Suomen koulutusjärjestelmä

The Finnish education system is considered one of the best in the world. Foreign experts come to Finland to study what makes it special. The answer has been sought for a long time, and it is not simple. At the foundation, however, is one principle: every child, regardless of place of residence and family background, must have the right to high-quality education.

Children's education begins in early childhood education, which is available to nearly everyone affordably. Daycare is not just keeping children for the duration of the workday but a genuine learning environment. Children learn social skills, language and independence through play. The fee is determined according to the family's income, so the wealthier pay more and the low-income less — or nothing at all.

Preschool, that is "eskari", begins at the age of six and is compulsory. Its purpose is to even out the starting points of different children before actual school begins. Studies have shown that good preschool education has a positive effect on learning success later on as well.

Actual comprehensive school begins at age seven and lasts nine years. This is the most central part of the Finnish model. Everyone attends the same school, with the same curriculum. There are very few private schools, and they receive no funding. This is important: when the whole nation grows up in a shared school, equality and a sense of belonging are created.

Finnish pupils start school later than in many other countries, yet still achieve good results in international comparisons, such as the PISA study. The explanation lies in the quality of teaching and in the training of teachers. In Finland teacher is a respected profession, to which only the best applicants are selected. Teachers are required to have a master's degree, and competition for teacher training is fierce.

Another special feature of the Finnish system is trust in teachers. Teachers have a great deal of freedom to carry out their teaching in the way they consider best. They are not supervised constantly, nor do they have to take standardized tests regularly. This trust is built upon long training and professional ethics.

School days are shorter than in many other countries. Small pupils are at school only four or five hours a day. Little homework is given — especially in primary school. The main principle is that children must also have time for play, hobbies and being with the family. Finns believe that rest and a varied life support learning more than long sittings on the school bench.

After comprehensive school, pupils choose upper secondary school or vocational education. Earlier upper secondary school was considered the better option, but this attitude is changing. Vocational education is high-quality in Finland, and through it one can move into working life directly or continue studies at a higher education institution. Both paths lead to success.

Higher education divides into two parts: universities and universities of applied sciences. Both are free for Finns and EU citizens. This is a fine thing — studying does not require a large loan, nor does family background decide whether a young person can continue to higher education. In addition, students receive a study grant, which mostly covers living costs.

There are, of course, also challenges in the system. In recent years learning results have weakened in the PISA comparisons, which has raised concern. The reasons are manifold: digitalization has changed young people's reading skills, pupils' backgrounds have become more diverse, and more and more teachers are burning out. In addition, the gap between the sexes has grown: girls perform clearly better than boys.

The Finnish education system is not perfect, but it is built on enduring values: equality, trust and respect for every child. A world that changes at a fierce pace puts the system to the test. But with the foundation being strong, the system has every prerequisite to renew itself and to keep its position in the future as well.

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1. Mikä periaate on suomalaisen koulutusjärjestelmän pohjana?
   Vastaus / Answer

   Jokaisella lapsella, taustasta riippumatta, tulee olla oikeus laadukkaaseen koulutukseen.
2. Miten päiväkodin maksu määräytyy?
   Vastaus / Answer

   Perheen tulojen mukaan: varakkaammat maksavat enemmän ja pienituloiset vähemmän tai ei mitään.
3. Miksi opettajan ammatti on Suomessa arvostettu?
   Vastaus / Answer

   Koska siihen valitaan vain parhaat hakijat, vaaditaan maisterintutkinto ja kilpailu koulutukseen on kovaa.
4. Mitä vaihtoehtoja oppilaalla on peruskoulun jälkeen?
   Vastaus / Answer

   Lukio tai ammatillinen koulutus; molemmat voivat johtaa korkeakouluun.
5. Millaisia haasteita järjestelmässä on tekstin mukaan?
   Vastaus / Answer

   Oppimistulokset ovat heikentyneet, taustat monimuotoistuneet ja ero tyttöjen ja poikien välillä on kasvanut.