Finland has consistently ranked at the top of international education assessments for over 40 years. Some key aspects of Finland's education system that may contribute to this success include: 1) Early childhood education is widely available from age 1 and emphasizes social and emotional development. 2) Primary and secondary education is comprehensive and not selective, with small class sizes and minimal competition/testing. 3) Teachers are highly respected, trusted professionals who are selected from the top graduates and given significant training and development opportunities. 4) There is a strong emphasis on reading for pleasure, with children's books widely published and foreign TV programs subtitled rather than dubbed.

1. http://www.businessinsider.com/finlands-education-system-best-in-world-2012-11?op=1
Rosana Castelo Dominguez-EOI Ribeira – November 2013

3. • The 1st and 2nd places are taken by
Finland and South Korea.
• UK education system is 6th in global
ranking
• In Finland this is no fluke, school´s
system has consistly come in at the top
since 40 yeas ago (education reforms)

4. Tertiary education
secondary education
Primary School
Early Childhood education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Finland

5. Early childhood education
 Is the first and most critical stage of lifelong
learning:
• “daycare” or “home daycare” (age 8
months to 5 years)
• nursery-kindergarten (at age 6)
 Emphasizes respect for each child, to pay
attention, to care about others and to have a
positive attitude toward other people, cultures..
 Is not mandatory ,but is used by almost finnish
 It’s considered critical for development of social
and interactive skills
School
• Finnish children start when they are 7 years old. “Children learn better when they are
ready”
• Children learn through playing

6. “EQUALITY”
All children, clever or not, are
taught in the same classrooms
 A comprehensive school without selecting , “equal opportunity to all”
 NO tuition fees, subsidised meals, free books and materials and free school trips (ex
rural areas)
 Pupils have a school near their homes whenever it’s possible

7.  Relaxed atmosphere “Competition is not valued”. The difference between weakest
and strongest students is the smallest in the World.
 Break time is bigger and they stay less time in classroom
 Small classes, seldom more tan 20 pupils with 3 teachers
 No homework, no exams until 16…
 It’s less expensive tan other countries (USA)
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/82329/education-reform-Finland-US

8. TEACHERS
 All teachers must have a master degree
 Teachers are selected from the top 10% of
graduates.
 Headmaster select teachers in each school
 Teachers are given the same status as
doctors and lawyers
 Finland has the same amount of teachers
as New York City, but far fewer students.
 Teachers only spend 4 hours a day in the
classroom, and take 2 hours a week for
"professional development."

9. Reading for pleasure
 Is actively encouraged
 Finland publishes more children’s book than any other country.
 Television stations show foreign programs in the original languages with
subtitles, so that in Finland children read watching TV

10. What qualities of these, do you think are more important for a country
to success in education ?
How do you think TV programs could improve children’s skills in
foreign languages ?
Thanks