It should be noted that when the media talks about the Finnish education system it is usually about our primary schools.Jovison wrote: These are my questions. Please enlighten me as I am really intrigued and am thinking about going to Finland to study.
Thank you very much
You only have to take one foreign language between grades 1-6 (usually third).tummansininen wrote: Although the PISA studies continually push countries to examine the Finnish teaching systems alone, a good part of the high scores is the language itself. It's a complicated language, followed by learning at least another two languages in the first few years, and languages are known to broaden logical thinking. Another good chunk of why Finland scores so well is the widespread culture of acceptance of education and the value placed on it in general, leading kids to want to do well.
How about colleges? Is the system different?It should be noted that when the media talks about the Finnish education system it is usually about our primary schools.
Does this mean students typically learn to apply the knowledge in real life by themselves or is it guided by the teachers as well?Teaching children to teach themselves allows more advanced students to do self-guided study. Finnish "elementary" teachers typically teach about 15 hours per week (students are only there for 15-20, depending on their age) and for much of that time the teachers have aides in the classroom with them. Teachers and schools are free to design and implement their own curriculum as they please. Teachers are considered highly-skilled professionals who are able to do this without being told how to do it
Children are tested far more frequently than was the case in the UK during my time at school. Throughout the year there are tests every few weeks, often in multiple subjects in the same week. also the scores that children obtain at all ages seem to be important and to be retained. Again, comparing it to my school time in the UK (a long time ago now) we sat exams at the age of 16 (and 18 for those that continued at school) but the scores we obtained in the years before that were then forgotten about. In Finland it seems that marks and averages obtained when younger are carried through to final graduation.tummansininen wrote:Children are not routinely tested to see if they have achieved a checklist of things that they "should know by X age".
It simply is not true. It seems to me they get homework most days and get in trouble if they don't do it. Nothing wrong with that in my view so I don't understand how/ why the "no homework" myth started or continues.Students typically have no homework.
Mandatory Swedish starts at 7th.tummansininen wrote:Ah you are right. But I was speaking of all peruskoulu, and even though the second language in 7th isn't compulsory I don't think, I am told that most schools pretty much force it with no real other choices. It might be different outside of Helsinki.
Well... yes and no... the National Core Curriculum, that Rosamunda already mentioned, states what the child should know in a subject to receive a specific grade. So even though there is no common standardized tests, there definitely is a benchmark. Oh, and kids most definitely do have homework!tummansininen wrote: The Finnish primary school system (peruskoulu - age 7 to 16) does not apply rigid benchmarks to children. Children are not routinely tested to see if they have achieved a checklist of things that they "should know by X age". This is in stark contrast the US, UK and Commonwealth countries where standardised testing is the norm. The concept that there is no need for children to meet any particular benchmark frees teachers from onerous testing, frees the students from stressful examinations and allows them all to learn at the pace that suits them all.
Oh, sorry, I mean college as in university. Thank you btw.Rosamunda wrote:
By "college", do you mean high school (we call it "lukio" here)?
Vocational High Schools are skills based and aim at getting students into employment or into further vocational education.
I see, thank you very muchCH wrote:tummansininen wrote: To OP: Finland succeeds on good averages and fewer kids who are low performers. The school system is aimed at a good basic education for all, no matter what your background is. If you are looking for a country with the best of the best schools for top students then Finland isn't the country for you.
Yes and it's the default in universities too.tummansininen wrote: Lukio is interesting though, because failing a class seems to have no repercussions whatsoever and you just have to go back and sit that class again later whenever it suits you. Is that the case in all lukios?
