Finland Education System

Overview
Finland students are regularly ranked higher when it comes to maths and
science The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) which in
association with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) shows the data. This report provides you the insights of Finland
Education System.

Primary Education

Basics
 The schooling in Finland start at a later stage. Mostly children join at the
age of 7 and even at that age students join primary day care/nursery
which involves generally play and physical activities.
 The early stage education involves playing, teaching and bonding.
 The schooling is compulsory for 9 years.
 Finland doesn't divide its basic education into elementary and junior
highs. Instead, it offers single-structure education for nine years. It
provides a good amount of time for school administration to look for
unique child support.

Teaching Style
 The teachers teaches students in playful manner.
 Less time given in class allows teachers to come up with innovative idea
to teach new things.
 The basics are given the most priority in classes
 The classes are generally mix ability classes unlike other countries where
the classes are specific.
 Same teacher is allotted to a class for the first 6 years. This gives time
for bonding between a teacher and student.
 The class size is generally small.
 Each student is provided with a unique attention. Different style of
teaching is applied for different students.
 Extra assistance is provided to weak students. Sometimes School
administration also hires nurses and psychologists to aid assistance to
weak child.
 Curriculum is broadly based which allows teachers to teach freely

Tests
 The Finnish education system does not differentiate students based on
marks and hence no test is taken for the first 6 years.
 After 6 years Districts level tests are held which are also non-mandatory.
But most students participate willingly. The results are also not
publicised.
 A single central level matriculation test is held at the age of 16.

Teachers
 The teachers are highly qualified. No Teacher can apply without a
master’s degree.
 Only 10 percent of teachers applicants are hired.
 Like students Teachers are also not graded. This is because rigorous test
is taken when a teacher applies for a school. Also the administration
believes in its teachers.
 The teachers are also highly respected. The teachers in Finland have
equal dignity with the lawyers and doctors.
 The teachers also give 2 hours every week for professional development.

Homework
 No homework is given to students for the first 6 years. After that very
less homework is given. The Finland believes that Having dinner with
family and physical activities are also an integral part of life.
 According to OECD(Organisation for economic corporation and
development) data average high school student spent 3 hours doing
Homework compared to 6 hours for an average U.S. student.

Studying Time
 The School hours are pretty low around 20 hours per week. This
amounts to around 4-5 hours a day.
 The school hours start late in day. Unlike other countries Finland
believes that a good amount of sleep is necessary to learn. So the
schooling hours generally starts around 9:30-10:00 am
 The School runs 190 days a year
 Several 15-20 minutes breaks are provided in between the classes. For
every 45 minutes of class a 15 minutes break is provided.

Government and people attitude

 The fees is heavily subsidized. Around 14 percent of bill is done by
parents. The fee structure also depends on parents income and number
of children.
 Each New-born receives a present from the government which shows
how government cares about individuals.
 There is no private school in Finland. This distinguishes the education
gap between rich and poor. Also high emphasis is given to Government
schools.
 The Parents gets a parental leave from the office to be available in
school for their children.
 Also Finland government does not rank colleges and universities. The
school only applies self-evaluation
 Also there are no inspections in schools. This shows how Finnish people
takes responsibility on their own.
 All students receive a free hot and healthy meal during their primary
schooling of 9 years.
Upper Secondary Education
 Upper Secondary Education is divided into 2 disciples General and
Vocational. General studies are basic education whereas Vocational
studies are Job focussed.
 While not compulsory, 90 percent start upper-secondary studies
immediately after basic.
 The rest 10 percent can start later at free cost.
 There is no dead end in Finland education system. Student can explore
and change between the two anytime they want.

Higher Education and beyond

 Higher Education is further distributed into 2 disciples Universities
and Universities of applied Science.
 Universities focusses primarily on research
 Universities of applied science focusses on technology.
 If student choses the vocational path, they can continue their
education at a university, typically a university of applied science.
 The Education is free. The student only have to pay for their books,
Transportation etc.
 Companies also purchase staff development for the unemployed to
train them for their company.
 Again there is no dead end in Finland education system. Student can
explore and change between the two anytime they want.

Statistics
 93% of students graduate high school. More than in the US.
 66% of high school students go on to further education (college or
vocational courses).
 Finland spends about 30% less per student than the US, the UK, Japan
and Germany. (OECD Indicators)
 Just under 100% of 9th-grade students in Finland go on to high school.
This figure includes most of the severely disabled children
(smithsonian.com)
  43% of those students in further education (16+) attend vocational
school.
 Eighty percent of basic-ed teachers also participate in continuing
professional development
 Even many of the most severely disabled will find a place in Finland’s
expanded system of vocational high schools, which are attended by 43
percent of Finnish high-school students, who prepare to work in
restaurants, hospitals, construction sites and offices.

My Opinions on difference between the Indian and

Finnish education System
There are a lot of difference between the Indian and the Finnish education
system. The Primary being the workload on student. The students in India
start schooling at an age around 3 whereas Finnish starts at around 7.The no.
of hours an average Indian student devotes at school is around 7-8 hours
whereas Finnish student spends only 4 hours that too with more no. of breaks.
Also Indian students have added pressure of homework and test at such an
early age.
The teaching style is also not focussed on Individual. The system curriculum is
also specifically defined which provide less chance to mould according to
individual. Less emphasis is provided on life skills and more focus is on
cramming bookish things. The teacher also teaches not in a playful manner.
There are also private schools and which are ranked regularly so gap widens
between students. The quality education in India is having a heavy price tag.
Only some educational Institute gives priority to Teachers in India.
The curriculum in India is also outdated and focusses less on job oriented
study. Technology is also used less in India only some school uses it.

Sources
https://in-finland.education/10-facts-about-education-in-finland/

https://in-finland.education/homework-in-finland-school/
https://teacherofsci.com/finland-education-system/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-are-finlands-schools-successful-49859555/

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/how-finlands-education-system-works?
rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3

https://fillingmymap.com/2015/04/15/11-ways-finlands-education-system-shows-us-that-less-is-
more/

https://bigthink.com/mike-colagrossi/no-standardized-tests-no-private-schools-no-stress-10-
reasons-why-finlands-education-system-in-the-best-in-the-world