Finland's education system is considered one of the best in the world, and other nations are striving to emulate its high education standards and well-paid teachers. The Finnish school system, which pays tribute to the country's rich history for its excellent education, has long been a model for other countries in Europe and Asia.
Children in Finland start formal education as soon as they are seven years old, but they still start early childhood education in the woods, at school and by playing outdoors. Primary and secondary education is not as expensive as in other countries and it is formally possible to enter higher education with a vocational qualification, although this is difficult in practice, as vocational studies do not prepare students for the higher education entrance exam. However, according to the Finnish Ministry of Education, good early childhood education is seen as an important step.
Early childhood education in Finland emphasises that every child develops as a unique person. Finnish educators also guide children in developing social and interactive skills, encouraging them to pay attention to other people's needs and interests, to care for others, and to understand the world around them and their environment well. In Finland, early childhood education is seen as an important step towards developing the skills needed to prepare young children for adult life, such as social interaction, communication skills and physical and mental health.
In Finland, it is assumed that teachers with a Master's degree have the ability to continuously develop their skills and find solutions to local problems. Finnish PhDs in Education are going to Tartu and Tallinn to help introduce doctoral training for local teachers and trainers. Estonia has overtaken Finland in PISA results for the first time in its history and is now one of the leading countries in education.
To achieve this, Finland has focused on reducing class sizes, improving formative assessment practices, increasing teacher salaries and awareness, and requiring teachers to complete a master's degree. We could even draw inspiration from Estonia on some education issues, such as the organisation of the guidance and training of young teachers.
Today, Finland's education system is considered one of the best in the world, and there is no guarantee that high school students who want to go to university will ever have to take a standardized test, except for the National Maturity Exam.
Here in Finland, I worked as a primary school teacher for more than a decade and was also vice-principal for five years. Lessons in America call on me to teach first in Norway, where teachers receive only a week's training.
Finland is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, in the world, and one might assume that this is because of its teachers. Finland is in the top 10 in terms of teacher salaries, but it is the case that Finland pays its teachers the most, not only in terms of salary, but also in other aspects of education.
Finland relies on market-oriented ideas on education reform, as adopted in many other countries, including the United States and England. While these reforms have focused on expanding choice, competition, accountability, and testing in countries around the world, Finland's politically motivated approach to education reform and the quality of its education system belies this.
In short, it is time to put ideology aside and focus intensively on the paradoxes of the Finnish phenomenon. Finland's superior education system has always been a mystery, and it is steeped in the question of why it shames the US system and what it does right.
I believe that this is one of the most useful steps a country can take to improve its education. Each student is measured using data points to ensure that he fits in well with the rest of his peers and the country as a whole.
In the PISA study, which compares national education systems internationally, Finland has consistently ranked well in the past, edging out the United States and other countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom in recent years. The Finnish Ministry of Education attributes its success to the autonomy of schools. I believe that the biggest problem is the lack of standardised tests in Finland, especially as regards test results.
The performance of 15-year-old boys is not significantly different from the OECD average, but it is also true that it is still significantly lower than other countries. We devote more time, effort and resources to summary assessments such as tests and grades.
When many policymakers in other countries hear about the progress Finland has made in education, they may be inclined to cite the smaller, more homogeneous population of Finns as the main reason for their educational success. But the fact that Norway and Finland have such similarities in population and can differ in educational outcomes could be a sign that political choices, not demographics, can play a potentially large role in a nation's educational success.
Thanks for reading: Finishing Schooling System A Role Model In The Globe, Sorry, my English is bad:)