I think it's more about general education tbh. We don't have Vanuatu in news here ever but I've heard for it and know where it is.
Your colleges and specialized education is top notch but stuff below that is way below par in most of other parts of the World.
And then there is that - we don't give a shit about anything that is out of America so we don't have to know about it (unless there's oil there :p)
Pretty much right on target. We also have a "no child left behind" policy which penalizes schools when children fail. So, of course, what do schools do? Pass each child no matter what. Failure? No such thing.