Education System of Finland

greenmask9 (55)in #life • 7 years ago

I thought of explaining all differences of Finlandian education system to that used in most Europe, US and most other countries too. Later, I decided to speak only about why it is so succefull with less details.

If your school system differs slightly from that in Czech Republic, something may not make sense (in US, breaks are shorter at some schools for example, so there is less time for copying homework).

Free Time instead of Homework

Young students usually do their homework as long as they enjoy the school. Some start copying others' homework as soon as in second class and for most secondary schools, it is a rule that only a handsome of people have their homework. If only a handsome!

Finlandians don't have much and enjoy the break when they would be copying homework if they were in other country.

But even if you do your homework responsibly, it is bad for you. In my experience, no exercises in books make me revise exactly what I need to revise. They just consume time and are of no use for me.

Homework miss their point. It just backfires. There is much less of it in Finland.

System Built Upon Self-motivation

In my country, we have approximately 3 to 5 tests a week. In Finland, there is only one standardized test during their entire primary and secondary schools.

Teachers show students what they have. They don't tell them what to think of it. If it catches their attention, and their teachers are good at making learning matter desirable, they will remember it and find some more information about it.

If they don't understand, they can ask for one on one consultations.

...

Furthemore, popular education systems, it is not only amount of tests. We all have to remember exactly same things. This doesn't create soil for expertise. To pass to another class, we have to learn things, which seem to be pointless. This is minimized in Finland.

And one more thing related to tests - I often ask my classmates, family, other friends, if they were able to write the same tests one year from now. Nobody answers yes. Tests only create discipline to prepare for a test, but they don't motivate you to memorize for a lifetime, nor enforce it.

Well Paid Teachers and Free Schools

Both teachers and students have to be motivated. Putting the most intelligent people of country into schools to teach pays off. If teachers had troublesome salaries, only a few good teachers would be teaching. Also, only one in ten students can proceed to college for teachers and become one.

Making schools free gives students more time to enjoy as they can avoid multiple part-time jobs. Relaxation is important for a person to work as recharging a battery is for your phone. They can spend time on learning. Remember, learning matter is made interesting, teachers are coached all life to make learning matter look desirable.

Why Don't We Reform?

Hard question. Maybe, a lot of politicians don't know about Finland, Japan, or how to implement into regular schools what one French private school does.

Second possibility is that people of business want schools to supress creativity and teach discipline. It is exactly what this system we use was made for during Industrial Revolution.

Third answer is money. People would probably hesitate electing politicians investing in something they don't believe in. This has influence on fourth possible answer.

Last answer is a bit more complicated. Huge reforms always scare people and politicians don't know how to make steps towards progress like this seem small.