Finland - Number One in the World?

Finland is a country where kids don’t start school until the age of 7, there are no private schools, no school uniforms, education is free for all and where teachers need a master's degree just like lawyers or doctors. Yes, Finland has been chosen to have number one educational system in the world.

All this refers to a PISA study. PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) is an international study where participating countries school students science, reading and math skills are tested. It aims to “evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students in participating countries/economies.” In the year 2000 Finland placed first in science and nearly top in math and reading with South Korea and Singapore. After that Finland has been time after time in the top three among the participating countries.

What makes Finnish kids so smart? Why Finland which had 40 years ago maybe the worst educational system in the world? Well, one Youtube video says that we Finns decided to focus on equality. We decided that all teachers should have master grades. Without good teachers there can’t be good students and without good students it’s impossible to have well educated people and nation.

Photo by Éole

There are some key features for Finnish education system starting with that education is free for all, 100% state funded - including university. Kids don’t start school until the age of seven. Teachers are respected professionals; only 10% of people who apply to be a teacher are chosen. The teacher training is something unique; they don’t only study the subject they teach but also how to teach, how to be a good teacher. Finns value education, it’s the culture where most of the people go to university. Another important thing is that Finnish schools focus on equality; no one is left behind, absolutely no one. Technology is used a lot in Finland and there is no big testing until the age of sixteen. Students can choose what they want to study and what they are interested in; after nine years of compulsory schooling pupils choose academic or vocational studies.

I have just spent three months in Spain. The schooling system is quite different from here. For example they don’t have school food which we have plus it’s totally free in Finland. There are also private schools in Spain but they’re always religious and you have to wear a school uniform. One thing that surprised me is that in private schools some people are ready to pay to their teachers to get better marks. But that's illegal. In Spain there is only five minutes break time between the classes, in Finland it is 15 minutes and students are encouraged to go outside.  Universities are quite expensive in Spain; the state doesn’t give much money for the education. In fact the amount of money is so small that you could say nothing. One year studying in a university in Spain costs about 1000e. Plus you maybe have to pay for an apartment, electricity, food, water, transport… Private universities are more expensive because they usually ask money for the entrance. In bigger cities like Madrid it’s also much more expensive and also if you need a laboratory or some special equipment.

Now there is the question if the rest of the world could adopt the Finnish system. I think it might be possible but it needs a lot of changes starting with the cultural differences. And that needs a lot of time. But everything is possible if people really want and work for their ideas because education is the base for a welfare state.