What makes Finland's education system unique and top-ranked? Part 1

Dattaraj Deshpande -

Revered as the best education system in the world, Finland has meticulously curated an apparatus for academia and learning that is at par with almost all countries around the globe. Bordering Sweden, Norway, and Russia by land and Estonia by sea, the country is home to a unique mix of modern and natural with its clean and sophisticated towns blossoming with coniferous forests in the countryside. Emerging as an intellectual in the domain of education, the Finnish education system is meant to have cracked the code of imparting quality education and following the motto of eternal learning. Have you ever thought about why Finland has the best education system in the world?

Finland's education system is unique in several ways:

  • Emphasis on student-centered learning: The Finnish education system is based on a student-centered approach, where the focus is on the needs, interests, and abilities of the individual student. This approach is designed to support student-centered learning, which is based on the idea that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
  • No standardized testing: The Finnish education system does not rely on standardized testing as a measure of student achievement. Instead, teachers assess students through observations, projects, and other forms of evaluation.
  • Emphasis on equity: The Finnish education system places a strong emphasis on equity, which means that all students have access to the same high-quality education regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
  • High-quality teachers: Finland has a rigorous teacher training system and high standards for teachers. As a result, Finland has a highly educated and dedicated teaching force that is committed to providing students with a high-quality education.
  • Low student-to-teacher ratio: Finland has a low student-to-teacher ratio, which means that students have more individualized attention from their teachers.
  • Valuing of creativity: The Finnish education system values creativity and encourages students to think independently and to develop their own ideas.
  • Emphasis on continuous learning: The Finnish education system places a strong emphasis on continuous learning, which means that students are encouraged to continue learning throughout their lives.
  • Emphasis on Nature: The Finnish education system places a strong emphasis on the importance of providing students with access to nature and the outdoors. Many schools have outdoor learning spaces and use the natural environment as an extension of the classroom.
  • Low-stress environment: The Finnish education system is designed to be low-stress, which means that students are not overburdened with homework and are not subjected to high-stakes testing.

Overall, the Finnish education system is unique in its approach to education, which is based on student-centered learning, equity, emphasis on creativity, a low-stress environment, continuous learning, and emphasis on nature. The combination of these factors makes the Finnish education system unique and effective in providing high-quality education to all its students.

Finland Education System Facts

Want to know why Finland has the best education system in the world? Well, here are the top characteristics of Finland’s Education System:

  1. The minimum age for starting elementary education in Finland is 7 years thus Finnish kids get to enjoy their childhood and kickstart their learning with their families rather than spending excessive time in schools.
  2. Finnish teachers formulate their grading systems for the students rather than relying on class exams and standardized tests.
  3. The only mandatory test that Finnish students give is at the age of 16.
  4. Finnish teachers only spend around 4 hours every day teaching in the classroom while they devote 2 hours every week to professional development.
  5. The school system in Finland is wholly 100% state-funded.
  6. Graduates from the top 10 percentile can only apply to become a Teacher in Finland.
  7. Every teacher in Finland is a master’s degree holder which is completely subsidized by the country’s government.
  8. On average, the starting salary of a teacher in Finland is somewhere around $29,000.
  9. Teachers are considered equivalent in status to doctors and lawyers in Finland.
  10. In 2018, the literacy rate in Finland was 99.0%.
  11. Finnish students spend only 20 hours a week at school.
  12. Every student in Finland can speak 2-3 languages.
  13. No competition between Finnish schools since every academic institution has the same facilities as any other.
  14. Students get to learn new things in schools from baking and industrial works to music and poetry.
  15. For every 45 minutes of learning in schools, Finnish students get to spend every 15 minutes playing or doing leisure activities.
  16. Finnish students receive free healthy meals from their schools.
  17. Every Finnish student is provided special services that fit their special needs and requirements.
  18. The Finland education system also fosters the teacher-student relationship as every student gets the same teacher for up to 6 years in their school.
  19. The students get very less homework and almost finish up everything they get during school hours only.
  20. The Finnish schools have mixed ability classes to nurture diverse interests and hobbies.