KidK -I think there can be a bit too much of a good thing though - I mean free thinking and creativity.
If you visit a good private school you'll quickly notice that there is a lot more discipline. A bit of that is needed if the kids are to actually learn anything. So if the kids whos parents can afford to pay get that, then why not the regular kids? If the system just lets them hang around and do nothing, then they are just being let down.
A mix of free thinking and serious studies is surely best.

I certainly don't support cramming factories, but what I am seeing in Sweden is just way over the top. Freedom and creativity is all that counts. Kids are ignorant about subjects and disrespectful towards teachers. That is more freedom than what is good for them. Unless they want to be cheap uneducated labour in a Chinese owned factory in ten years time!

About Syrian schools - I just remember that BBC made a really long series on that too. It doesn't seem too bad. Here is an episode. The series was broadcast a few years ago. I thought it was interesting. Ugly school uniform though!