Finnish Lessons 2.0

upper-secondary

• In 1985, secondary schooling changed from the semester structure to five or six periods of six to seven week courses.
• students now have to complete 75 courses of 38 lessons each, though most take between 80 and 90.

National Matriculation Examination

• The National Matriculation Examination is given when all required courses are complete, measuring preparation for higher education and the ability to cope with unexpected tasks.
• They are required in the student's mother tongue, and then the student chooses three more from a second language, foreign language, math, and humanity/science. They can also add optional exams.

Curriculum Reform

• In 1994, schools were encouraged to collaborate and network with others to transform schools into active learning communities.
• teachers felt, even during economic downturn, that they were improving schools through this.

Plan of action

• Finnish students begin schooling with early childhood, then preschool. They then move into grades 1-9, which are followed by the option of grade 10, vocational school, or general school. From there, they go on to polytechnic or university.
• Only grades 1-9 are compulsory.

Testing

• In 2001, with the first international results, the world discovered finland had the highest science, math, and reading scores.
• Finnish educators were even surprised, since these subjects were not pushed more than others and testing is only successful if it positively affects learning, not creates certain scores.

Early Childhood

• In 2013, Early Childhood Education moved to education from welfare.
• All children have the opportunity to attend daycare and preschool.
• Fully paid maternity leave lasts two months before birth and five after, followed by 8 months of shared parental care at home.

Citation

• Sahlberg, P. (2015). Finnish Lessons 2.0: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland? New York: Teachers College Press.