Abstract:
Educational systems, as the driving force for the sustainable development of societies, play a vital role in fostering human capital, promoting innovation, and reducing inequalities. However, there are significant differences between the educational systems of developed and developing countries that impact educational outcomes, economic opportunities, and social cohesion. Using a systematic literature review method, this article conducts a comparative analysis of the characteristics, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses of educational systems in these two categories of countries. In this regard, reputable domestic and international databases (such as Magiran.com, SID.ir, ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and reports from international organizations such as UNESCO, the World Bank, and OECD) were searched. Key findings indicate significant differences in various dimensions such as access and educational equity (enrollment rates, academic coverage, gender and regional gaps), quality of education (curricula, teacher competence, teaching and assessment methods, learning resources), financing and resources (share of education in GDP, infrastructure), management and governance (degree of centralization, stakeholder participation), and connection to the needs of society and the labor market. While developed countries often face challenges such as continuous quality improvement, adaptation to new technologies, and managing cultural diversity, developing countries grapple with more fundamental issues such as resource shortages, limited access, low quality of education, and severe inequalities. This article concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding local contexts and provides practical recommendations for educational policymakers in developing countries, aiming to leverage successful global experiences and reduce the educational gap.
Machine summary:
Key findings indicate significant differences in various dimensions such as access and educational equity (enrollment rates, educational coverage, gender and regional gaps), quality of education (curricula, teacher competence, teaching and assessment methods, learning resources), financing and resources (share of education in GDP, infrastructure), management and governance (degree of centralization, stakeholder participation), and connection to the needs of society and the labor market.
In contrast, developing countries (a wide range of low- and middle-income countries) often face numerous challenges regarding financing, expanding access, improving quality, reducing inequalities, and increasing the efficiency of their educational systems (World Bank, 2018).
Comparative study of educational systems, as a branch of educational sciences, helps in better understanding these differences and similarities, identifying factors affecting the success or failure of educational policies and programs, and learning from the experiences of other countries (Manzon, 2011; Phillips & Schweisfurth, 2014).
The stages of this review study are as follows: Defining the research question: The main guiding question of this research is: "What are the most important differences and similarities in the characteristics, challenges, and strengths of the educational systems of developed and developing countries, and what are the implications for educational policymaking?" Formulating the search strategy: To find relevant sources, reputable domestic and international scientific databases were searched.
In the following, key findings are categorized and analyzed based on the main dimensions: Access and educational equity: Developed countries: Generally, they have achieved high levels of almost universal academic coverage in basic education (primary and secondary) (OECD, 2022).
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