₦airaland Forum

My question is, what are the the landmark achievements/discoveries(especially in sciences) of those that went through Finland educational system If they have the best or one of the best educational system in the world as this info claims to, I believe that this achievements/discoveries should be able to prove this claims.

What helps is to explain why.
In all Scandinavian countries not just Finland access to education is not determined by what your parent earns. Everyone has equal access . This means the quality of education a child receives is not dependent on their parents' income. That does not mean that all schools perform the same. There are preferred schools that have long waiting lists and tend to be over subscribed. And then three are schools in certain neighbourhoods that are deemed not desirable. So despite an attempt to remove hierarchy it still exists.

That said teachers are very well paid and classes are kept small.
It still has one the highest suicide rates in the EU. So all that looks well is not what it seems.

excel101:
My question is, what are the achievements (especially in sciences) of the students from Finland. If they have the best or one of the best educational system in the world as this info claims to, I believe that this achievement should be able to prove this claims.

1. Linux
2.IRC chat protocol
3.Erwise
4.Wind Turbines
5. Heart rate monitors
6. Nokia phones
7. Reflectors
8. Angry birds
9.SMS
Will that do?

sparog:
While in Naija we still use some archaic books, which lacks the basic principles needed for this age and time...

I think we are still in the 20th century in Nigeria, we still dey grow small small

19th century. Nigerians cling to archaic, backwards ideas.

Awolowo had a similar dream with his free education scheme in the yesteryears of this nation, a pity that the products of that system turned out to be the greedy leaders we have today. So much was given to them and they turned around to destroy the landscape for the youths, while sending their own kids to choice schools in better environments and preparing them for a full disintegration of whatever hope the middle and lower class has for a better tomorrow. Adversity builds character no doubt, but thats only in an environment where the work you put in is rewarded and not given to someone else because his family is "better".

TheiSchooler:
Finland is consistently ranked at the top of the list of best education systems in the world. In fact, the World Bank recently declared the country “a miracle of education.”

On Universitas 21’s latest ranking of the world’s top universities, Finland finished top spot when levels of GDP per capita were considered – with impressive scores that exceeded expectations, given the country’s income level.

So, the big question is: What makes the Finland education system unique?

We did a close review and discovered some really interesting facts behind the success of this small and quiet north European country.

Less Formal Schooling

Contrary to the general norm nearly everywhere else on the globe, Finland believes less is more. And this philosophy is reflected in all facets of national life, including the education system.

Whereas the school starting age of kids in most countries keeps getting lower and lower, in Finland children don’t start formal school until they reach the age of seven. Yes, seven!

And, oh, for the record, that’s just about the oldest age to start school anywhere on the globe.

The children are given a lot of liberty. They are allowed to be children, to learn more naturally and informally through playing and exploring – rather than the formal system of children sitting locked up in a classroom with a teacher reading out instructional materials.

The goal and method of teaching are quite unique too. Teachers don’t focus on teaching pupils knowledge to help them pass a test or exam. Instead, the overall objective is to get the students to concentrate on things that will help them really understand the lessons and how to creatively apply the concepts in everyday life.

You may be asking: Won’t that approach slow them down? No, quite the opposite! The children start formal education when they are actually developmentally ready to learn and focus.

After the first year of school, the next stage for the child is nine years of compulsory schooling. At the end of the ninth grade, everything is optional and at the age of 16, the student can decide on any of three paths:

A three-year Upper Secondary School programme.
A three-year Vocational Education programme
Join the workforce (Less than 5% of students follow this track).

Fewer Students, More Individual Attention

You probably already imagined this scenario. You guessed right. Fewer students in a class often mean the teacher can provide better care and attention to the pupils.

Typically, a Finnish teacher is assigned about 3 to 4 classes of 20 students a day, so they are responsible for between 60 to 80 students daily. This is a more reasonable number and a lot smaller than the average teacher in most other countries has to manage every weekday.

Less Time in School, Fewer Instructions

In Finland, school usually starts at 9 am or 9:45 am; and ends by 2 pm or 2:45 pm. Surprised? There’s more: The average Finnish teacher provides fewer instructions to his/her students in a day than the regular teacher elsewhere in the world.

When computed, the total instruction time clocks to about 600 hours a year or 4 lessons daily. But here’s the catch: The topics are fewer but more in-depth. The focus of the lessons is not in the period or number, but on creativity, skill acquisition, and real-world application.

The younger kids are allowed sufficient time to play, so they can discover, be creative, and learn in the process. When they are 7, they start formal schooling and are taught how to read and write.

For the older kids also, there’s a deliberate effort to avoid the pupils getting too tired or stressed so they can learn well. They are given only a reasonable amount of homework, have a fewer number of school days a term compared to other kids around the world, and take 10 to 20 minutes breaks between the lessons.

During the breaks, the children are allowed to go outside and play, so they can focus on studying again. The children also eat free, healthy lunch at school. The end goal is to ensure both the students and teachers are well rested and ready to learn/teach.

The System Prioritizes Play

We already mentioned that Finnish students get the least amount of homework in the world, as the focus is to allow the pupils adequate free time, play, breaks, and rest, so their minds are sharper and their body well relaxed and refreshed for learning.

Students in Finland typically don’t have afterschool tutors or lessons. It sounds ironic when you take into account that Finnish students score higher than students from Asian countries who receive tons of extra lessons or afterschool instructions.

Finnish students get the work done in class diligently, and teachers feel that is adequate. There are no pressures on the students to do more than what is necessary to learn a skill. And when there are assignments, they are often open-ended and not really graded.

Teaching as a Profession Is Revered

Most students in both developing and developed countries rarely think of teaching as a career choice, perhaps after observing the profession is generally undervalued and their teachers often underpaid.

The reverse is the case in Finland – specifically in terms of the treatment and respect accorded to teachers.

Teaching is a very prestigious profession in Finland. Teachers work fewer hours and are paid relatively well compared with their colleagues in many other countries. They are also entrusted with the authority to plan their teaching in a way they think best suits their students.

Teaching is an extremely selective profession in Finland, and it’s not easy to get accepted in the special programme to qualify as a teacher. In fact, you have to be well motivated and gifted to make the grade.

But before applying for the teacher’s education programme, it is mandatory you have a master’s degree in your subject. That is if you’re going to take any of the high school or middle school classes.

If you’re applying to be a kindergarten, preschool or elementary school teacher, you must also have a master’s degree or at least a bachelor’s degree.

No Standardized Testing

While the practice in most countries is that students take standardised tests and exams to track their progress, in Finland students take just a single test, called the National Matriculation Exam, during their entire time in elementary or high school.

However, the test assessment is more than just what the student scores. Rather, it measures the general academic maturity level of the student, which are standards by which a mature, educated person is evaluated in Finnish society.

Free Education at All Levels

Finland is one of the few countries in the world that offer absolutely free bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programmes — not only for its own citizens but also students from European Union and EEA countries.

Yes, you read right: International students from eligible countries studying any course in Finnish universities do not pay a penny in tuition. There are no fancy private schools or universities anywhere with their own study plans. Instead, there’s a national standard for what every school must teach.

In Finland, capitalism (which, for example, allows you to pay to get good education for your child or yourself) is seen as a system that produces a mass of ignorant people versus a small, well-educated elite; thereby making poor education/good education, and poverty/wealth divides kind of “hereditary.”

In summary, Finnish society is a welfare state and aims at taking care of everybody, not just those that can afford it. Naturally, it starts with universal healthcare, in which families receive medical care when needed in any of the comprehensive networks of child welfare clinics.

So, the much-lauded Finnish education system is only an extension of a grounded tradition of a welfare state. Besides, Finland appears to be very conscious of the important roles teachers play in moulding and influencing the next generation and consequently invests heavily (time, efforts and resources) in the recruitment process and general education system.

http://theischooler.com/2019/04/30/why-finlands-education-system-is-considered-the-best-in-the-world/

In addition to these, Finland is one of the few countries in the world, that the teachers earn more than their legislators(lawmakers).

zevous:
This is the kind of problem we have in the educational sector.. Imagine 1 tutor teaching french, geography and history.. just one person and you expect to impact knowledge..SMH. I give up

sunnedee2:
Where is the Finland embassy please?
And how do I apply for a visa?
People knowledgeable about this should help out.
Thanks

You came late to the party!

The best route was through BSc. Or MSc. Studies when they had free tuition for everyone. You could still apply though, they offer full/partial scholarship for some programs. IT related programs are the best bet for foreigners.

There is a thread here on nairaland for prospective students looking to study in Finland.

Educational pragmatism comes to mind... A philosophy champion by the likes of John dewey, william james

greatermeme:
The sun there sets by 11 PM. But rises by 3.35 AM.

This usually occur during summer and the reverse is the case in winter.

Xisnin:
I disagree with any ranking that fails to measure real life results/ouputs.

There is no evidence that the products of the Finnish educational institutions fair better
than comparable western countries when the population is factored in.

U can research on that

justli:
Finland has the best educational system, yet every ground breaking advancement in tech and engineering is has been done by Americans.

Maybe they should start by telling us the number of Nobel Laureates that the country produce. Even small country like Israel Trump them in every front.

Actually this is not correct. Scandinavians are good inventors. However, they are usually not keen to develop it, hence they sell the science. America on the other hand is capitalism redefined. They will buy every and any start up.
Most innovations coming from America are usually not American.

tactius:
That is what Mallam El-Rufai...love him or hate him...wanted for Kaduna state...

But Teachers Unions stopped him...because of jobs.

The sad thing about Nigeria...try to remove deadwood...and everyone would be crying about how wicked the leadership is to be depriving people of their livelihood....

Or why should a teacher that cannot pass a Primary 4 exam be allowed to stay on the job?

Nigeria!

because, the salary is not attractive enough for those who can pass the exam.

That time ish is really wonderful. Not in naija where a primary school child returns from school by 4pm, with loads of homework. Rests fr just an hour and d private home teacher takes over by 5pm again....

And them no plenty..few people..not like us fucccking indiscriminately

zevous:
This is the kind of problem we have in the educational sector.. Imagine 1 tutor teaching french, geography and history.. just one person and you expect to impact knowledge..SMH. I give up

Let me know when you give up for real.

IFEOLUWAKRIZ:
And one will be wondering why majority of Nigerians are bastards! Check the number of viewers of this insightful thread and compare it to Regina Daniels' own. Very stupid nation.

May your days be long. i think say na Only me see am.

tactius:
That's true.

But the truth is, schools are poorly funded because in the 1960's and 70's, government built a lot of them, and to add to the palaver, government took over Missionary schools.

At the same time, the policy of free and cheap education came into play.

The result...today we are sustaining hundreds of schools, primary, secondary and university on a budget of 900bn naira...ie 2 billion dollars. Meanwhile, New York State, USA (NOT the town, the state)...is spending 35.7 billion on education.

That's why we have teachers and students using ancient books and desks and methods...it's what we can pay for.

Of course...increasing fees would lead to riots. Handing over schools back to missionaries and//or private bodies....riots.

You cannot pay N200 for a car costing N8million

It's unitrary federal system that has centralized education ,it is just simple .in the past a region designs is own education and type of education and research.All this jamb and nysc ,and other centeraliazed organization we basically done to destroy the system.Most of the doctors you meet abroad in the past,studied at the University college ibadan.only restructuring can help us .

Nice. Leave me with my Germany or Austria. e get why

Aderewah:
Lol. Kids are encouraged to play. Breaks between lessons. Lol. Nigerian parents are usually pained to see their kids playing. Can't you go and read your books? Start school by 7? Most nigerian kids started schooling by 2. In fact, it's a thing of pride to rush kids to school by age one. And finish university by 18. As if life is a race. That's why most graduates are dumb. TheIreland xtra ordinariness has been sucked out through pressure from parents and teachers.

Life is to be savoured not rushed.

Rushing kids into kindergarten barely 2 years old is mean.

8year old in JSS 1 and finishing by 14 years is just crazy. Worse, they want junior to enter university and finish by 18 as you said! Truth is, they've learnt nothing unlike the Finnish model

Sjypopoy:
[te]

Lalasticlala see this scammer

olas24u:
It's unitrary federal system that has centralized education ,it is just simple .in the past a region designs is own education and type of education and research.All this jamb and nysc ,and other centeraliazed organization we basically done to destroy the system.Most of the doctors you meet abroad in the past,studied at the University college ibadan.only restructuring can help us .

Not exactly....resturcituring won't do much.

The problem is, we have to find money for the schools. Restructuring won't change that.

At the same time, we have to raise standards. Restructuring won't change that.

By the way, there are a lot of good doctors in Nigeria who did not go to UI. Especially abroad. I should know...I am a doctor.

As better countries take full this world, how did I end up in Nigeria?

The people born there did not have two heads na.

Xisnin:
I disagree with any ranking that fails to measure real life results/ouputs.

There is no evidence that the products of the Finnish educational institutions fair better
than comparable western countries when the population is factored in.

Finns are probably the happiest folks on the planet what other result or output beats this huh

IFEOLUWAKRIZ:
And one will be wondering why majority of Nigerians are bastards! Check the number of viewers of this insightful thread and compare it to Regina Daniels' own. Very stupid nation.

More than half of our countrymen are shallow in their thinking. Some people will pick offence at this your comment now...just wait and see


A county where insane people call sane people insane!

It's pathetic

I still can't solve some quantitative reasoning test of some primary 5

Uyi168:
..
U forgot to mention outdated curriculum..
We need to tailor our system according to our needs..

Sadly Nigerians still defend their country when you tell then the sad truth!!!

excel101:
My question is, what are the the landmark achievements/discoveries(especially in sciences) of those that went through Finland educational system If they have the best or one of the best educational system in the world as this info claims to, I believe that this achievements/discoveries should be able to prove this claims.

Computer Scientists
Johan Helsingius – creator and operator of The Penet remailer
Aapo Kyrölä – creator of Sulake
Jarkko Oikarinen – creator of Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
Linus Torvalds – initial creator of Linux kernel
Michael Widenius – creator of MySQL
Tatu Ylönen – creator of SSH

Other Scientist
Lars Valerian Ahlfors – mathematician, Fields Medalist 1936 (1907–1996)
Ragnar Granit – medicine, Nobelist (1900–1991)
Ilkka Hanski – Crafoord Prize winning ecologist (1953–2016)
Bengt Holmström - economist, Nobelist (1949-)
Teuvo Kohonen – neurocomputing pioneer (1934-)
Jussi V. Koivisto – economist, author of the "cultiral crossing" model
Artturi Ilmari Virtanen – chemist, Nobelist (1895–1973)
Vilho Väisälä – mathematician, inventor of meteorological instruments (1889–1969)

Gidah:
I still can't solve some quantitative reasoning test of some primary 5

No be only you sef