The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) listing is nothing new. OECD ranking, by way of mathematics, reading and science tests results based upon 15 years old participants, only indicates the relative strength and weakness in each country educational system when compare with other nations, ie. the predominant ASIAN style of teaching methodology vs. the West.

1) Asian teaching methodology primarily emphasize rote learning vs. the opposite for Western teaching methodology. Asian teachers typically spend less time teaching and more time preparing lessons and tutoring students in class. Though producing good test takers, rote learning also puts huge pressure on students and discourages independent thinking. As such, many Asian educators, policymakers and parents have sent their educators and children to the US for their education to improve and gain that lost creative element from within their system.

2) Vice versa, Western educators seek to improve their scores by incorporating more time tutoring and preparing students to take these types of exams. Is it a good thing? Hard to say and too early to predict the cost of these educational experiments. Will it cause the West to fall from its creative advantage in the post secondary educational system where most Asian students still flock to, esp. in STEM departments?