EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FINLAND, THE UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA Ce ae eee eo and difference By: Ana Maria C The organization of the school in Finland is similar to that offered in the United States and Colombia. This one consists of First, the school education starts with pre-school education that is voluntary, followed by a nine-year compulsory basic education, and then secondary education The secondary education comprises general upper secondary education and vocational upper secondary education Both the educational types last for 3 years each. The general upper secondary school provides general education and leads to the National Matriculation Examination which qualifies the students for higher education. Similarities and differences. In Colombia, kindergarten and preschool are also __ usually volunteers, but unlike Finland in Colombia, several standardized tests are applied throughout the school system, one is applied at 3rd, one at Sth, another in 9th, and finally in 11th Ge In the U.S they have 12 grades, = . (varies from state to state) but in general includes elementary, middle and high school that is a four year program (9th, 10th.11th and 12th) ih» They also have special ways to aes refer to those last four years: Freshman year(9th), sophomore map year(10th), junior year (11th) and senior year(12th). A curious fact is ‘e an fin) that in theU.S it is not mandatory to graduate from high school. The law varies from state to state but in general a child must attend school until about the age of 16. That's 10th grade. This changes in the case of Finland and Colombia. In Colombia the age to enter the education system in my case was at the age of 5 as in the United States, while in Finlandia begins at 7 years of age. —- Schools in the United States are made up of private, public, religious, and home schools. In Finland most schools are public and in Colombia, there is no serious modality of homeschooling like the one that exists in the U.S. In Colombia, the curriculum is in charge of the Ministry of Education, ®-6 aS in the United States, it may vary from state to state. And in Finland it can vary from school to school, generating more autonomy in the teaching work. & cet U Ta aren the: Uae. | lananeis) 2 Pe [adele aaa eee eee eda) real ieck met tis tudents focus more on these cana WR EE prioritised over extracurricular erat n ay OER aes a eee Peete ee) Crete Panett) aaa here are more breaks in Finland than in Colombia or the United States. The education in Finland is less orthodox than the offered one in Colombia or the United States. Students and teachers are having breaks throughout the day. Kids get a 15-minute break for every 45 minutes of classroom instruction. These breaks keep kids fresh and attentive throughout the day. Homework light and doable for students. In Finland, unlike other schools worldwide (for example Colombia or U.S) children rarely do homework or take exams Teacher experience 46% of American teachers say that they have a hugh amount of daily stress In Finland there is a more relaxed and balanced atmosphere than in America. "If | want to take good care of my student I need to take good care of myself." From my experience in Colombia teachers have many hours of work, they keep very stressful and also sometimes | saw them crying about the treatment they had on the part of the administrators and in society. So the role of the teacher in Colombia is more stressful and less valued than in Finland. nnual budget 5 Pe In Colombia, the budget for education is among the lowest compared to Finland and the United States, more than everything in Finland the budget is 17.5% higher than in the United States and not to mention Colombia. In Finland, a quality education is one of the first needs COOL COSTE re Piece oy aaa u powered by — PIKTOCHART