Finland

Etta Cook and Evan Winegardner

Finnish athletes have

won more Summer
Olympic medals per
capita than any other
nation.

Finland consumes
more coffee than any
other country. (12 kg
or 26.5 lbs/year)

According to the
World Audit study,
Finland is the least
corrupt and most
democratic country in
the world as of 2012.

Nokia Corporation (a
Finnish company)
was the world's
largest manufacturer
of mobile telephones
from 1998 to 2012

Intriguing, Informational Facets adorning

the Gem that is Finland

Information obtained from http://www.eupedia.com/finland/trivia.shtml and

http://www.gofinland.org/interesting-facts-about-finland/

Most of Finland is
lowland and
approximately 68%
of the country is
covered with forests

Parts of Finland
experience what is
commonly referred to
as White Nights
(where the sun does
not set at all for 73
days) and Polar
Nights (51 days
during which the sun
does not rise) during
certain parts of the
year.

Finland was the first

country in the world
to allow all women to
vote.

Almost every Finnish

family has a sauna

Demographics of Finland
Finland is home to a population exceeding 5 million people (5,268,799),
more than 1 million of which reside in Finlands capital city: Helsinki.
Finland boasts a GDP per capita of $35,900 (2013 est.)
Every Finnish citizen over the age of fifteen can read and write.
94.2% of Finns speak Finnish as their official language, and 5.5% of Finns
Speak Swedish.
The countrys main export is primarily electronics and paper products.
The main import partner countries are Russia, Sweden, and Germany.

Government

Prime Minister: Andrew

Stubb (June 24, 2014-present)

President: Sauli Niinist

Parliament

(March 1, 2012-present)

Head of Government

Chief of State

Executive Powers

Executive Powers

Elected by Parliament

Foreign Policy

Appointed by President

Elected by Popular Vote

200 Members

Legislative
Responsibilities

Elects Prime Minister

Schooling,
Transportation, and
Learning materials
are provided free of
charge
Small class sizes
(~20
students/class)
School year no
longer than 190
days
There are 7
lessons/day with
breaks between
each lesson

Students
experience an
active learning
experience

Students receive
up to 75 minutes of
free time/day

What its like to go to school

in Finland

Schools let out at

2pm

Finnish students
are given less than
one hours worth of
homework/day

Typically, students
will keep the same
teacher for 3-5
years

In the first 9 years

of education, there
is no tracking for
students

There is only 1
standardized test
which is meant to
be taken by
children of the age
of 16

Students Must have completed the comprehensive basic education school and received a certificate

Prepares Students for work through

a knowledge based curriculum,
geared more towards students
looking to attend college

Prepares students for the workforce

right out of school

young adults and adults already in

the workforce may attend

Vocational Fields: Humanities and

More advanced basic education in

a more advanced setting

Students get more homework(still

not that much)

Most similar to United States high

school

School is free other supplies

School is free other than supplies

Students must pass the

Matriculation Exam: The exam is

120 credits must be obtained, (90

taken by all students at the same time, its

a 6 hour test, will test students on what
they have learned in upper secondary
school. Once passed students may then
attend college.

Typically takes 3 years to complete,

can be shortened to 2 years or
extended to 4

Education ,Culture, Social Sciences, Business

and Administration, Natural Sciences,Technology,
Communication and Transport, Natural
Resources and the Environment, Social Services,
Health and Sport, Tourism, Catering and
Domestic Services

credits of vocational subjects, 20 credits of

general core subjects and 10 credits of
elective studies)

Students can learn on the job or

through an Apprenticeship

Typically takes 3 years to complete,

can be shortened to 2 years or

Organization for Cooperative Education and Development

Program for International Student Assessment

The First PISA test was given in 2000

PISA tests students in Math, Reading,

and Science

Finland was #1 overall in the first PISA

Exam

The most recent PISA Exam was in 2012

In Math, they were 12th out of 65

Science 5th out of 65

Reading 6th out of 65

HIGHER EDUCATION
Polytechnic Schools

Universities

Similar to IT schools in the US

Came about in the 1990s as an
experimental institution
DId not become permanent until
1996
Humanities and Education, Culture,
Social sciences, business and
administration ,Natural sciences,
Technology, communication and
transport, Natural resources and the
environment, Social services, health
and sport, Tourism, catering and
domestic
The mission of universities is to
conduct scientific research and
provide instruction and
postgraduate education based on it
24 polytechnics under the branch of
government of the Ministry of
Education and Culture

Mission: Universities must promote free

research and scientific and artistic

education, provide higher education based
on research, and educate students to serve
their country and humanity. In carrying out
this mission, universities must interact with
the surrounding society and strengthen the
impact of research findings and artistic
activities on society.
There are 14 universities in the Ministry of
Education and Culture sector
Most Students that attend college will
graduate with some sort of degree
The Government helps to pay for college just
like the US does

University of Turku

TEACHING IN
FINLAND
The Reasoning behind Finland's successful Educational system

All teachers must attend a Teacher Training School

There are 8 Teacher Training Institution
Aspiring teachers must pass an entrance exam before being accepted into a
school
All teachers in Finland have Masters degrees
The teacher training program is very extensive
Teachers in Training are encouraged to sit-in on any teacher already employed
to observe their class.
Teachers in Training are overseen by a master teacher
Teachers in Training must create a lesson plan that is approved by their Master
Teacher
After a Teacher in Training gives lesson they sit down with their master teacher to
talk about the less. (what could of gone differently?, How could they improve?)
Teachers are well paid and their work is considered very respectable.

Video Title:
Finland- Strong
Performers and
Successful
Reformers in
Education
Video by: The
Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and
Development
Subject: The
Finnish
Education
System
Duration: 18:52

Video Title:
Finnish
EducationEqual
opportunities
for all
Video by:
Study in
Finland

AND/ OR
Monty Pythons Spamalot- Fisch
Schlapping Dance/ Finland
Duration: 1:33
Watch

Subject:
Finnish
Schools/ PISA
scores
Duration: 6:
50
Watch

Watch

Some options for visual accompaniment