Since it implemented huge education reforms 40 years ago, Finland's school system has consistently come at the top for the international rankings for education systems.
So how do they do it?
It's simple — by going against the evaluation-driven, centralized model that much of the Western world uses.
Finnish children don't start school until they are 7.
Elinag / Shutterstock.com(Source: NYtimes)
They rarely take exams or do homework until they are well into their teens.
Flickr(Source: NYTimes)
The children are not measured at all for the first six years of their education.
Shutterstock / BlueOrangeStudio(Source: NYTimes)
There is only one mandatory standardized test in Finland, taken when children are 16.
Getty: Tony Lewis(Source: Smithsonian)
All children, clever or not, are taught in the same classrooms.
(Source: Smithsonian)Finland spends around 30 percent less per student than the United States.
(Source: Smithsonian)30 percent of children receive extra help during their first nine years of school.
Max Topchii / Shutterstock.com(Source: Smithsonian)
66 percent of students go to college.
Flickr/Ari HelminenThe highest rate in Europe.
(Source: Smithsonian)
The difference between weakest and strongest students is the smallest in the World.
Getty: Tony Lewis(Source: Smithsonian)
Science classes are capped at 16 students so that they may perform practical experiments every class.
OnlineDegrees.org(Source: TNR)
93 percent of Finns graduate from high school.
Shahram Sharif via Flickr17.5 percent higher than the US.
(Source: Smithsonian)
43 percent of Finnish high-school students go to vocational schools.
Mika Heittola / Shutterstock.com(Source: Smithsonian)
Elementary school students get 75 minutes of recess a day in Finnish versus an average of 27 minutes in the US.
AP(Source: TNR)
Teachers only spend 4 hours a day in the classroom, and take 2 hours a week for "professional development".
Flickr: Leo-setä(Source: NYTimes)
Finland has the same amount of teachers as New York City, but far fewer students.
upload.wikimedia.org600,000 students compared to 1.1 million in NYC.
(Source: NYTimes)
The school system is 100% state funded.
Wikimedia Commons(Source: Smithsonian)
All teachers in Finland must have a masters degree, which is fully subsidized.
Tom Plesnik / Shutterstock.com(Source: NYTimes)
The national curriculum is only broad guidelines.
_Shward_ via Flickr(Source: Smithsonian)
Teachers are selected from the top 10% of graduates.
Flickr(Source: Smithsonian)
In 2010, 6,600 applicants vied for 660 primary school training slots
Nadia Virronen / Shutterstock.com(Source: Smithsonian)
The average starting salary for a Finnish teacher was $29,000 in 2008
jeremy.wilburn via FlikrCompared with $36,000 in the United States.
(Source: NYTimes)
However, high school teachers with 15 years of experience make 102 percent of what other college graduates make.
Natursports / Shutterstock.comIn the US, this figure is 62%.
(Source: TNR)
There is no merit pay for teachers
Anton Balazh / Shutterstock.com(Source: TNR)
Teachers are given the same status as doctors and lawyers
Flickr(Source: Smithsonian)
In an international standardized measurement in 2001, Finnish children came top or very close to the top for science, reading and mathematics.
katutaide on flickrIt's consistently come top or very near every time since.
(Source: OECD/PISA)
And despite the differences between Finland and the US, it easily beats countries with a similar demographic
Neighbor Norway, of a similar size and featuring a similar homogeneous culture, follows the same same strategies as the USA and achieves similar rankings in international studies.(Source: Smithsonian)
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