The Right to Education
- The Constitution of Finland includes the right to a free public education.
- Education is free at all levels from pre-primary to higher education.
- Vocational adult education is free for most programs.
- 25% of adults are enrolled in adult learning courses.
- 90% of the population pursues education past the compulsory level.
Big Picture
- The school year is 190 days, beginning in August and ending in June.
- Finland spends 10,500 USD per student, in comparison to 12,000 USD in the United States.
- School inspections were abolished in all of Finland in the 1990s.
- There is only one national exam – the matriculation exam at the end of upper secondary (high school).
- There is a narrow gap between the top and bottom-performing schools across the country.
- The variance of performance on PISA between Finnish schools is 8%. For OECD countries, it is 30%.
Teaching
- Only 12% of individuals who apply to become a classroom teacher (Grades 1-6) are accepted.
- Finnish teachers must have a Master’s Degree before beginning their teaching careers.
- A high level of training for teachers is seen as necessary, as teachers in Finland are very autonomous.
- Teachers can decide for themselves their methods of teaching as well as textbooks and materials.
- Classroom teachers typically stay with their students from Grades 1 to 6, but are always given a choice.
- Teaching is seen as a prestigious career in Finland, at the same level as a university professor, lawyer, or doctor.
- 90% of Finnish Teachers are satisfied with their job.
Language
- Finnish students begin learning English in 3rd grade.
- The system is transitioning to beginning English in 1st grade in the coming years.
- All Finnish students must take Swedish and English classes.
- They may also choose to take German, Russian, French, or any other language offered.
- Cultural Competence, Interaction, and Self-Expression is a competence all students work toward.
Values underlying the National Core Curriculum
- Uniqueness of each Pupil and Right to a Good Education
- Humanity, General Knowledge, Equality, and Democracy
- Cultural Diversity as a Richness
- Necessity of a Sustainable Way of Living
Sources: Finnish National Agency for Education (2018), National Core Curriculum for Basic Education (2014)