schooling, Grade 9 and Grade 12 qualifications, 2026–27 curriculum reform, unified entrance exams, vocational and university routes.
Australia — Australia education system 2026: Foundation–Year 12, state and territory differences, Curriculum v9, NAPLAN, ATAR, HSC/VCE, TAFE, VET and universities.
Austria — Austria education system 2026: Volksschule, Mittelschule, AHS, BHS, BMS, 9 years compulsory school, education until 18, apprenticeships, Matura and university.
Azerbaijan — Azerbaijan education system 2026: primary Grades 1–4, general secondary 5–9 and full secondary 10–11, DİM school-leaving exams, university groups and college routes.

B — 17 countries

Bahamas — Bahamas education system in 2026: new Education Act ages 4–16, primary 1–6, secondary 7–12, GLAT, BJC, BGCSE, Bahamas High School Diploma, BTVI and UB.
Bahrain — A practical guide to Bahrain’s six-three-three school structure, compulsory basic education, BQA examinations, secondary pathways, public-school IB plans and higher education admission.
Bangladesh — Bangladesh education system explained: Grades 1–12, SSC, HSC, Dakhil, Alim, technical diplomas, curriculum changes and university pathways.
Barbados — Barbados education system: BSSEE cohort changes for 2026–27, CSEC, CAPE, college, technical training, university admission and support.
Belarus — Understand Belarus’s eleven-year school route, compulsory general secondary education, choices after Grade 9, centralized exams and tests, university admission and qualification recognition.
Belgium — Belgium education system 2026–27: Dutch, French and German Communities, compulsory ages 5–18, six primary years, secondary qualifications CEB, CE1D, CESS, OK3 and OK4.
Belize — Understand Belize’s school structure, the compulsory-age change, PSE’s discontinued status, CSEC, junior college, University of Belize and technical pathways.
Benin — Benin’s education system explained: primary school, CEP, BEPC, BAC, 2026–27 girls’ fee policy, technical and apprenticeship routes, and university admission.
Bhutan — A current guide to Bhutan’s PP–XII school stages, BCSEA examinations, the 2026–27 assessment transition, TVET, university admission and Gyalsung planning.
Bolivia — A facts-first guide to Bolivia’s school ladder, entry ages, multilingual curriculum, 2026 assessment, Bachillerato Técnico Humanístico, university routes and proposed reforms.
Bosnia and Herzegovina — A practical guide to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s school stages, cantonal and entity responsibilities, local matura, vocational routes, universities and qualification recognition.
Botswana — Understand Botswana’s school ladder, PSLE and JCE, 2026 BGCSE and BSSE distinctions, language support, technical pathways and higher-education decisions.
Brazil — Understand Brazil’s compulsory ages, nine-year ensino fundamental, secondary reform, Enem 2026, university selection, technical routes and qualification recognition.
Brunei — Understand Brunei’s age-five start, PSR and SPE, SPN21 secondary routes, O Levels, sixth form, IBTE, Politeknik Brunei and higher-education choices.
Bulgaria — Understand Bulgaria’s school ladder, compulsory preschool, Grade VIII admissions, 2026–2027 NVO models, Matura, new vocational cohorts and foreign-diploma recognition.
Burkina Faso — A practical guide to Burkina Faso’s school ladder, CEP, BEPC, baccalauréat, language, 2026 fee rules, technical routes, CampusFaso and interrupted schooling.
Burundi — Understand Burundi’s nine-year fundamental school, language rules, concours, Examen d’État, BMD degrees, vocational bridges and current recognition checks.

C — 17 countries

Cabo Verde — Understand Cabo Verde’s eight-year basic school, four-year secondary routes, Portuguese and Kriolu, national assessments, vocational training and university choices.
Cambodia — A practical guide to Cambodia’s six-three-three school ladder, Khmer and multilingual learning, Grade 9 and Bac II, TVET, BEEP and university admission.
Cameroon — Understand Cameroon’s Francophone and Anglophone school routes, CEP and FSLC, BEPC, Probatoire, Baccalauréat, GCE, technical awards and higher education.
Canada — Understand Canada’s provincial and territorial education systems, Ontario and western diplomas, Quebec’s CEGEP route, language choices, colleges and university pathways.
Central African Republic — A practical guide to schools in the Central African Republic, from primary and the CEF1 to the brevet, bac, technical training and university.
Chad — Understand Chad’s ten-year fundamental stage, BEF, bac, French and Arabic routes, technical qualifications and university admission.
Chile — Understand Chile’s school stages, compulsory education, SAE school admission, PAES and university selection, technical qualifications, funding and transfer routes.
China — China education system in 2026: nine compulsory school years, Grades 1–12, zhongkao, 12.9m gaokao registrations, 2025 preschool law and university pathways.
Colombia — Explore Colombia’s preschool, five-plus-four basic education, Grades 10–11 media, bachiller award, Saber 11, SENA, technical study and university pathways.
Comoros — Understand the revised Comoros school ladder, compulsory ages 3–16, CEPE, BEPC, baccalauréat, technical qualifications and University of Comoros routes.
Congo — Understand Congo-Brazzaville’s schools, the 2026–27 CEPE transition, BEPC and bac, technical qualifications, university admission and recognition.
Costa Rica — A practical guide to Costa Rica’s school cycles, 2026 national tests, technical qualifications, university admissions and recognition of study.
Côte d’Ivoire — Côte d’Ivoire education system 2026: CP1–CM2, collège 6e–3e, lycée Seconde–Terminale, compulsory 6–16, CEPE, BEPC, BAC and technical/university pathways.
Croatia — A practical guide to Croatia’s eight-year compulsory school, preschool year, secondary admissions, vocational reform, state matura and higher education.
Cuba — A practical guide to Cuba’s compulsory school, preuniversitario, technical qualifications, university routes and exceptional 2026/27 arrangements.
Cyprus — A guide to the Republic of Cyprus education system, from the phased preschool entry age to Gymnasium, Lyceum, technical education, MIEEK and university.
Czechia — Understand education in Czechia, from compulsory preschool and nine-year basic school to secondary admission, maturita, vocational certificates, VOŠ and university.

D — 5 countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo — Explore the DRC school ladder, free-primary rules and delivery gaps, ENAFEP, TENASOSP, EXETAT, technical routes, LMD and university entry.
Denmark — Denmark education system 2026: compulsory Grade 0–9, Folkeskole exams, optional Grade 10, stx/hhx/htx/hf, vocational EUD/eux, 2027 curriculum and planned 2030 epx.
Djibouti — Explore Djibouti’s five-plus-four school ladder, compulsory schooling, BEF and bac, CAP and BTS, university pathways, recognition and access.
Dominica — Understand Dominica’s school ages, Grade Six National Assessment, CSEC, vocational qualifications and routes through Dominica State College and UWI.
Dominican Republic — A practical guide to Dominican school ages, the six-year primary and secondary stages, Pruebas Nacionales, technical qualifications, adult education and university admission.

E — 8 countries

Ecuador — Understand Ecuador’s school ladder, calendar regimes, bilingual education, Bachillerato options, assessment and public higher-education admissions.
Egypt — A current guide to Egypt’s primary, preparatory and secondary stages, Egyptian Baccalaureate, technical and Al-Azhar routes, Tansik and university qualifications.
El Salvador — A practical guide to Salvadoran schooling, compulsory education, bachillerato, AVANZO 2026, technical routes, university admission and recognised qualifications.
Equatorial Guinea — A practical guide to Equatorial Guinea’s school stages, compulsory education, ESBA, bachillerato, selectividad, vocational qualifications and university routes.
Eritrea — A practical guide to Eritrea’s school stages, language transition, Grade 8 and secondary examinations, Sawa, technical training and higher-education qualifications.
Estonia — A current guide to Estonia’s nine-year basic school, compulsory-learning reform, language transition, 2027 admissions, vocational-secondary pathways and higher-education qualifications.
Eswatini — Understand Eswatini’s primary and secondary ladder, EPSA assessment, JC and checkpoint routes, technical diplomas, university entry and recognised qualifications.
Ethiopia — A guide to Ethiopia’s school stages, entry rules, examinations, occupational qualifications and university admission and completion.

F — 3 countries

Fiji — A practical guide to Fiji’s primary and secondary years, 2026 education changes, examinations, TVET, apprenticeships, university entry and recognised qualifications.
Finland — Finland education system 2026: compulsory pre-primary at six, Grades 1–9, education until 18, lukio and vocational routes, five-test Matriculation Examination and support reform.
France — France education system 2026: instruction ages 3–16, training to 18, CP to CM2, collège and brevet 60/40 reform, lycée, bac, new Première Maths exam and Parcoursup.

G — 11 countries

Gabon — A current guide to Gabon’s school stages, compulsory education, CEP, BEPC and baccalauréat, vocational qualifications, university admission and recognition.
Gambia — Understand The Gambia’s nine-year basic cycle, senior secondary examinations, technical qualifications and university routes, with current sources and practical examples.
Georgia — Understand Georgia’s school stages, 2026 cohort changes, national examinations, vocational qualifications and reformed degree routes, with current official sources.
Germany — Germany education system 2026: Länder rules, Grundschule four or six years, Hauptschulabschluss, Mittlerer Schulabschluss, Gymnasium Abitur, Ausbildung and 2026 all-day care.
Ghana — Understand Ghana’s KG, primary, JHS and SHS stages, BECE and WASSCE, placement, TVET qualifications and university routes, with current cohort distinctions.
Greece — A current guide to Greek school stages, compulsory kindergarten, Gymnasio, GEL and EPAL, apprenticeships, Panhellenic exams and recognised higher study.
Grenada — A practical guide to Grenada’s school stages, updated compulsory ages, CPEA and CXC qualifications, technical training, university entry and recognition.
Guatemala — Understand Guatemala’s school ladder, bilingual education, básico and diversificado, Graduandos assessment, technical training and university pathways.
Guinea — Understand Guinea’s school ladder, compulsory education rules, CEE, BEPC and baccalauréat, technical routes, university orientation and current degree reforms.
Guinea-Bissau — A practical guide to Guinea-Bissau’s nine-year basic stage, school-entry cutoff, 2026 examinations, vocational options, new master’s programmes and qualification checks.
Guyana — Understand Guyana’s school ladder, current lower-secondary reform, national assessment, CSEC and CAPE, technical qualifications and university entry.

H — 3 countries

Haiti — A practical guide to Haiti’s fundamental and secondary schools, bac, vocational certification, university qualifications, recognition and learning continuity.
Honduras — A practical guide to Honduras’s school ladder, compulsory education, BCH and BTP, INFOP, PHUMA admissions and recognised university qualifications.
Hungary — Understand Hungary’s education system, from compulsory kindergarten and eight-year basic school to secondary admissions, the érettségi, vocational qualifications and university routes.

I — 8 countries

Iceland — Iceland’s school ladder, compulsory ages, Matsferill, matriculation, apprenticeships and higher education, with current transition and admission guidance.
India — India education system 2026: NEP 5+3+3+4, RTE ages 6–14, CBSE/CISCE/state boards, 2026 two Class X exams and JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET UG admissions.
Indonesia — Indonesia’s school stages, entry and graduation rules, TKA, vocational qualifications, university selection and degree completion explained.
Iran — Understand Iran’s school stages, 2026 and 2027 Konkur distinctions, vocational routes, degrees, recognition and practical enrolment decisions.
Iraq — Understand Iraq’s federal and Kurdistan Region school rules, 2026/27 admission channels, technical diplomas, university awards and practical learner transitions.
Ireland — Ireland education system 2026: eight-year primary school, Junior Cycle and JCPA, optional Transition Year, Leaving Certificate, 2026 curriculum changes, CAO and PLC routes.
Israel — A practical guide to Israel’s school stages, Bagrut, technological education and university routes, with current cohort and examination changes.
Italy — Italy education system 2026: primary five years, middle school three, upper secondary five, compulsory ages 6–16, 2026 Maturità reforms, vocational 4+2 and universities.

J — 3 countries

Jamaica — Understand Jamaica’s school ladder, PEP cohorts, CSEC and CAPE qualifications, sixth-form pathways, vocational training and university entry.
Japan — Japan education system 2026: nine compulsory years, the 6–3–3 school ladder, high-school selection, April 2026 tuition support, January Common Test, kōsen and universities.
Jordan — A current guide to Jordan’s school stages, 2026 education reforms, Tawjihi cohorts, BTEC, technical diplomas and university progression.

K — 5 countries

Kazakhstan — A current guide to Kazakhstan’s school ladder, compulsory stages, revised primary assessment, college qualifications, UNT, university admission and postgraduate study.
Kenya — A practical guide to Kenya’s changing school ladder, KPSEA, KJSEA, senior pathways, KCSE, technical qualifications and university routes.
Kiribati — A practical guide to Kiribati’s school ladder, compulsory schooling, KCBE, KCSE, KSSC, SPFSC, technical training and regional university pathways.
Kuwait — A practical guide to Kuwait’s school ladder, citizenship-specific compulsory rules, 2026 Masarat pilot, applied training, university admission and qualification recognition.
Kyrgyzstan — A current guide to Kyrgyzstan’s twelve-year school transition, compulsory continuation, languages, school certificates, ORT, vocational awards and university routes.

L — 9 countries

Laos — A current guide to schooling in Laos, the 6+3+3 transition, M4 and M7 examinations, vocational awards and university pathways.
Latvia — Understand Latvia’s compulsory preschool and basic education, 2026/27 examinations, Latvian-medium schooling, vocational qualifications and higher-education routes.
Lebanon — Understand Lebanon’s basic and secondary school stages, multilingual learning, exceptional 2026 certification, technical reforms and university pathways.
Lesotho — A current guide to Lesotho school stages, Grade 7 assessment, LGCSE and LASC, technical qualifications, university admission and practical access.
Liberia — A practical guide to Liberia’s school stages, compulsory rules, free registration, WAEC examinations, technical awards and university pathways.
Libya — A practical guide to Libya’s basic and secondary schools, certificate examinations, technical diplomas, university admission and postgraduate qualifications.
Liechtenstein — Understand Liechtenstein’s five-year primary stage, secondary routes, Matura, BA and FZ apprenticeships, vocational maturity and higher education, including the 2027 Swiss recognition transition.
Lithuania — A practical guide to Lithuania’s school stages, current assessments, maturity certificate, vocational routes and higher education.
Luxembourg — A practical guide to Luxembourg’s school cycles, multilingual learning, 2026 reforms, examinations, vocational qualifications and university routes.

M — 18 countries

Madagascar — A practical guide to Madagascar’s school stages, CEPE, BEPC, baccalauréat, technical awards and university pathways, with current reform and cohort distinctions.
Malawi — Understand Malawi’s current Standards 1–8 and Forms 1–4, PSLCE/JCE/MSCE examinations, 2026 fee changes, TEVET qualifications and university routes.
Malaysia — A current guide to Malaysia’s school ladder, languages, assessment, SPM and STPM, vocational qualifications, university entry and the dated 2026–2027 changes.
Maldives — A current guide to Maldivian school stages, compulsory education, languages, SSC and international examinations, skills qualifications and university pathways.
Mali — A practical guide to Mali’s school stages, education duty, languages, DEF and bac examinations, vocational qualifications and university pathways.
Malta — A practical guide to Malta’s schools, SEC and Matriculation qualifications, vocational routes, university awards and current cohort transitions.
Marshall Islands — A practical guide to Marshall Islands schools, bilingual learning, the 2026 Grade 9 transition, qualifications, maritime training and higher education.
Mauritania — A practical guide to Mauritania’s school reforms, languages, BEPC and bac, vocational qualifications, university routes and access decisions.
Mauritius — A current guide to Mauritius school stages, compulsory attendance, PSAC and NCE changes, SC/HSC progression, technical qualifications and university study.
Mexico — A detailed guide to Mexico’s school stages, compulsory education, assessment, 2026 bachillerato routes, technical qualifications and university entry and completion.
Micronesia — A country-specific guide to schooling in the Federated States of Micronesia, state attendance rules, NMCT, COM-FSM and regional study routes.
Moldova — A practical guide to Moldova’s school stages, 2026 assessment changes, gimnaziu and bacalaureat, vocational qualifications and university routes.
Monaco — Understand Monaco’s school stages, compulsory ages, French and independent qualifications, vocational pathways, higher education and recognition.
Mongolia — A practical guide to Mongolia’s school ladder, compulsory education, current curriculum changes, entrance examinations, technical pathways and university qualifications.
Montenegro — A practical guide to Montenegro’s school stages, examinations, vocational qualifications and university pathways, including current 2026 changes.
Morocco — Understand Morocco’s school stages, 2026 compulsory-education rules, baccalauréat, vocational choices and university qualifications.
Mozambique — A current guide to Mozambique’s school stages, languages, examinations, professional qualifications, university admission and degree completion.
Myanmar — Myanmar’s school stages, compulsory-education policy, languages, completion exams, alternative providers, technical diplomas and university pathways explained.

N — 11 countries

Namibia — A factual guide to Namibia’s school stages, compulsory attendance, NSSCO and NSSCAS, vocational qualifications, university entry and 2026 tertiary funding.
Nauru — A current guide to schooling in Naoero (Nauru), the QCE, vocational awards, university routes, scholarships and practical learning support.
Nepal — A current guide to Nepal’s school stages, 2026 assessment changes, SEE, technical education, university routes and qualification recognition.
Netherlands — Netherlands education system 2026–27: primary groepen 1–8, 2027 doorstroomtoets, VMBO/HAVO/VWO, compulsory education and start qualification to 18, MBO and higher study.
New Zealand — New Zealand education system 2026: Years 1–13, school compulsory six to sixteen, NCEA Levels 1–3, 60+20 credit requirements, UE and 2028–2030 qualification replacement.
Nicaragua — Nicaragua’s school stages, assessment, technical awards, 2027 university entry, degree completion and recognition, explained with current primary sources.
Niger — Niger’s school stages, language arrangements, CFEPD, BEPC, bac, technical routes, university awards and recognition, with current primary-source explanations.
Nigeria — Nigeria’s school stages, compulsory rules, curriculum transitions, BECE, WASSCE, technical routes, tertiary admission and postgraduate awards, with primary-source explanations.
North Korea — A careful guide to North Korea’s school stages, 2026 curriculum reporting, assessment, technical learning, university awards, research and recognition.
North Macedonia — North Macedonia’s compulsory school stages, languages, assessment, matura reforms, vocational qualifications, university admission and postgraduate routes, with current primary evidence.
Norway — Norway education system 2026: ten compulsory years (1–7 primary, 8–10 lower secondary), new upper-secondary completion rights, 2026 work-life subject, Vg1–Vg3, apprenticeships and universities.

O — 1 country

Oman — Oman’s school stages, compulsory education, Grade 1 entry, languages, GED assessment, technical pathways, higher qualifications and recognition, with current primary evidence.

P — 10 countries

Pakistan — Pakistan’s provincial school system, compulsory ages, languages, SSC/HSSC grading transition, technical and university pathways, recognition and practical family decisions.
Palau — Palau’s school stages, compulsory ages, kindergarten, language and assessment, high-school completion, PCC qualifications, university partnerships and recognition.
Palestine — A current guide to Palestine’s school stages, Tawjihi changes, learning continuity, technical diplomas, bridging, university qualifications and recognition.
Panama — Panama’s preschool, primary, premedia and media stages, compulsory-schooling nuance, 2026 curriculum, assessment, technical and university qualifications, and recognition.
Papua New Guinea — Papua New Guinea’s 1–6–6 transition, school examinations, free-education policy, FODE, technical qualifications, university admission and postgraduate completion.
Paraguay — Paraguay’s bilingual school system, compulsory stages, assessment, bachilleratos, higher technicians, university entry, postgraduate awards and recognition.
Peru — Peru’s school stages, compulsory education, competency assessment, EIB, technical qualifications, university entry, degrees and recognition.
Philippines — Philippines education system 2026–27: K–12 grades, MATATAG 2026 rollout, nationwide strengthened Grade 11 SSHS, pilot Grade 12, 2025 language policy, TESDA and CHED.
Poland — Poland’s school stages, compulsory education, 2026 reforms, grade-eight and matura examinations, vocational qualifications, university degrees and recognition.
Portugal — Portugal education system 2026: compulsory ages six to eighteen, basic education cycles 4+2+3, secondary Grades 10–12, 2026 national exams and university access.

Q — 1 country

Qatar — Qatar’s school stages, compulsory education, 2026 assessment rules, international certificates, technical diplomas, university entry, degrees and recognition.

R — 3 countries

Romania — Romania’s school stages, compulsory education, 2026–27 reforms, Grade VIII selection, bac, technical qualifications, university degrees and recognition.
Russia — Russia’s school stages, OGE and EGE, vocational diplomas, higher-education pilot, university entry and degree completion explained.
Rwanda — Rwanda’s school stages, compulsory primary education, national examinations, current pathway reforms, technical awards, university degrees and recognition.

S — 26 countries

Saint Kitts and Nevis — Saint Kitts and Nevis school stages, attendance rules, KAL and CXC examinations, vocational qualifications, sixth form, college degrees and postgraduate routes.
Saint Lucia — Saint Lucia school stages, compulsory education, CPEA, CSEC and CAPE, vocational awards, SALCC degrees, postgraduate study and qualification recognition.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — Saint Vincent and the Grenadines school stages, CPEA, CSEC and CAPE, SVGCC technical and associate routes, nursing degrees, postgraduate study and recognition.
Samoa — Samoa education explained: school entry, four-year secondary reform, SPELL, SNAPE, SNJSC, SSLC, apprenticeships, university degrees and qualification recognition.
San Marino — San Marino education explained: compulsory schooling, descriptive primary assessment, secondary examinations, vocational routes, university degrees and recognition.
Sao Tome and Principe — São Tomé and Príncipe education explained: compulsory stages, school assessment, technical routes, university degrees, course accreditation and learning support.
Saudi Arabia — A current guide to Saudi school stages, the July 2026 law, assessment and secondary pathways, Qudrat and Tahsili, technical diplomas, university degrees and recognition.
Senegal — Senegal education explained: school stages, the 2026 CFEE reform, BFEM and bac assessment, vocational training, CAMPUSEN, university degrees and recognition.
Serbia — Serbia education explained: compulsory preschool and basic school, Grade VIII scoring, matura transitions, dual training, academic and applied degrees, and recognition.
Seychelles — Seychelles education explained: P1–S5 schooling, multilingual learning, national and Cambridge examinations, A levels, technical awards, university routes and recognition.
Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone education explained: preschool and school stages, NPSE, BECE and WASSCE, technical qualifications, university entry, degree completion and recognition.
Singapore — Singapore education system 2026: primary P1–P6, PSLE AL scoring, Full Subject-Based Banding, PG1–PG3 versus G1–G3, 2027 SEC and 2028 PSE pathways.
Slovakia — Slovakia education explained: kindergarten, the new basic-school cycles, T9, maturita, vocational awards, university admission, degree completion and recognition.
Slovenia — Slovenia education explained: basic school, NPZ, general and vocational matura, technical qualifications, university admission, degree completion and recognition.
Solomon Islands — Solomon Islands education explained: compulsory schooling, languages, national certificates, placement, technical training, university entry and degree completion.
Somalia — Somalia education explained: school stages, federal and regional rules, languages, certificates, technical study, university admission and degree completion.
South Africa — South Africa’s school stages, NSC assessment, vocational awards, university entry and degree completion, with current 2026 distinctions.
South Korea — South Korea education system 2026: 6–3–3 school years, nine compulsory, high school credit graduation 192, 2026 elective credit reform and 19 November CSAT.
South Sudan — South Sudan education explained: school stages, attendance duties, languages, primary and secondary certificates, technical training and university qualifications.
Spain — Spain education system 2026: Primary six years, compulsory ESO four years, Bachillerato two years, FP, updated PAU exam and 60/40 university entry.
Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s school stages, 2026–27 reforms, O/L and A/L routes, NVQ training and university awards, with practical entry and completion distinctions.
Sudan — Sudan education explained: school stages, compulsory basic education, languages, delayed certificate cohorts, technical diplomas, university entry and degree completion.
Suriname — Suriname education explained: school-year reform, compulsory primary instruction, Dutch-language learning, HAVO and VWO, technical routes, university entry and degree completion.
Sweden — Sweden education system 2026: compulsory preschool class plus Years 1–9, 18 upper-secondary programmes, Gy25 subject grading and planned 2028 ten-year grundskola.
Switzerland — Switzerland education system 2026: 11 compulsory years, cantons, language regions, dual apprenticeships EBA/EFZ, gymnasial and vocational Maturität and tertiary routes.
Syria — Syria education explained: compulsory basic school, Grade 9 and secondary examinations, returning pupils, vocational and technical routes, university admission and degree completion.

T — 11 countries

Tajikistan — Tajikistan education explained: compulsory schooling, the ten-point scale, Grade 9 and 11 examinations, entrance testing, new vocational routes and university qualifications.
Tanzania — Tanzania education explained: Mainland and Zanzibar school stages, changing assessment cohorts, CSEE and ACSEE, vocational awards, technical diplomas and university routes.
Thailand — Thailand’s school stages, curriculum cohorts, assessment, vocational certificates, TCAS admissions and university qualifications, with current rules and practical examples.
Timor-Leste — Timor-Leste education explained: the 2026 law, school stages, Tetum and Portuguese, assessment, technical qualifications, public higher entry and degree requirements.
Togo — Togo education explained: school stages, compulsory schooling, revised CEPD assessment, BEPC and baccalauréat routes, technical awards and university requirements.
Tonga — Tonga education explained: school stages, compulsory-age rules, SEE and secondary certificates, technical qualifications, university entry and degree completion.
Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidad and Tobago education explained: school stages, compulsory rules, SEA and CAC cohorts, CSEC and CAPE, occupational awards and university entry and completion.
Tunisia — Tunisia education explained: compulsory schooling, primary assessment, voluntary pilot-school examinations, the bac, CAP/BTP/BTS, and university entry and completion.
Türkiye (Turkey) — Türkiye education system 2026: 4+4+4 twelve compulsory years, LGS central high-school selection, June 2026 YKS, TYT/AYT/YDT and phased Maarif curriculum 2026–27.
Turkmenistan — Turkmenistan’s school stages, compulsory preparation, examinations, professional diplomas, university degrees and recognition explained with current examples.
Tuvalu — Tuvalu’s school ages, national and regional certificates, maritime training, skills diplomas, university routes and recognition explained with dated evidence.

U — 7 countries

Uganda — Uganda’s school stages, PLE, competency-based UCE, aligned UACE, technical awards and university entry and completion explained with current evidence.
Ukraine — Ukraine’s school cohorts, current assessment, NMT, vocational and professional college routes, university qualifications and recognition explained.
United Arab Emirates — UAE education system 2026: KG and Grade 1 age cutoffs, national Curriculum Cycles 1–3, school streams, citizen/non-citizen compulsory law, EmSAT cancellation and university routes.
United Kingdom — UK education system 2026: England GCSE/A Levels and V Levels reform, Scotland National 5/Higher and Qualifications Scotland, Wales new GCSE, Northern Ireland Year 12 exams.
United States — United States education system 2026: state-governed K–12 schools, compulsory ages, curricula, high school diplomas, ESSA and NAEP, SAT/ACT, AP, community college, universities and 2027–28 FAFSA.
Uruguay — Uruguay school ages, EBI and EMS assessment, UTU technical routes, adult accreditation, university entry, degree completion and recognition explained.
Uzbekistan — Uzbekistan school entry, preparation reform, Grade 9 and 11 certificates, technical qualifications, university tests and degree completion explained.

V — 4 countries

Vanuatu — Vanuatu school entry, languages, VUEC and preparation routes, technical certificates, university degrees, completion and recognition explained.
Vatican City — Vatican City education system 2026: schooling law ages 6–18, recognised schools abroad, employee nursery opened 2025, Vatican Museums, Holy See ecclesiastical degrees and qualifications.
Venezuela — Venezuela school stages, assessment, bachiller and INCES routes, TSU and university degrees, postgraduate completion and recognition explained.
Vietnam — Vietnam school stages, graduation assessment, technical diplomas, university entry, bachelor and postgraduate completion, and 2026 cohort changes explained.

Y — 1 country

Yemen — Yemen’s school stages, locally scoped examinations, technical diplomas, university entry and degree completion, with current access and document-recognition cautions.

Z — 2 countries

Zambia — A current guide to Zambia’s changing school stages, PSLE and School Certificate, GCE, technical awards, university degrees, research completion and recognition.
Zimbabwe — Understand Zimbabwe’s school stages, ECD entry, O-level and A-level assessment, technical awards, university degrees and practical progression choices.

How to compare two countries without making false grade equivalences

Start with the duration of compulsory education, but do not stop there. One country may begin its compulsory period with a preschool year, while another begins at age six or seven. Finland includes a compulsory pre-primary year; Switzerland counts two kindergarten years within its usual eleven-year compulsory framework; and France begins compulsory instruction at three. Those statements are not equivalent to saying all three countries award the same certificate at the same age.

Next identify the school-stage boundary. Netherlands uses eight years of primary school, known as groepen 1–8, before pupils are advised into VMBO, HAVO or VWO. New Zealand also uses eight primary years but then follows secondary Years 9–13 with NCEA awards under the current 2026 system. Japan ordinarily follows six elementary, three junior-high and three high-school years. A numerical label can look similar while marking a different stage of learning.

A third comparison is the awarding authority and examination purpose. Singapore‘s PSLE helps with primary-to-secondary transition; China’s zhongkao affects selected secondary progression; and Korea’s Suneung is a higher-education selection examination. Those exams operate at different points and should never be ranked or translated as if each were the other country’s national high-school diploma.

Finally examine the learner’s next legitimate route. Some qualifications are school completion awards, others are occupational certificates, and some provide higher-education entrance eligibility only when additional subjects or examinations have been completed. The receiving institution decides what it recognises. A country guide can identify the usual structure; it cannot create an individual admission offer.

Quick comparison: starting points for common questions

A useful research question	Open this country	What to compare
Where education is run by three language Communities	Belgium	Dutch, French and German-speaking education authorities and distinct certificates
Where one country has four school administrations	United Kingdom	England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have distinct curriculum and qualification rules
Where states and districts control most K–12 schooling	United States	Compulsory ages, diploma conditions, assessments and course credits vary by state
Where early compulsory schooling begins at three	France	Maternelle, primary, collège, brevet and baccalauréat are separate stages
Where the ordinary ladder is six-three-three	Japan	Nine compulsory years; upper-secondary selection and university admission are different
Where compulsory education is nine years and zhongkao matters	China	Primary–junior-secondary compulsory education and separate gaokao university selection
Where full secondary school has subject-level flexibility	Singapore	PSLE, PG1–PG3, G1–G3, SEC in 2027 and later post-secondary progression
Where secondary tracks are called VMBO, HAVO, VWO	Netherlands	Four-, five- and six-year secondary pathways with different qualifications
Where a five-test Matriculation Examination follows general upper secondary	Finland	Compulsory pre-primary, nine basic years, lukio and VET progression
Where a large share of learners pursue regulated apprenticeships	Switzerland	EBA/EFZ, vocational and gymnasial Maturität and universities of applied sciences
Where curriculum design uses 5+3+3+4	India	NEP stages differ from the six-to-fourteen RTE legal age range
Where three school stages follow 4+4+4	Türkiye	Primary, middle and high school with LGS and YKS serving different purposes
Where multiple school curricula operate in one federation	United Arab Emirates	Ministry Curriculum cycles plus British, American, IB and other approved routes
Where national qualifications are changing from 2028	New Zealand	Current NCEA and future Foundational Award, NZCE and NZACE require cohort-specific reading
Where special Scottish and Welsh reforms matter	United Kingdom	Scottish Qualifications Scotland and phased Made-for-Wales GCSE changes
Where primary-school age mapping is easily misunderstood	Ireland	Junior and Senior Infants form part of eight primary years
Where CEB, CE1D, CESS and OK3/OK4 are different awards	Belgium	Community-specific assessment and secondary progression
Where the country has an exceptional territorial schooling law	Vatican City	Schooling obligation can be fulfilled in legally recognised schools outside the territory

A six-step method for parents transferring between education systems

Step one: document the student’s real schooling rather than guessing from age. Write down the last completed academic year, exact class, date range, school location and curriculum. A pupil who is twelve in one system may have completed a different volume of learning from a same-age student in another. The receiving school should make the placement decision from records and assessment, not from a generic country-to-country grade chart.

Step two: identify the actual awarding authority. A school may use an international curriculum even when it operates inside another country’s territory. A student in Dubai may hold a British A Level or IB Diploma rather than a UAE Ministry Grade 12 award. A pupil in a German-speaking school in Belgium may follow different certification arrangements from a French Community school. The original certificate name and issuing institution are therefore indispensable.

Step three: check the teaching and examination language. Do not confuse academic-language adaptation with a lack of understanding. A student may understand algebra in Mandarin but struggle to read an English-language examination question, or know a biological mechanism in French while needing to learn the Dutch terms used at a new school. A good diagnostic checks concepts, comprehension and written expression separately.

Step four: compare required subjects, not only total grades. A degree may require a particular level of Mathematics, Science, English or other language even when the candidate has a recognised school-leaving qualification. For example, a university can distinguish general eligibility from eligibility for Engineering, Medicine or a regulated profession. Read the precise receiving programme requirements before deciding the school subjects to study.

Step five: verify fees, legal eligibility and documentation. Public schooling may be free to one residence category and fee-paying for another. A university may have international tuition, immigration and language rules distinct from those of domestic pupils. A child’s actual school may require certified translations, previous term reports, immunisation records or other official information. The institution will identify the applicable requirements.

Step six: plan a limited academic bridge based on evidence. Gather representative Reading, Mathematics and Science work, locate the first missing skill and practise it until the learner can solve an unfamiliar problem independently. The goal is neither to repeat an entire year needlessly nor to pretend a private tutor can override an official certificate decision.

How to use examinations correctly in a country comparison

Not every national examination has the same purpose. Some tests help decide the transition from primary school to secondary school. Others assess lower-secondary completion, upper-secondary certification or selection for university. Some countries have no single national high-school exit examination at all. Begin with the question: What decision does this test actually support?

Singapore’s PSLE is an end-of-primary examination with Achievement Levels used for secondary posting. It should not be treated as if it were the A Level or an undergraduate entry examination. In China, the terms zhongkao and gaokao refer to different transitions. In Italy, the first-cycle State Exam and Maturità are also distinct. Each examination must be connected to its actual stage.

In other countries, assessment is more decentralised. The United States does not issue one uniform federal high-school diploma or require one national exit paper. Germany administers much of schooling through its Länder, and Switzerland through cantons. In United Kingdom, Scottish Highers and English GCSEs belong to different school stages and national frameworks.

Do not copy an expired timetable into a current guide. A 2026 university examination date is historical when the next intake approaches. Some current reforms are still being phased in, such as New Zealand’s future replacement of NCEA and Sweden’s ten-year basic-school structure from autumn 2028. Always label the cohort and implementation date. An announced qualification is not the same as an award already available to students.

What to read when you are choosing a vocational or technical route

Vocational education is not a single qualification category worldwide. In Switzerland, dual training can lead to an EBA certificate or EFZ diploma and potentially a vocational baccalaureate. In Germany, a regulated apprenticeship normally combines learning at a company with Berufsschule instruction. In Netherlands, VMBO prepares for MBO, which has several recognised levels and workplace-based delivery options. All of these routes need precise qualification naming.

Further pathways matter. A vocational graduate may be eligible for a university of applied sciences or another tertiary route after meeting supplementary qualifications. Some awards support employment without giving automatic direct access to a research university. The important issue is not whether a certificate is called “technical” or “academic” but what competencies were assessed, which authority recognises it and what the next institution accepts.

The student should compare actual content—Mathematics, technical reading, supervised practical tasks, safety, communication, documentation and potential university prerequisites. Vocational education can be intellectually demanding and valuable. Equally, the promise of industry experience is not a substitute for recognised accreditation or appropriate workplace supervision.

A worked international transfer example

Imagine a fictional student who completed the final year of primary schooling in Singapore and moves to Netherlands. Their family finds that the Netherlands uses groep 8 as the end of primary education and assumes the two systems must automatically grant identical secondary admission.

That assumption is unsafe. The countries organise primary years, compulsory education and secondary school selection differently. The student has a Singapore school record and perhaps a PSLE result, while the Dutch receiving school has its own rules for grade placement and school advice. The correct process is to present the prior curriculum, actual completed work, school records and language of instruction for the receiving institution’s decision.

An academic diagnostic might show the student is confident with fractions but unfamiliar with Dutch word-problem vocabulary. The most efficient support would teach the language required to express an already understood concept. If the diagnostic instead reveals a real algebraic gap, the tutor should address that concept directly. Neither result should be confused with an official admissions or qualification-recognition decision.

The value and limits of international qualification comparisons

A country’s average school age, its grade numbering and its main certificates are useful starting points, but equivalence is an institutional or legal decision. “Upper secondary”, “senior high”, “Baccalaureate”, “Matriculation” and “high school diploma” are not interchangeable words with identical progression rights. Recognised bodies must evaluate the actual curriculum, qualification level, subject content, learning hours and grading where applicable.

Some names are particularly misleading. The Holy See’s **ecclesiastical Baccalaureate** is a first-cycle academic degree, whereas a French Baccalauréat or Italian Maturità refers to an upper-secondary award. Our Vatican City guide explains the small state’s distinct territorial education-law obligations, and the separate Holy See academic guide describes the ecclesiastical higher-education system.

An international admissions application should normally include the original award, translated transcript when required, school dates, subjects, marks and the name of the awarding institution. An article may explain the ordinary pathway, but the receiving school, university, professional regulator or credential evaluator has to confirm the individual result.

How this 195-country roster is counted

This series uses a **195-country editorial roster** corresponding to the commonly used combination of 193 United Nations Member States plus the two UN non-member observer-state contexts. The list includes **Palestine** and uses **Vatican City** for its territorial entry, with a separately linked **Holy See** education article. The Holy See and Vatican City State are not identical legal entities; the latter’s unusual educational arrangements are explained in detail rather than forced into an invented K–12 ladder.

Country names and Romanisation can differ by authority and over time. The index uses familiar English names such as **Turkey (Türkiye)**, **Côte d’Ivoire**, **Czechia**, **Timor-Leste**, and **Democratic Republic of the Congo** to keep lookup predictable. These naming conventions do not imply that every country administers schooling centrally or that every education system is fully accessible to all children.

Where conflict, displacement or restrictions affect actual school access, a legal school structure must be distinguished from the education children can presently receive. An education guide is incomplete if it describes certificates and school years but ignores significant limits on participation or documentation.

What should be checked against current official sources?

Legal school-start and leaving age: an education ministry, statute or competent local education authority. Do not equate a common starting age with the legal duty.
School stages and curricula: official curriculum standards and the actual receiving school’s programme. Note if the country has state, provincial, cantonal, language-Community or private international systems.
Examination timetable and subjects: the relevant examining body and the correct calendar year, subject level, exam series and qualification.
Higher-education eligibility: the exact university course, accreditation body and programme-specific subject or language requirements.
Financial aid and fees: the receiving institution and relevant government support or scholarship programmes, including applicant category.
International comparison: verify terminology using reliable sources such as UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report and the OECD education resources, while keeping the country’s own authority primary.

Frequently asked questions about 195 education systems

Does this page contain exactly 195 published country guides?

Yes. The 195 entries were checked against the live eduKateSG portfolio and each linked page had published status on 13 November 2026. This hub is an index; the long country-specific guidance remains on its individual page.

Is every country’s school year the same?

No. Countries can begin the academic year in January, March, April, August, September or another period; individual institutions may also use different calendars. Use the actual school date range and receiving institution’s records.

Does primary school always last six years?

No. Some systems have five or eight primary years, compulsory kindergarten stages or separate intermediate schools. A primary stage should be defined by the responsible education authority rather than assumed from the child’s age.

Is compulsory education the same as compulsory attendance at a particular public school?

Not always. Some countries allow approved private schools, home education or recognised training arrangements to meet the duty under specified conditions. School access, recognition and attendance are distinct.

Can a school certificate be converted automatically into a foreign grade?

Not reliably. The receiving authority examines the actual qualification, curriculum, subjects, grades and sometimes language and study duration. A comparison table is guidance, not legal equivalence.

What should parents look at before hiring a tutor?

Identify the real programme and first learning gap from marked schoolwork. Ask whether the tutor can explain the concept and demonstrate independent improvement, not merely produce more practice papers.

What is the difference between an exit examination and an entrance examination?

An exit assessment may establish completion of a stage; an entrance assessment helps select applicants for another programme. One examination can serve several purposes, but its legal and academic function must be checked.

Do vocational qualifications lead to university?

Some do directly; others require an additional award, examination, subject prerequisite or professional experience. The pathway and institution determine eligibility.

What if a child changes the language of instruction?

First assess what concepts the child already understands in a familiar language. Then teach the academic vocabulary needed by the new curriculum. A language transition should not erase secure subject knowledge.

Are all postsecondary degrees described using one international format?

No. Countries use different academic, professional and ecclesiastical qualifications. International frameworks can aid comparison, but the receiving institution and regulator determine actual recognition.

What if a country has several education systems within its borders?

Identify the exact Community, state, province, canton, school board or approved international curriculum. Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, USA and UAE provide different examples of decentralised or parallel arrangements.

Does the index mean every school policy is still unchanged after its publication?

No. Reforms, examination schedules, fees and admissions rules change. Each long guide has contextual dates and sources; families should recheck current official instructions before consequential decisions.

What does a posting group or track say about a student’s future?

It helps organise learning or initial school selection in a particular national system. It does not by itself measure every subject’s competence or permanently determine all future education and career options.

Can I use this hub to choose a school in Singapore?

Start with the Singapore country guide for PSLE and Full SBB, then use current MOE school and examination information for the specific year and institution. School availability, posting results and individual subject support require local confirmation.

Where do I go if the country name has changed?

Use the familiar country name in this index and follow the linked article’s current official naming where applicable. For example, the Turkey entry is labelled Türkiye as well, and the Holy See has a separate companion to the Vatican City page.

For the **complete 195-country “Understanding the Education System” series**, use the A–Z links on this page. To explore the separate “How Education System of [Country] Works” articles, see How Education Systems Work. For tutoring and school topics across the country portfolio, use the World Tuition Country Navigator and the World Tuition Master Hub. For the teaching and informational structure that guided the country explanations, see the Clementi small-group Mathematics reference guide.

Publication integrity: 195 country pages were verified with published status and actual portfolio URLs on 13 November 2026. The country descriptions are brief previews of the corresponding guides; their detailed sources, qualifications, examples and cohort-specific guidance live on the country pages themselves. This index does not represent an independent government approval, a worldwide school franchise, a guaranteed tutoring outcome or a promise of admission.

Understanding Education Systems of 195 Countries | Complete A–Z Guide