What curriculum is used in Finland?

In 2014, Finnish state authorities revised the national core curriculum (NCC) for basic education. The core curriculum provides a common direction and basis for renewing school education and instruction. Only a very few international commentators of Finnish school reform have read this central document.

How is Finland’s education system structured?

The education system in Finland consists of daycare programmes (for babies and toddlers), a one-year “pre-school” (age six), and an 11-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (age seven to age eighteen).

What subjects are taught in Finland primary school?

Subjects in basic education

• mother tongue and literature: Finnish or Swedish.
• the other national language: Swedish or Finnish.
• foreign languages.
• environmental studies.
• health education.
• religion or ethics.
• history.
• social studies.

How does Finland teach reading?

Finnish national curricula for different school and grade levels emphasise literacy in an age-appropriate way. In primary school the curriculum focuses on teaching reading using phonics but also reading comprehension strategies are introduced.

What does Finland spend on education?

In 2019, the general government expenditure on education in Finland was roughly 13.5 billion euros….General government expenditure on education in Finland from 2009 to 2019 (in million euros)

Do Finnish schools have grades?

All children throughout Finland are graded on an individualized basis and grading system set by their teacher. Tracking overall progress is done by the Ministry of Education, which samples groups across different ranges of schools.

What are the grade levels in Finland?

School Set-Up

• Day care: Age 2/3 – 7. As the name ‘day-care’ suggests the Finnish early childhood education does not have an official curriculum.
• Pre-School: Age 6-7, Grade 0.
• Primary School: Age 7-13, Grades 1-6.
• Lower Secondary: Age 13-16, Grades 7, 8, 9.

How do I become a teacher in Finland?

In Finland, teachers are required to have a master’s degree, including pedagogical studies and teaching practice. Teacher education is research-based. Added to wide expertise in learning and teaching, teacher qualification includes social, ethical and moral competence.

What do Finnish children do before starting school?

In Finland, they are more relaxed: “We believe children under seven are not ready to start school,” says Tiina Marjoniemi, the head of the centre. “They need time to play and be physically active. It’s a time for creativity.” There is an emphasis on physical activity (at least 90 minutes outdoor play a day).

What percentage of Finland is educated?

Population with educational qualification in Finland 2020, by level of education. In 2020, roughly 3.4 million people aged 15 and older (74 percent of the population) in Finland had completed a post-compulsory education.

What is the education system like in Finland?

A high level of education is one of the courses of the Finnish national strategy. The main line of the education system is its democratic character: equal opportunities to get an education for every resident in Finland.

Are there tests in secondary school in Finland?

As there are no tests during all the period of secondary education at all, teachers are those who estimate knowledge of pupils during the educational process. A distinctive feature of Finnish education is that it is free. From 9 month to 5 years, parents have an opportunity to define their children to a kindergarten.

How to study English in Finland?

Studies are in Finnish and Swedish. Active studying of English begins with the 3rd class, and then it is possible to choose facultative classes with studying the second foreign language. After ninth grade further education is optional. There are 2 options: an upper secondary school or a vocational institution.

What is the history of multi-grade teaching in Finland?

The most extensive change process in multi-grade teaching in Finland began in the 1970s, a phase that was characterized by the “spiral curriculum”—a concept strongly supported by the ideas of Jerome Bruner ( Bruner, 2006 ).