Schools Around the World

Kids everywhere go to school, but schools look very different around the world. Some children walk for hours to reach their school. Others take boats or ride horses. Some schools have computers on every desk, while others have lessons under a tree.

Different Kinds of Schools

In Finland, children do not start school until age seven. They also get lots of recess time. In Japan, students help clean their own classrooms and serve lunch. In some parts of Africa and Asia, children learn outdoors when there are not enough buildings. Some kids around the world even attend school on boats.

What Kids Learn

Most schools teach reading, writing, and math. But some schools also teach special skills. In New Zealand, students can learn the Maori language and culture. In Switzerland, many children learn three or four languages. In some countries, children study farming or fishing alongside their regular subjects.

Fun Facts

• In Japan, there is no janitor at most schools because students clean up themselves.
• The longest school year is in China, where students attend about 245 days per year.
• In Bangladesh, some schools are on boats so kids can attend during flood season.

Did You Know?

In Finland, kids have 15 minutes of recess for every 45 minutes of class. Finnish students are some of the happiest learners in the world!