Land area in square miles to compare with.

Land mass in square miles.       population

Sarawak      48,050 mi²                         2.636 million

Prosperity Index: Top 20

1 Norway          148,718 mi²                   5.084 million (2013)

2 Switzerland    15,940 mi²             8.081 million (2013)
3 New Zealand 103,483 mi²            4.471 million (2013)
4 Denmark        16,574 mi²             5.614 million (2013)
5 Canada           3.855 million mi²   35.16 million (2013)
6 Sweden          173,860 mi²            9.593 million (2013)
7 Australia        2.97 million mi²     23.13 million (2013)

8 Finland           130,666 mi²          5.439 million (2013)

9 Netherlands   16,040 mi²           16.8 million  (2013)
10 United States 3.806 million mi²        318.9 million (2014)
11 Iceland         39,769 mi²           323,002 (2013)
12 Ireland         32,595 mi²             4.595 million (2013)
13 United Kingdom   94,058 mi²      64.1 million (2013)

14. Scotland            30,918 mi²      5.295 million (2011)

England              50,346 mi²             53 million     

Wales               8,016 mi²                3.063 million  (2011)

Northern Ireland  5,345 mi²

14 Germany                  137,903 mi² 

Land area in square miles to compare with. 

Sarawak      48,050 mi²

Prosperity Index: Top 20

1 Norway          148,718 mi²

2 Switzerland    15,940 mi²
3 New Zealand 103,483 mi²
4 Denmark        16,574 mi²
5 Canada           3.855 million mi²
6 Sweden          173,860 mi²
7 Australia        2.97 million mi²

8 Finland           130,666 mi²

9 Netherlands   16,040 mi²
10 United States 3.806 million mi²
11 Iceland         39,769 mi²
12 Ireland         32,595 mi²
13 United Kingdom   94,058 mi²

Scotland             30,918 mi²

England              50,346 mi²

Wales                 8,016 mi²

Northern Ireland  5,345 mi²

14 Germany                  137,903 mi² 

German School System

German public education makes it possible for qualified kids to study up to university level, regardless of their families' financial status.

The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in other countries, but it produces high-performing students. The overwhelming majority of German students attend public schools. The whole German education system, including the universities, is available to the children of bona fide expatriates. The catch, of course, is that the classes are conducted in German, which is usually all right for school beginners but becomes more and more of a problem as the children get older. But, there are also many private schools. Although education is a function of the federal states, and there are differences from state to state,

Children aged three to six, may attend kindergarten. After that, school is compulsory for nine or ten years. From grades 1 through 4 children attend elementary school (Grundschule), where the subjects taught are the same for all. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to their academic ability and the wishes of their families, and attend one of three different kinds of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium.  

Grundschule teachers recommend their students to a particular school based on such things as academic achievement, self-confidence and ability to work independently. However, in most states, parents have the final say as to which school their child attends following the fourth grade.

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Hauptschule

The Hauptschule (grades 5-9) teaches the same subjects as the Realschule and Gymnasium, but at a slower pace and with some vocational-oriented courses. It leads to part-time enrollment in a vocational school combined with apprenticeship training until the age of 18.

Realschule

The Realschule (grades 5-10 in most states) leads to part-time vocational schools and higher vocational schools. It is now possible for students with high academic achievement at the Realschule to switch to a Gymnasium on graduation.

Gymnasium

The Gymnasium leads to a diploma called the Abitur and prepares students for university study or for a dual academic and vocational credential. Curricula differ from school to school, but generally include German, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, art (as well as crafts and design), music, history, philosophy, civics, social studies, and several foreign languages. In recent years many States have changed the curriculum so students can get the "Abi" at the end of the 12th grade. Other States are making the transition but may still require a 13th grade.

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Gesamtschule

The Gesamtschule, or comprehensive school, is only found in some of the states. It takes the place of both the Hauptschule and Realschule. It enrolls students of all ability levels in the 5th through the 10th grades. Students who satisfactorily complete the Gesamtschule through the 9th grade receive the Hauptschule certificate, while those who satisfactorily complete schooling through the 10th grade receive the Realschule certificate.

Berufsschule

Beyond the Hauptschule and Realschule lies the Berufsschule, combining part-time academic study and apprenticeship. The successful completion of an apprenticeship program leads to certification in a particular trade or field of work. These schools differ from the other ones mentioned in that control rests not with the local and regional school authorities, but with the federal government, industry and the trade unions.
No matter what kind of school a student attends, he/she must complete at least nine years of education. A student dropping out of a Gymnasium, for example, must enroll in a Realschule or Hauptschule until nine years have been completed. Students are required to study at minimum one foreign language for at least five years. A second foreign language is required in Gymnasium.

The School Day

German students at public schools attend school in the morning. Classes normally start between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. and can end between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. Class periods are normally 45 minutes long with a short break in between. There is no provision for serving lunch. There can be a lot of homework and heavy emphasis on the "three Rs" - reading, writing and aRithmatic. The curriculum expands as students move up from Grundschule and depends on which of the three secondary schools they attend.

The School Year

The school year consists of two semesters and normally starts around the middle to end of August. There are longer breaks at Christmas and in the summer. Shorter breaks are around Easter and in autumn. There is no school on public holidays. The Christmas break is usually 2 weeks and the summer break is about 6 weeks. The exact dates of the various vacations and breaks are set by the individual Länder.

Special Needs students

There are different schools for students with special needs called Sonderschule or Förderschule. Depending on the individual's needs and a school's availability, a student can attend one of the special schools. These schools are staffed with specially trained teachers and generally have a smaller student to teacher ratio than the regular schools. Some special needs students don't attend these schools and are integrated into a Hauptschule or Gesamtschule.

Private Schools

There are a number of different types of private schools in Germany. These schools usually charge tuition and may offer varied courses leading to the German Abitur as well as other diplomas and certificates at the conclusion of studies.

Internat

The Internat are German boarding schools. There are several hundred of them in Germany offering a variety of study programs. Most offer the Abitur and may offer additional specialized courses in different subjects or pursuits. There are sports Internat, music Internat as well as Internat that specialize in other areas. There are also some separate boarding schools for boys and girls.

International Schools

The several dozen International Schools in Germany normally offer courses in English leading to an IBO or other diploma or certificate that allows the students to continue on to college or university.
(See the article on International Schools.)

Parochial Schools

There are many Protestant and Catholic private schools that offer the standard German Abitur.

Home Schooling

Home schooling is illegal in Germany. The law requiring students to attend public schools or approved private schools has been upheld despite challenges to it.

Higher Education

There are several varieties of university-level schools. The classical universities, in the tradition of Alexander von Humboldt, provide a broad general education and students usually attend them for up to six years.

However, in recent years there have been changes to the curriculum allowing a university student to acquire a Bachelor Degree after 4 years. The Technical Universities (Technische Hochschulen) are more aimed at training students for specific careers and are usually attended for four years. There are also Hochschulen for art and music.

There are also many private schools that offer various degree programs in a variety of subjects. Many of these schools offer instruction in English. (See the article on Higher Education.)

German Schools Chart
(Click for larger image)

Germany Economy   (copy and paste)

June 10, 2013• Germany• by EW World Economy Team
Germany has the largest national economy in Europe, the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world, and the fifth largest GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP), and is a founding member of both the European Union and the Eurozone. Germany has a social market economy that combines capitalism with social policies favoring social insurance.

Germany is rich in a number of natural resources, including timber, iron ore, potash, salt, uranium, nickel, copper, and natural gas. Although most energy in Germany comes from fossil fuels, it is leading the way in renewable energy development and use with about 27 percent of its electricity derived from renewable sources. Examples include biomass (wood and biofuels), wind, hydro, solar, and nuclear power. Germany was the first major industrialized nation to commit to the renewable energy agreement called Energiewende, and it has become the leading producer of wind turbines in the world.

Almost 100 percent of all German companies are considered small and medium-sized enterprises and are mostly family-owned. Germany serves as host to the headquarters of 50 of the Fortune 500 global companies.

Economic History
Germany was historically, a tribal area, a part of the Holy Roman Empire, a part of the Prussian Empire, a confederation of states, and a republic. By the 19th century, however, Germany was in control of several nations, as well as a few autonomous states, and the region was poised to take advantage of the Industrial Revolution in ways many other parts of the world could not. This was thanks to its abundant resources, many of which would be required for the manufacture of equipment and goods. Germany entered the industrial age a little after other nations like Great Britain, but quickly leaped to the front of the pack thanks to its Customs Union (Deutscher Zollverein) and its impressive railway system. Between 1835 and 1870, Germany constructed thousands of miles of railway and several companies made locomotives domestically.

The creation of a rail system across Germany, coupled with a free trade environment, led to incredible economic development and opened new markets and new ways of doing business.  A unified monetary system, the deutsche mark, further aided local economic development with its introduction and adoption in 1871. Prior to that, silver coins had been the preferred currency of trade, and they remained in favor until 1907.

The German Empire was born in 1871, after the defeat of Napoleon and the French army.  The newly formed German state benefited greatly from the influence of French economic principles.  Nonetheless, political decisions about the economy remained concentrated in the hands of a relatively small group of agricultural and business interests.
Chancellor Otto von Bismarck took power between 1881 and 1889 and introduced laws that provided social insurance, welfare, and improved working conditions. Bismarck's programs included universal health care, compulsory education, sickness insurance, accident insurance, disability insurance, and a retirement pension. The compulsory education program led to a world leading 99 percent literacy rate, and created a culture that produced some of the greatest minds of the 20th century.

By 1900, Germany produced more steel than either Great Britain or the United States.   Industry accounted for 60 percent of the German GDP in 1913, and, by 1914, Germany was the world's leading producer of chemicals and electrical equipment.

Unfortunately, that prosperity could not last. Germany was heavily involved in the First World War, and found its economy significantly damaged after the war. Out of control inflation, skyrocketing unemployment, and debts related to the payment of reparations left the economy ripe for political unrest and turmoil

This was the perfect breeding ground for radical ideas, and thus, the Nazi party rose to power. The Nazis took control of the government during some of the highest rates of unemployment in German history, but they achieved full employment in just a few years thanks to massive public works programs.  When Germany began rearming (in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles), the expenditure father bolstered the economy and the popularity of the Nazi party.

The Nazis wished to attain self-sufficiency but lacked the resources to support their large population. This was part of the motivation for invasion of neighboring Poland and other parts of Europe. The Nazis also disfavored trade unions and abolished them in 1933.

After the war, Germany was split into two countries, East and West. West Germany developed a democratically driven social capitalist economy similar to what exists today, while East Germany became a part of the Eastern Bloc of Soviet Communist States. The two nations evolved very differently, with West experiencing exports of $323 billion in 1988 while East only managed $30.7 billion.

The former Soviet Bloc countries toppled in 1989, with the wall separating East and West Germany knocked down as a practical and symbolic representation of removing the division between the two countries and unifying their ideologies.

Current Economic Situation
As of 2013, Germany is the third largest exporter and importer in the world, producing the largest trade surplus as a national economy. While the unified German economy grew well during the 1990s, it experienced a virtual stagnation beginning in the 2000s. With chronically high rates of unemployment and relatively flat growth figures of only about one to one and a half percent, the German welfare system came under considerable strain. By the end of 2000s, the economy followed a global trend toward growth thanks to its large export economy. Unfortunately, it also suffered an economic contraction after the global recession in 2009.

Thanks to swift economic reforms, Germany exited the recession almost as quickly as it entered it, achieving recovery thanks to an ambitious economic recovery plan by the end of 2009. Growth continued through 2012 at a rate higher than its local neighboring nations. By 2014, Germany recorded the highest trade surplus in the world.

Today, Germany's economy is largely made up of a service sector (around 70 percent of the total GDP), a robust industry (29.1 percent of GDP), and a small but notable agricultural sector (0.9 percent of GDP). The nation's national output derives from exports (41 percent): including vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, metal, food products, rubber, and plastics.

Economic Forecast
Germany had a solid year for growth in 2014, driven largely by private consumption. The economy has experienced a few bumps in the road in 2015, but overall it appears to still be on steady footing.  Consumer confidence reached a 13-year high in May, and the German government allocated €13.5 billion for infrastructure improvements and investment through 2018.   Low international oil prices and a strong labor market with higher wages argue well for domestic consumption, while exports will likely increase on the back of a weak euro.   As a result, the German economy is expected to grow by 1.9 percent in 2015 and remain there for 2016.

Denmark

The Danish economy continues to benefit from a high degree of regulatory efficiency. Open-market policies encourage flexibility, competitiveness, and flows of trade and investment, and the transparent and efficient legal environment facilitates robust entrepreneurial activity.

Economic Freedom Snapshot

• 2016 Economic Freedom Score: 75.3 (down 1 point)
• Economic Freedom Status: Mostly Free
• Global Ranking: 12th
• Regional Ranking: 5th in Europe
• Notable Successes: Rule of Law, Regulatory Efficiency, and Open Markets
• Concerns: Management of Public Finance
• Overall Score Change Since 2012: –0.9

Public spending remains high, accounting for over half of GDP. The complicated tax regime finances the large scope of government activity through various direct and indirect taxes, and the overall tax burden is one of the world’s highest. Banking regulations are sensible, and lending practices have been relatively prudent. Monetary stability is well maintained, with inflationary pressures under control.

Background

Social Democrat Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s center-left coalition defeated then-Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the September 2011 parliamentary elections. In 2015, a center-right coalition won more seats in parliament, and Rasmussen became prime minister again. Denmark has been a member of the European Union since 1973. Its economy depends heavily on foreign trade, and the private sector includes many small and medium-size companies. Increased immigration spurred by the 2011 uprisings in North Africa has led the government to consider more restrictive immigration laws. Although not party to the euro, Denmark has felt the impact of the European economic crisis. Economic growth has been sluggish, but unemployment remains relatively low. The government is considering proposals to move closer to a cashless economy.

Rule of LawView Methodology

Property Rights 95.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

Freedom From Corruption 92.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

Levels of corruption are generally very low in Denmark, which was ranked first out of 175 countries surveyed in Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index. An independent and fair judicial system is institutionalized throughout the economy, and protection of property rights is strongly enforced. Intellectual property rights are respected, and enforcement is consistent with world standards.

Limited GovernmentView Methodology

Government Spending 2.3 Create a Graph using this measurement

Fiscal Freedom 39.5 Create a Graph using this measurement

The top personal income tax rate is 56 percent, and the top corporate tax rate is 23.5 percent. Other taxes include a value-added tax and an inheritance tax. The overall tax burden equals almost 50 percent of total domestic income. Government spending amounts to more than 55 percent of GDP, and budget deficits are around 3 percent of GDP. Public debt equals just under 45 percent of total domestic output.

Regulatory EfficiencyView Methodology

Business Freedom 95.4 Create a Graph using this measurement

Labor Freedom 86.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

Monetary Freedom 84.4 Create a Graph using this measurement

The regulatory environment remains one of the world’s most efficient, and starting a business takes fewer procedures than the world averages. Relatively flexible hiring and dismissal regulations sustain an efficient labor market. Monetary stability is well established. June 2015 parliamentary elections centered on which party could best be trusted to deny immigrants access to Denmark’s generous welfare-state subsidies.

Open MarketsView Methodology

Trade Freedom 88.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

Investment Freedom 90.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

Financial Freedom 80.0 Create a Graph using this measurement

EU members have a 1 percent average tariff rate. Trade agreements are currently being negotiated with countries that include the United States and Japan. The economy is one of the world’s most open with respect to foreign investment, and the investment code is transparent and efficiently administered. The diversified financial sector has undergone a period of instability with several banks performing poorly.

My comments:
Small is beautiful.   Small countries like Singapore, Brunei, Norway, Denmark......as I see so far are performing well and efficiently.  Sarawak and Sabah, on the other hand, have been plundered and exploited by the Malayan government to enrich the UMNO-BN political thugs and the cronies as well as the Peninsular Malaya generally.    

Yes, we Sarawakians and Sabahans are boiling with anger over all the plundering and exploitation.  We are on the way to secession.  We strongly believe that our dream to become independent will be realised sooner or later.