Comparing Teaching Methods Between Asian Countries, Europe, and the US: What Can Thailand Learn?

Why do students in some countries consistently outperform others in mathematics? While effort, culture, and socioeconomic factors matter, a key difference lies in how math is taught. In this article, we compare the teaching methods of Asian countries, Europe, and the United States—then consider what lessons Thailand might draw from their strengths.

How Does Thailand Compare?

According to the OECD’s PISA 2022 results, students in East Asian countries such as Singapore (575), Japan (536), and South Korea (527) ranked among the top performers in the world. Meanwhile, Finland, a European standout, scored 484—still well above the OECD average of 472. In contrast, Thailand scored 394 and ranked 70th out of 81 countries.

This suggests a significant gap in students' ability to apply math in real-world situations, not just recall formulas. The gap reflects differences not only in curriculum content, but in classroom approaches, teacher training, and instructional philosophy.

The Asian “Mastery” Model

Countries like Singapore, Japan, and China follow a “teach less, learn more” philosophy. Teachers focus deeply on one topic at a time, ensuring students reach conceptual mastery before moving on. For example, students might spend weeks building number sense or exploring fractions through bar models and CPA (Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract) strategies. The same concept is presented in multiple ways to strengthen understanding.

Japan’s system emphasizes lesson study, where teachers co-plan and observe each other’s lessons to continually improve instruction. This collaborative culture contributes to effective teaching and consistent quality across schools.

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European Emphasis on Reasoning and Autonomy

In European countries like Finland, the focus is not on memorizing steps, but on thinking flexibly and reasoning logically. Math instruction often uses inquiry-based learning, where students are encouraged to explore problems, justify their methods, and consider multiple solutions.

Teachers in Europe generally have more autonomy to adapt lessons to student needs. For instance, Finland’s math classes are known for minimal homework, a low-pressure environment, and high trust in teacher professionalism. Despite less test prep, Finnish students consistently perform above average on international benchmarks.

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The US Approach: Variety and Communication

American classrooms tend to promote multiple strategies for solving problems and encourage students to talk about math. Group work, open-ended projects, and use of technology (e.g., interactive simulations or math games) are common. Students are asked not just to get the right answer, but to explain their reasoning and model real-world scenarios.

However, challenges remain. The US lacks a unified national curriculum, which leads to variation in quality across states and districts. While some schools offer excellent math instruction, others struggle with outdated materials or underprepared teachers.

Thailand in Transition

Thailand has traditionally leaned on rote learning and formula memorization. While this can help students perform basic calculations, it often limits deeper understanding and flexible problem-solving. Thai classrooms frequently prioritize exam results, which encourages short-term performance over long-term mastery.

That said, things are changing. Recent reforms—such as the OBEC Active Learning policy, introduction of Singapore Math in some schools, and coding in the national curriculum—reflect a growing interest in making math instruction more engaging and concept-driven. Several teacher development programs supported by the World Bank and UNESCO are also helping to shift classroom practice toward student-centered learning.

What Can Thailand Learn?

From Singapore, Thailand can adopt more structured conceptual teaching and CPA models. From Japan, we can promote lesson study and professional collaboration among teachers. Finland shows us the power of trusting educators and allowing flexible teaching that meets student needs. And from the US and UK, we can integrate more real-world applications, math communication, and technology into everyday instruction.

Final Thoughts

Every country has its strengths, and no single method is perfect. But if Thailand blends the best elements from around the world—conceptual depth, teacher empowerment, student reasoning, and real-life connections—we can build a math education system that not only raises scores, but nurtures confident, creative problem-solvers for the future.