Blog Post #9 Education

Finland is considered to have the best education system in the world. Something that I
Found really interesting in my research is that FInland spends less money per student
than we do in the U.S. There are no private schools in Finland and the schools have
many free resources for students such as social workers/counselors, nutritionists, and
health care. These additional resources play a big role in the education systems
success because a student's wellbeing is an important contributor to their ability to learn
in school.

The Finns take a different approach to learning than the U.S. by taking a more playful
approach to learning. They focus a lot of their curriculum around students being able to
move their bodies and play. The law in Finland enforces schools to give their students
lots of play time in between in class instruction time. These methods of learning are very
successful and 87% of Finns graduate high school.

Students go to school five days a week from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. They have a
structured day where they learn about a variety of different subjects with plenty of
recess breaks. A typical school schedule includes math, science, language, crafts, and
religion. They emphasize having a wide range of subjects so that students can receive a
well rounded education.

In Finland, higher education is free to students and is fully funded by tax dollars.
Universities are very flexible on what classes you take for your degree path. Students
are able to take a variety of different classes to earn their degree and there isn’t a strict
structure on mandatory classes. 46% of all Finns have bachelors degrees.

“What and how a culture teaches is a reflection of its beliefs, values, and
characteristics.” This statement explains how Finns value understanding the culture and
religions of other countries. Religion is a required course for students and shows how
Finns want to be knowledgeable about the rest of the world and more successful on a
global scale. Next, the resources and mental health education that is available in
Finnish schools shows how they value the wellbeing of their students. Learning about
mental health and coping skills is a lifetime skill and can promote wellbeing for the rest
of someone's life.
Overall, Finns have made a very successful and progressive education system. They
have promoted learning through play, mental health, and diverse education which
differs a lot from the U.S. education system. Higher education is also much more
accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, all schools are
public so everyone is receiving an equal education no matter what their background is.
https://mathandmovement.com/finlands-education-system-vs-us-the-interesting-and-
surprising-differences/
https://finland.fi/life-society/the-truth-about-finnish-schools
https://www.fulbright.fi/studies-and-research-finland/higher-education-finland
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/0b972e33-en/index.html?itemId=/content/
component/0b972e33-en