Finland has consistently ranked highly in international education comparisons. Five factors contribute to Finland's success: (1) Striving for equity by ensuring all schools receive adequate funding and there are no private schools; (2) Fewer standardized tests and more creative student assessments designed by teachers; (3) High-quality teachers who require a master's degree and spend less time teaching and more collaborating; (4) Integrating games and play into the classroom curriculum despite a culture that does not emphasize competition; (5) Prioritizing student welfare through universal healthcare, counseling, nutritious meals, and guidance counselors.

1. The Finland Phenomenon: 5 Factors for Success in Public Education Written by Contributor - Tuesday, 05 Jun
2012 09:01 By Marcus A. Hennessy, CEA (Continuing Education Administrator), ret.
In recent years, Finland has garnered global attention for more than its reindeer herds and Nokia phone
factories. Fact is, this small country of 5.4 million people—about the same population as the State of
Minnesota—is considered a world leader in public education.
Finland literally stunned the academic world in 2001 after results from the first Program for International
Student Assessment (PISA) educational survey ranked their students first in reading and among the top five
in math and science. Sponsored by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD),
PISA tests over half-a-million 15-year-olds in 70 countries every three years to measure proficiency in three
core areas: reading, math, and science. This dominance has continued into the fourth round of PISA surveys
with Finnish students placing third, sixth and second, respectively, in 2009.
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Eager to bolster what many consider to be America’s dismal PISA rankings (17 in reading, 31 in
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mathematics, and 23 in science), U.S. policymakers have taken a closer look at Finland’s education system
and have discovered at least five critical factors that contribute to its success:
Striving for Equity
After identifying entrenched flaws in their education policy, Finland’s reformers overhauled the system in
the 1980’s to establish more egalitarian approaches, including:
Shunning the traditional approach of rewarding star performers and instead embracing equity
in student treatment across all demographic sectors;
Ensuring all schools receive the funding they need to meet national mandates;
Keeping schools entirely public: there are no private schools in Finland, even at the university
level.
Fewer Standardized Tests, More Creative Testing
Unlike schools in the U.S. which regularly give assessment tests to measure student performance
throughout K-12 matriculation, there is only one standardized test for Finnish students, administered at the
conclusion of their equivalent of high school. Up to that point, Finnish students are assessed through tests
designed and administered by their teachers.
Better Teachers Mean Better Students
One paramount goal of the Finnish educational reform process was to improve the quality of teachers,
starting at the very beginning. Finland’s teaching degree programs accept only about ten percent of
applicants, roughly the same median admissions rate as Ivy League schools, and all teachers are required to
obtain the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in Education. In his blog post, Steve Hinnefeld, explains that
teachers also spend less time in the classroom and more time collaborating with eachother. We need to
change our approach to teaching from setting teaching hour requirements to doing whatever it takes for
every child to learn the material.
Playing Games in the Classroom is Serious Business
It’s ironic that Finnish culture eschews competition as a driving impetus behind achievement in the
classroom, yet Finnish teachers are encouraged to integrate games and game-playing into their regular
curricula. In an interview conducted by Smithsonianmag’s, LyNell Hancock, Finnish teacher, Maija Rintola
explains the importance of play and it’s value in children’s learning development.
Student Welfare is a National Priority
While schools in the U.S. face serious budget cutbacks in basic services like school lunches and counseling,
Finnish educators have stressed the importance of good student health as a foundation for optimal learning.
This translates into free universal healthcare, one-on-one guidance, nutritious school meals, and accessible
psychological counseling for every student in Finland.