While studying the same national curriculum until college may be good for an academic atmosphere, it may not be good for the country. The author argues that a nation should require all of its students to study the same curriculum, beginning with elementary school, because it will best prepare students to enter college. However, when considered in the larger context of the nation, this measure may be detrimental

First, a nation’s education policy should strive to ensure that students have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills before entering the educational system. However, most countries have different educational systems, and even within those systems, there is great variability. For example, while in the United States, students begin receiving formal instruction in the elementary grades, in many European countries, students begin formal instruction at the primary school level. The United States also has many private and parochial schools that follow different curriculums than their public school counterparts. This means that students in the United States have a wide variation in their educational experiences. Furthermore, the educational systems in different countries vary substantially. For example, while in the United Kingdom, most students study math, science, and literature, the students in Japan do not. Many other countries, such as France, have educational systems consisting of thirteen years of formal schooling

Another consideration is that the educational systems of different countries develop students from very diverse backgrounds. When countries begin to select students from the same national curriculum, the educational systems begin to resemble one another, making them less diverse. This is true not only in the educational department, but also on the political and socioeconomic levels. When a nation begins to require all of its students to study the same curriculum, it begins removing the diversity that exists among the student population. This diversity might be beneficial in developing students’ critical thinking skills; however, if the nation’s education system begins to look the same, then the diversity may not be as great as it could be if students were allowed to choose their own curriculum. Additionally, when students are forced to study the same curriculum, they do not develop the ability to adapt and adopt to differing environments. For instance, not all countries have the same political environments, and not all countries are economically developed. As a result, students must learn to adapt to differing situations in order to succeed

This is a complex issue that goes far beyond the educational system. However, in an educational context, the argument for uniformity is flawed. A nation should allow a wide range of educational options and curricula, and allow students to choose which curriculum best fits their needs.