A key difference between the education systems in Finland and Singapore and those in other countries lies in teacher selection and development. In Finland and Singapore, only the top 2% of college graduates are selected to become teachers, and these individuals receive ongoing training to enhance their skills.
By contrast, the United States often does not follow the same highly selective recruitment and continuous training practices as Finland and Singapore. Many college teachers in the US have transitioned from industry roles after earning a PhD, and may lack the rigorous preparation and professional development expected in the Finnish and Singaporean systems. This can affect the leadership skills and motivational abilities they bring to their students.
For instance, a Lone Star College teacher with a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M worked in the technology sector for years, then earned a master’s degree in Mathematics from Texas A&M after COVID-19, and began teaching mathematics—illustrating the typical American pathway, as opposed to the selective training in Finland and Singapore.
She worked for Compaq for 12 years and HP for six months in database optimization. After a 12-year career break, she decided to take a position at Lone Star College.
The educational system and Lone Star College have distinct characteristics.
