Why Finland's schools outperform most others across the developed world | 7.30

Summary

The Finnish education system, renowned for its excellence, emphasizes equal opportunities and low classroom hours. Teachers, who must hold a Master's degree, are highly respected and have autonomy in curriculum delivery. Schools are funded equitably through taxation without private fees or fundraising, promoting a non-competitive environment. Despite less classroom time compared to countries like Australia, Finnish students thrive, suggesting a focus on quality over quantity in education.

Takeaways

• 📚 Finnish primary school children study ancient history, like Egypt, in a school system renowned worldwide.
• 🏫 Despite having world-class education, Finnish children spend significantly less time in classrooms compared to Australian children.
• 🕒 In Finland, the minimum weekly school hours for a seven-year-old starting first grade is 20, increasing as they get older but still lower than many countries.
• 🎓 Individual teachers in Finland have autonomy over curriculum delivery, including the use of technology in their classrooms.
• 📝 Finnish students engage in unique projects, such as writing their names in hieroglyphics as part of learning.
• 🏢 Finnish schools are not allowed to raise private funds or charge fees from parents, ensuring equitable funding for all.
• 🍽️ School lunches, books, and excursions are provided free of charge in Finnish schools, promoting equal access to education.
• 💡 Finland's education system does not publish or share exam results, focusing on self-evaluation rather than competition.
• 🎓 All Finnish teachers are required to hold a Master's degree, reflecting the high standard and prestige of the teaching profession.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents in Finland trust the education system and do not interfere with the teachers' work, as they believe they know best for their children.
• 🌐 While Finland's society is homogenous and may differ greatly from others, its education success can offer valuable lessons for countries like Australia.

Q & A

Where does the described educational scenario take place?

The educational scenario described in the transcript takes place in the suburbs of Helsinki, Finland.

What is the topic of the morning lesson for the primary school children?

The topic of the morning lesson for the primary school children is ancient history, specifically focusing on Egypt and ancient life.

How much time do Finnish primary school children spend in a classroom compared to Australian children?

Finnish primary school children spend half as much time in a classroom as Australian children.

How many hours per week do Finnish children start with in terms of classroom hours when they are seven years old?

When Finnish children are seven years old and starting the first grade, they have a minimum of 20 hours of classroom time per week.

Who decides how the curriculum is taught in Finland, including the use of technology in classrooms?

In Finland, individual teachers decide how the curriculum is taught, including how much technology should feature in their classrooms.

What type of project are the students working on as described in the transcript?

The students are working on a pyramid project where they write their names on paper with hieroglyphics and then complete some tasks from the classroom.

What is the role of Mintu Latimarki in the school's student-run cafe?

Mintu Latimarki's role in the student-run cafe is to serve food and drinks to customers, such as the cameraman and the reporter, and handle the transactions, including calculating the change.

What is provided for free to students in Finnish schools?

In Finnish schools, lunch, books, and excursions are provided for free to students.

How are schools funded in Finland?

Schools in Finland are equitably funded from taxation, and they are not allowed to raise private funds or charge fees from parents.

What is the policy regarding the publication of test results in Finnish schools?

In Finland, the results of regular exams are not published or shared, and schools are not compared based on these results.

What is the educational requirement for teachers in Finland?

In Finland, teachers are required to have a Master's degree to be eligible for a teaching position.

How is the selection process for teaching students in Finnish universities?

The selection process for teaching students in Finnish universities is highly competitive, with only about 10 percent of applicants being accepted into teaching studies.