Welcome to presentation of Finland Education System

Reform Symposium 2011

Pictures: Art teacher Tarja Pitkänen

Special Thanks

Vicky Loras Shelley Terrel

TEAM MATES• Common EU-projects 7 years• Finnish national coordinators of

entrepreneurship and social media network• Team teachers in entrepreneurship studies• Entrepreneurs of Team Factory Ltd• Three year project in Russia education training

for teachers• #finnedchat and blog with other Finnish

colleagues • http://finnedchat.blogspot.com/

Tradition• Public education in Finland began in the 1860s.• General compulsory education was prescribed by

law in 1921.• In the 1970's, a nine-year compulsory school

common to the entire age group, i.e. the comprehensive school started.

• 1970`s New teacher generation, new education for teachers. Toward better economy with better education.

Puolanka School 1968, picture taken by Nessterhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/568778208/

Basic Education Curriculum:Mission

• Opportunity personal growth, learning and development of healthy self-esteem

• Knowledge and skills in life• Further studies• Involved citizens• Cultural identity• Lifelong learning

Picture http://bit.ly/q4jW1t Sanna Siurua

Jukka Manninen, Principal ofelementary school in Lahti

• Strong basics of skills of thinking, learning, writing and maths.

• Co-operation between teachers and among students

• Teaching kids in different groups regarding of subjects and students skills

• Support of special education teachers

@jmanninen

• Teachers have good knowledgement of all kids in school

• Well educated teachers • Using new technology like smartboards and

web tools• Active co-operation with parents

Equal opportunities

• Free of charge (including instruction, school materials, school meals, health care, dental care, commuting, special needs education and remedial teaching).

• Offers everybody equal opportunities for education

Significance of education in society

Finnish society strongly favours education and the population is highly educated by international standardsEducation is appreciated and there is a broad political consensus on education policy.“Centralised steering – local implementation”

(From Minister of Education)

Competent teachers

• Teachers are highly qualified and committed• Master’s degree is a requirement • Teacher education includes teaching practice• Teaching profession is very popular in FinlandPrincipalJari KinnulaSinging”Good night songIn our night school)

Principal Esa Kukkasniemi on Vicky Loras blog

“As a principal I have the opportunity to discuss things with people, learn from others and then put it all together in a new form in my own school. I admire teachers a lot. I respect their professional and personal skills. I see myself as a coach or as a playmaker who tries to make the teachers find their strengths and make them shine”

Trust is everything

Close relationship between teachers and students

Autonomy of teachers

• Freedom and huge responsibility• Goal are set in national curriculum, but is up

local school and teachers together decide the way achieve goals

A student-oriented, active conception of learning

• Schoolwork and education is based on a conception of learning that focuses on students' activity and interaction with the teacher

• Co-operation with other students and new learning environments

Pasi Sahlberg http://www.educationnews.org/ed_reports/157152.html

“Indeed, quality of life, overall well-being, and happiness are important criteria when teachers and schools decide whether their individuals or organizations have performed well or not. Artistic and cultural achievements are seen in most of our schools as the main indications of being an educated individual”

The Future of the Finnish Phenomenon @esa_kukkasniemi

Strenghts:University level teacher educationCommitted teachersWide pedagogical freedom

Weaknesses:Teachers' poor ICT skills

Opportunities:New learning environments, open learning materials

Threats:Too massive schools/classesLacking behind in ICT technology and teachers' knowledge

Thanks for joining us!

More information

Timo Ilomäkiilomakitimojuhani@gmail.com@ilotimo

Aki Puustinenapuustin@gmail.com@apuustin

#finnedchathttp://finnedchat.blogspot.com/