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Legal Forum

Education in Finland

Drs. Brenda Mendiola, Yvette Bynum, and Emily Sims, The University of Alabama

According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, Finland was ranked as the happiest country in the world for the seventh year (Helliwell et al., 2024). The ‘happiness’ rating is based on national average life evaluations in terms of six key variables: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption. When parsing out happiness for the age group below 30, Finland ranked 7 out of 96. The United States, with an overall happiness ranking of 23, ranked 62 in the age group below 30.

What is it like to attend school in the happiest country in the world? Dr. Yvette Bynum, Dr. Emily Sims, and I, representing the College of Education at The University of Alabama, recently spent seven days visiting schools in Helsinki, Finland, including Etu-Töölön lukio upper secondary school, Eira High School for Adults, Engel Albert day-care center, Engel Viiskulma Preschool, Suomenlinna Camp School, Kevätkumpu Education Center, and Helsinki University where we were learned about the structure and core principles of the Finnish educational system.

Structure of the Finnish Educational System

Finland’s national core curriculum is determined by the Finnish National Agency for Education and is revised approximately every ten years. Students are positioned for future success with an established foundation for growing and lifelong learning through graduated levels of education. Play and curiosity are intentionally developed in early childhood education and care (0-6 years old) and pre-primary education (6 years old). Primary and lower secondary education (7-16 years old), or basic education, addresses content/subject knowledge After general upper secondary education and vocational upper secondary education, students may choose one of two paths to continue their learning: higher education is broad-based learning (leads to university studies), and vocational education is competence-based learning (leads to vocational institutes). Students who pursue higher education must take matriculation examinations, while those seeking vocational education must meet vocational qualifications.

Core Principles

5 Cs. At the foundation of the Finnish Educational System is a strong emphasis on trust and responsibility among the school community members. The 5 Cs are valued universal skills in education: caring, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking Teachers are given autonomy in facilitating effective instruction to foster lifelong learning. Deep knowledge of their students allows teachers to create meaningful learning experiences. Students are viewed as unique individuals while respecting the diversity of others.

Equality and equity. “Everyone has the right to basic education free of charge...and for everyone an equal opportunity to receive other educational services” (Constitution of Finland). Education from pre-primary to general/vocational upper secondary education is free (including instructional materials and supplies, health and dental care, and meals). Additional support and resources are available for those in greater need. Depending on the learning needs of the students, the following levels of support are provided: general, intensified, and special. The Finnish commitment to free education aims to ensure that education is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background, and to promote lifelong learning and personal development among its citizens.

Child-centered approach. Finnish schools emphasize a holistic approach to student learning and well-being, where developing social and emotional skills and mental health is as important as academic achievement. Play is a critical component in early childhood education and care, and teachers encourage students’ curiosity and creativity inside and outside the classroom. Schedules typically include a 15-minute break for every 45 minutes of instruction (Sahlberg, 2021). Breaks often take place outside, even when there is snow on the ground!

Minimal standardized testing. Finnish education does not involve annual grade-level mandated testing, as teachers are trusted to assess and measure student growth and learning. Students learn to self-assess their learning. The only standardized testing requirements are the matriculation exams students in general upper secondary education take for admission to higher education.

Teacher training and professionalism. Teachers in Finland play a crucial role in the country’s education system, which is often applauded internationally for its success. Teachers typically hold master’s degrees in education or their subject areas, ensuring they have a deep understanding of pedagogy and content. Teaching is highly esteemed and widely regarded as prestigious (Federick, 2020). In Finland, educators enjoy significant trust and autonomy in developing their lessons, assessments, and teaching approaches to meet student needs and curriculum objectives (Chung, 2023).

It is common for classrooms to have three teachers: two dedicated to delivering the material and one who accompanies students who may lag behind in the lesson. Students needing extra support can use an isolated glass classroom pod, where they can still observe and participate in class. Also, schools have several meditation rooms where students can take mental breaks as needed.

Role of leaders and leadership practices. In Finland, school leaders, often referred to as principals or head teachers, play a significant role in shaping the educational environment and supporting both students and teachers. No formal coursework is required to gain leadership knowledge; instead, passing an exam is necessary. Most leaders are “tapped” for their leadership potential and encouraged to take on leadership tasks to prepare them to lead a school. Principals in Finland operate under a seven-year contract, with a requirement to move to a different school at the end of their contract. School leaders in Finland are seen as instructional leaders and managers who guide their schools in achieving high educational standards while nurturing a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

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Challenges

Decreases in national test scores. Despite its designation as the happiest country in the world, the Finnish people face many challenges – some shared by other countries and others unique to Finland. The Finnish educational system, once celebrated as one of the best in the world with scores on the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) at or near the top of the list in the early 2000s, has seen scores plummet in the last twenty years from 546 in Reading in 2000 to 490 in 2022, and from 563 in Math in 2000 to 484 in Math in 2022 (OECD, 2024). This is a troubling trend that leaders in the schools we visited attributed to societal changes such as the influence of social media and iPhones and a decreasing interest in leisurely reading. PISA assesses 15-year-old students’ reading, mathematics, and science literacy performance every three years. Scores are often used to compare educational systems across countries and identify trends in global student achievement.

Concerns about the country’s budget. Finnish citizens benefit from universal health care, comprehensive social security, and free education but pay high taxes. These societal benefits stress the country’s budget and require tough decisions about prioritizing spending, especially given that the country’s general government finances remain in deficit (Ministry of Finance, 2024).

Fear of invasion. Our Finnish host reminded us more than once that Finland is “our front line of defense” against Russia. When traveling by bus from Helsinki to Porvoo for a school visit, road signs pointing to Russia provided a stark reminder of the two countries’ proximity to each other.

Finland has faced the threat of expansion from Russia throughout its history. Finland was captured by Russia from Sweden in 1808 and did not gain independence until 1917. Finland fought the Soviet Union twice during World War II, losing both times. In March 1992, Finland officially became part of the European Union Community (EU). The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been particularly concerning for many Finnish citizens. In April of 2023, Finland became a member of NATO, a decision of great pride for many Finnish citizens (InfoFinland, 2023).

Reflections

It was affirming to realize we were all facing similar challenges in the profession. However, it was also burdensome to realize we have many areas in education that needed immediate attention. We were able to engage with Finnish students at the pre-school, primary, secondary, and university levels. We observed them in class, ate with them during lunch, participated in classroom activities, and spoke candidly with them about their learning. Witnessing a different educational system within an unfamiliar culture and government was powerful and moving.

An overall observation we witnessed was the joy students seemed to possess at all educational levels as they navigated their school day. No one appeared rushed. Teachers strategically inquired about students’ interests and sought their involvement in designing instructional practices while fostering instructional choices. In this instance, joy is defined as students’ contentment with learning how and when it was appropriate for them and teachers embracing the diverse ways and the varied time frame in which students chose to learn.

Arts and crafts courses were part of the regular curriculum as creativity positively impacts academic achievement. Additionally, students appeared more motivated as they were given a choice in their activities. Likely, the most startling observations were student independence and value for the outdoor environment. At a preschool we visited, a class of three-year-olds was having snack time. All the children displayed good manners and ate independently. Next, without any prompting from the teacher, the children systematically proceeded to clean up their individual spaces and dispose of any trash.

As the children prepared for a true recess (unstructured free play), they dressed themselves in jackets, hats, and boots. We were informed that the weather was rarely a deterrent for outdoor activities. The connection with nature and the outdoors is fostered at a noticeably young age and appreciated into adulthood.

All the children and adults we met spoke multiple languages. Even the youngest children spoke Finnish and were all learning English. It was not uncommon for the older children to have a degree of fluency in three or more languages.

Retrospectively, insights through observation and conversation revealed that many aspects of learning and teaching that appear to bring joy to learning and teaching can be embedded into our American educational system with no monetary cost—simply by shifting priorities.

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2025 Winter Issue - CLAS School Leader