Singapore and Finland each produce high-achieving students but recruit and train teachers very differently, according to a discussion at the Global Education Competitiveness Summit in Washington. While the methods for securing top teachers may differ, both countries hold educators in high regard, and teaching is considered a top profession.

Two of the speakers whose nations are perched at or near the top of recent international test results offered insights on their home countries' educational models: Low Khah Gek, the director of curriculum, planning, and development for the Singapore Ministry of Education, and Timo Lankinen, the director general of the Finnish National Board of Education.

Read how the top two countries in education run their system here.