A COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN
AUSTRALIA AND IRAN
Education in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind,
character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense education is the process by which
society deliberately transmits its large quality of knowledge, skills and values from one generation to
another through institution. Education system in most countries would have the similar education
process which includes pre- school/ kindergarten, primary education, secondary and tertiary
education, and all of which would have their own education systems.
In comprising and contrasting of the education systems between Australia and Iran, there are
similarities in private and public school, curriculum and school type. The differences are compulsory
education age, compulsory and chosen subjects, schooling and uniform.
Australia and Iran provide private and public schools. The government schools are free, while private
schools, both religious and secular charge fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or
private, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frame works and it is similar in Iran and
Australia. Two third of students are study in government schools. There is different schooling in
Australia and Iran, which means in Australia school is compulsory between the age 5/6 to 15/16
depending on the state and date of birth in recent years. But in Iran school is obligatory only in 5
years of primary school between age 6 to 10 and the system is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry
of Education and Training. This ministry also has responsibility for some technical institutes and
teacher training. In Australia each state government manages their school system. This means that
they provide funds and regulation for their schools.
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The curriculum taught in each state or school may vary but the learning areas are the same in all.
Primary education system in Australia and Iran are similar in some ways, which means primary schools
are the stage of compulsory education in both countries. The major goals are similar, in achieving basic
literacy and numeracy amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, geography,
history and other social science. Typically, primary education is provided in schools, where the children
will stay in steadily advancing classes until they complete it and move on to the next level. But in Iran
at the end of grade 5 students take a nation wide examination. Those who pass the exam are qualified
to proceed to the next stage.
There is a different stage of education after primary school between Australia and Iran. In Australia the
next step is secondary education, but in Iran the next stage is named Middle (guidance) stage covering
grades 6 to 8 for children from 11 to 13 years old. Like the preceding level, this level provides students
with general education.
Students get prepared and decide which branch (Academic, or technical/ vocational) they intend to
choose in the next cycle. At the end of guidance level, students take a regional examination under the
supervision of provincial broads to the next stage, secondary education.
Thus the secondary education is different between the two countries, since Australia’s secondary
school requires 6 years to complete. However in Iran secondary education is four years and is divided
in to two main branches, namely academic/general and technical/vocational. Academic branch is
divided in to four main streams, namely, literature and culture, socio economic, physic- mathematics
and experimental science.
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And technical/vocational branch covers three main areas, including technical, business/vocational and
agriculture studies. There is a difference about the compulsory and elective subjects between Australia
and Iran education. In Australia secondary education students can have compulsory and elective
subjects; however in Iran all the subjects are compulsory. School uniform wearing is different in
Australia and Iran. All Australian students (boys & girls) should wear uniforms, but in Iran wearing
uniforms is compulsory only for girls. They have to wear head scarf. In addition Australian there are
single-sex and co-education schools, but in Iran there are only single-sex schools.
The pathways to university in Australia and Iran are same, which mean Australian and Iran students
can study at university if they pass the HSC examinations
In conclusion the education system between Australia and Iran are similar in terms of private and
public schools and school curriculum. The differences between the two countries education systems
are compulsory education age, uniform, education areas, school hours and school type. In spite of
the dissimilarities the major goals of education in Australia and Iran are to improve human’s
knowledge from a very young age until adulthood, and to make it possible for students to pursue a
better future.
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References
EXPAT FOCUS, 2007 Australia Education and Schools, pp. 5-16, Australia, viewed 6th August 2009.
<www.expectfocus.com/expatrite-australia-education-schools>
Novelguid, 1999 Education System in Iran, p.1, Iran, viewed 10th August 2009.
<www.novelguide.com/a/discoverr/wede_02/wede_02_00110.html>
Rahnami, K, J, 2007 Education System in Iran, Western New England College, p.4, England, viewed 10th
August 2009.
<www.salamiran.org/Embassy/studentAdvisory/Iran_education/Iran_Education_System_all.PDF>
The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational and cultural relation, 2006 Education
system in Iran, The British Council, pp.1-6, England 12th August 2009.
<www.britishcouncil.org/iran-discover-iran-education-system.htm>
Wikipedia, 2009 Education in Australia, viewed 10 August 2009
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Australia>
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