How do school years compare in other countries besides the United States?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/58357882.html

The Record- NorthJersey.com

It turns out that the United States has shorter school years of most of the industrialized countries. Japan has become an educated powerhouse of intelligent people but it turns out that it's not becuase they are intelligent that they do so well. Japan and other countries have their students going to school almost months longer than the United States's students thus teaching them more and being the reason for their increase in intellect.