1. Finnish schools are equal

Finland is a country with no expensive elite schools. In fact, it’s a country where charging fees for compulsory education is illegal. Theoretically, all Finnish elementary and junior high schools are equal and provide the same level of education for all students. The fact that everyone regardless of their income is granted this education, is the reason why statistically, the Finnish school system is above others in international studies — the emphasis is on good results with large masses, whereas e.g. in the US there is a huge gap between very skilled students and students who know nearly nothing. Moreover, due to lack of elite schools, the whole nation wants the public education to be good. Although the Finnish education system has been criticized for “top individuals” not being able to develop, most Finns still prefer education for everyone regardless of income, over elite education.

2. The profession of a teacher is respected

In Finland, teachers are highly educated, esteemed, independent professionals of education. The education plans are much more loose than in other countries, so teachers themselves are quite free to decide how they teach. Moreover, the entrance exams for teacher education are difficult, and there is a lot of competition. This means that teachers, who nowadays apply for teaching and actually do become teachers, are usually intelligent, talented and motivated individuals. For example, language teachers in Finland know the languages they teach very well, and they speak these languages to students in class. This is not the case everywhere, as in some countries there are people who study to become teachers simply because they haven’t been accepted to study anything else. Last but not least, due to its prestige, the job of a teacher is quite well paid in Finland.

3. Kids start school when ready for it

In Finland, kids start school at the age of 7. In many countries, this is unheard of. For example, in Argentina and Paraguay, kids start school at the age of 4. However, it’s scientifically proven that at this age, children are in no way ready for sitting down in classrooms and holding pencils in their hands. In fact, not just are they mentally not ready for it, but also their motor skills are not ready for it. Just think, Is it any wonder if a kid’s motivation is lost when made to do something they’re not biologically ready for? Moreover, when children are in school, their results are controlled. There are certain standards that all students need to fulfill in order to proceed with their studies. For example, one does not make it to 3rd grade without being able to read and without understanding what it is that one is reading.

4. Emphasis on pedagogic research

Finland is a country which puts a lot of emphasis on child development and pedagogic research. The research results of developmental psychology and learning psychology are greatly applied in teaching, and a lot of importance is given to what learning actually means. As far as learning goals go, inner motivation of pupils is perhaps the most important individual factor. So, also teaching is considered efficient when concentrating on finding and nurturing this inner motivation. Very basically and idealistically; Finnish education is about kids not only memorizing different kinds of facts by heart, but about learning to think analytically. It’s about questioning information and evaluating references. (Of course, even in Finland, many students fight such harsh social problems at home, that finding “inner motivation” may not be his/her number one priority.).

5. Importance of inner motivation

In student-driven education, pupils are encouraged to think, to understand and to look for information themselves. They are even encouraged to find questions to which even their teachers might not have answers to. In this case, the answers are sought out together. The teacher goes around in the classroom, leads to conclusions and advices those who most need help (as opposed to teacher-driven education, where the teacher teaches and children listen). A teacher praises, motivates and encourages. Moreover, even evaluation does not happen in the form of one final exam, but the pupils themselves participate in it (by, for example, setting personal goals for themselves in the beginning of the school year, or even as often as every week. They are then evaluated together with the teacher at the end of the pre-determined term.). From a very early age, they learn to take responsibility for their learning – and hopefully learn out of inner motivation, not for parents or exams (=outer motivation). Therefore, also cheating in exams is not as common as in some other countries.

6. No strict standards in teaching methods

There are less exams than in other countries, because the point of school is not to pass exams but to learn. There are also no standardized, nationwide tests, except for the matriculation exam when finishing the vocational senior high. This also means that there’s not as much competition as in other countries. What’s important to note about the Finnish system is that teachers also have a lot of freedom in teaching. There is, of course, a nationwide school curriculum, yet the teacher is free to implement its content with the methods he/she chooses. This not only makes the children, but also the teachers more motivated as they can use their own creativity and strategies in teaching. Here, it’s important to note what I said before: Finnish teachers are highly educated, esteemed, independent professionals of education.

7. In-school special education

In every school class in the world, there are pupils who learn things faster than others. And then there are those who don’t. In some systems, kids who don’t learn things as fast as their peers, are forced to repeat a class. In others, parents who are well off, pay for private teachers and classes. In Finland, however, a lot of emphasis is put on special education. When a kid does not learn things as fast as his peers, a special education teacher is assigned to help him/her. This not only helps the student in question, but also guarantees peace in classroom for others. So, there’s no need for costly private classes outside school, because the job of the school is to provide education for the child. Therefore, ideally, no one is left alone. However, as resources are cut down and classroom sizes grow, Finland might be facing challenges in special education in the future.

8. Learning by doing

When speaking about Finnish kids “learning by playing”, the question is about utilizing the natural habit patterns of a child in learning by doing. Yet, the playing in schools is not just any kind of playing – there is always a pedagogic purpose within. When learning by doing, one internalizes things better than when learning by memorizing. It also creates a joy for learning, which again raises the kid’s inner motivation to learn. In the so-called exploratory learning method, a child is attracted into getting interested in a phenomenon, and studying it by himself/herself. Here, the role of a teacher transforms more into that of a mentor or a motivator – a tutor and guide in the learning process. The student does not just passively receive information but is transformed into an active learner. So, once more: Finnish education is about learning to think instead of learning by heart. It’s about inner motivation instead of outer motivation.

9. Little homework and short school days

In Finnish schools, there is statistically a lot less homework than in other countries. According to the Finnish education ideology, kids are supposed to be taught in school, not at home (which, ideally, is what schools are supposed to be about all over the world). Moreover, if the point of homework is doing on one’s own and that’s already done in school, why should it also be continued on free time? Although this is the ideal, in many other countries kids get more homework than they can handle. What’s more, it’s usually so difficult that either their parents have to do it for them, or they have to pay for a private teacher to assist their kids with their homework. As for the length of school days, Finnish kids statistically spend a lot less time in school than kids in other countries. This leaves time for children to be children, and to enjoy their free time. For learning purposes, it’s important to let the brain rest and allow time for other things.

10. School meals for all!

It maybe doesn’t seem important at all and it’s a highly criticized topic in Finland, but Finland is a country with great school meals. Firstly, just the fact that there are school meals is very different from the reality of many other countries. Finnish children eat at school, and the food they eat is diverse, nutritive and healthy (at least according to some standards). Moreover, school meals are free (paid through taxation), so no one is left without a meal. This is important, because it provides kids with the needed energy to get them through the school day, whilst also assuring that everyone is fed equally and well — at least once a day.
“Yeah! But that’s Finland!” — arguments on why it won’t work.

When speaking about the Finnish education system, there are millions of arguments why people say it will never work in their countries. It’s a topic of interest for many in theory, yet when it comes to actual implementation, that’s where the interest of people seems to fade. Here are the most common arguments I’ve heard, and my comments on them.


School is totally free.”
Elementary school yes. In senior high school you have to pay for your school books.

“There is no school uniform and you can dress as you like.”
You aren’t allowed to wear, for example, a cap in class room. Yet, I don’t believe this has much to do with a school system being better or worse from any other.

“There are no entrance exams, you only need the will to learn.”
This is true to elementary school and junior high school, yet to many senior high schools you need good grades to enter. If a senior high school is specialized in sports or arts, you also need to do entrance exams to get in.

“If you study in senior high school or at the university, the state helps you with 125 dollars a month.”
If you live alone, yes (actually, the money is more). Yet, if you live with your parents the state will not provide you.

“Finnish kids are allowed to speak in class and say whatever comes into their minds.”
They are allowed to speak in class when the teacher lets them. However, they’re not allowed to say whatever comes to their minds.

“It’s prohibited to put students into different classes according to their capabilities and intellectual capacities.”
In all classes there is a special education teacher to ensure that all kids keep up with the rest of the class. However, there are also schools for children with special needs.

“No one goes to school before turning 7.”
Yes, except if your birthday is from August to December. In that case you go to school at the age of 6.

“The pupils evaluate their teachers and if they are bad, they are fired.”
Not true. However, if the teacher does something illegal, the pupils are heard.

“Finnish kids never get more than half an hour of homework.”
It depends on how fast the kid is in doing his/her homework.

“In case of being good in sports, they give you a personal trainer.”
No, even Finland doesn’t have the money for this.

“The pupils choose the menu of the week and can eat dessert twice.”
No. How could all pupils choose the menu? Maybe a couple get to vote for it out of various options in some schools, but in most schools, children eat what they get. As far as dessert goes, could be.

“Education is done in a relaxed atmosphere where every kid gets to sit where he/she wants.”
Depends on the school, but this does not apply to most schools (and as substitute teacher I’ve been to quite many schools in the capital area).

“Exams can be done in groups.”
On rare occasions, maybe. But usually not.

“If a student bullies or sells drugs, he’s expelled and there’s no turning back.”
What would that solve? Maybe the kid is not allowed into the same school, but there are always conversations. First with the kid, then with his/her parents. Then, in the worst case he might be expelled but he will surely be put into another school.

“Each classroom has 3 teachers every 2 students.”
No. I wonder with what money would their salaries be paid?

“School starts after 10am (although the human brain is not totally funcional for learning after this hour).”
No. The time of school begin varies, but usually it is between 8am and 11am.

“It’s prohibited to take homework home. The idea is to enjoy time with the family and to not have stress.”
If it were forbidden, why would teachers even give homework? There’s not a lot of homework, but there usually is some.

cc Lalasticlala
cc Richiez
cc Fynestboi
cc olawalebabs

Very interesting

Lol USA is the best

Imagine

Nigeria is the direct opposite