According to topuniversities.com, a website specializing in university rankings across the globe, Sweden has a student satisfaction rate at 9.1 out of 10 with Korea trailing at 6.36 out of 10. With such drastic results, we cannot help but wonder: what is the cause of this strange phenomenon?

As it turns out, Sweden currently possesses the most student-friendly environment; the teachers there focus largely on meeting students’ needs. By focusing on physical and social qualities such as physical education and interpersonal relationships as well as academics, Swedish students tend to lead a happier life. Gabriela Ramos, chief of staff at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), says, “If you feel good, you learn better.” Thanks to Sweden’s high standards in education as well as its commitment to student welfare, it has been rated the second-best place to study in Europe.

On the other hand, Korea has a much lower student satisfaction rate at 6.36 out of 10. Of 72 countries surveyed, Korea had the second lowest satisfaction rate. This begs the question as to why Korean student satisfaction rate is so low in comparison. Most of students’ lives are spent studying. This is because in Korean culture, the students’ worth is often defined by how do well they in school; therefore, if they fail to live up to expectations, then they are considered worthless. It is not surprising then, that, according to surveys, 23% of Korean students study 60 or more hours in a week, with 75% of students worry about failing tests, and 68% take private lessons.

Undoubtedly, Sweden has the highest student satisfaction rates thanks to its awareness of the students’ mental welfare on top of their schooling whereas Korea has one of the lowest satisfaction rates because it focuses only on the success of the students, but not on the students themselves. This culture of grades over welfare is what differentiates the two countries in terms of student satisfaction.

Sources:
https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/studying-sweden-student-satisfaction-survey-results
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2017/04/202_228159.html
https://www.apnews.com/9c377029e6c244e2811f108254d03d89



<Ryan Jung / St. Brendan School 8th Grade>