Introduction to finish education

Today's first lesson about finish education was quite interesting!
Main question for the students; what is the magic key for one of the best education system in the world?

I read in an article about our professor Dr. Pasi Sahlberg saying that he doesn't want to convince everyone that his country had the "best education in the world".  "We should not think like this", he said, nothing that the media is ultimately responsible for such a declaration. "I can't say that one education system is better than another one." He called the American education system a big inspiration for Finland. Ultimately, he believes that we can learn from each other.

Read more: www.gse.harvard.edu/news-impact/2013/04/sahlberg-advocates-for-finnish-way-at-askwith-forum/#ixzz2f3rNg1f2


How to think about Finland's school system?! 

Sahlberg told us this morning at our first lesson that the education in Finland is not just that successful because of the education system - it's the whole society that forms the education system!

Good to know:

• Finland has never aimed to be the best! The keynote for Finland is to offer a great school for each and every child and not just to be the most successful school system in the world!
• TRUST - the most trusted public institutions - finnish people trust their public institution
• Police 90%
• education system 89%
• army 83%
• Health care system 72%
• Equal distribution of wealth
• A fairly equal wealth distribution within Finland also impacts the education system. As a result, Finland continues to do well in many areas beyond education, like women's empowerment, technological advances, child well-being, and prosperity. 
• The balance between rich and poor people is not so big. Finland is more a "middle-class-society" which is also a reason that leads to good results (PISA results)
• Sahlberg suggests: "The spirit level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

More about our professor Dr. Pasi Sahlberg: Pasi Sahlberg