PISA and Global Education Policy

Key Question Being Explored in This Insight:

Jennifer Chung examines Finland's history, culture, politics, society and education history, giving a solid framework for understanding the PISA-winning system.

View the page of: Jennifer Chung

Institution: University College London

Explore more insights in:

Education Policy and Politics in Education Professional

Media Literacy Toolkit

Faculti's Media Literacy Toolkit helps viewers critically engage with academic insights by analyzing the research context, identifying perspectives, and encouraging thoughtful evaluation.

Critical Questions to Consider ▼

What assumptions does the research make?
Are there alternative perspectives not explored?
What are the limitations of the research method?

Bias and Perspective Awareness ▼

This research comes from University College London . Reflect on how the institution's academic focus and research partnerships may shape the questions being explored.

Further Reading ▼

Read the Study

Jennifer Chung examines Finland’s history, culture, politics, society and education history, giving a solid framework for understanding the PISA-winning system.

Image courtesy of interviewee. January 19, 2024

Log-in or Sign-up to Faculti
Currently viewing this subject insight as a guest. You have insight(s) remaining for this month. Login to view 8000+ figures on the platform.

Generating Workspace...

Export as PDF

This video video discusses a doctoral research study focused on Finland's outstanding performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted by the OECD. It highlights how Finland was unexpectedly ranked at the top in educational assessments in 2000, attributing this success to various factors in Finland's education system, society, and history.

The research emphasizes the historical context of Finland, having been under Swedish and Russian rule for centuries, which fostered a strong emphasis on literacy and education leading up to its independence in 1917. The importance of education was reinforced during periods of hardship, including a civil war and World War II, and later economic challenges, contributing to a cultural value placed on resilience and education.

Key aspects of the Finnish education system include the high qualifications of teachers (all required to have a master's degree), a political consensus on education policies, and social equity principles that ensure schools provide equal educational opportunities across different regions. The system focuses on a comprehensive approach, where early childhood education promotes play and problem-solving, and students are offered vocational paths alongside academic tracks.

This video video also notes the trust placed in teachers, minimal oversight in the education process, and a robust support system with universal healthcare and free education, which underpins their successful education model. Finland’s approach aims to prioritize long-term educational goals rather than short-term political gains, contributing to its reputation as one of the happiest countries.

Language:

Export as PDF

X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:90000

1
00:00:00.385 --> 00:00:03.325
My doctoral research focused on the reasons

2
00:00:03.465 --> 00:00:05.525
for Finland's success in pisa.

3
00:00:05.785 --> 00:00:07.805
And PISA stands for the Program

4
00:00:07.945 --> 00:00:11.125
for International Student Assessment, which is administered

5
00:00:11.125 --> 00:00:12.325
by the OECD in Paris.

6
00:00:12.825 --> 00:00:14.565
And the OECD is the Organization

7
00:00:14.585 --> 00:00:16.605
for Economic Cooperation and Development.

8
00:00:17.345 --> 00:00:20.085
So every three years, the OECD,

9
00:00:20.505 --> 00:00:24.085
Uh, test 15 year olds around the world in, reading,

10
00:00:24.205 --> 00:00:26.965
mathematical and scientific literacy.

11
00:00:27.265 --> 00:00:31.925
And the first time they gathered these data, it was in 2000.

12
00:00:32.425 --> 00:00:36.125
So they released the first scores in December, 2001,

13
00:00:36.375 --> 00:00:39.445
where Finland really came out on top of these,

14
00:00:39.865 --> 00:00:41.445
piece of results.

15
00:00:41.745 --> 00:00:43.445
The expectation at the time was,

16
00:00:43.715 --> 00:00:44.885
Well, it wouldn't be Finland.

17
00:00:45.265 --> 00:00:47.565
And, Educational interest

18
00:00:47.585 --> 00:00:49.485
Was really focused in a lot

19
00:00:49.485 --> 00:00:51.445
of different countries, namely,

20
00:00:51.445 --> 00:00:52.685
Those in East Asia.

21
00:00:53.545 --> 00:00:57.405
So it was, quite a shock to the world. And then

22
00:00:57.545 --> 00:00:59.565
My doctoral research, As a

23
00:00:59.565 --> 00:01:01.125
Qualitative research, I went

24
00:01:01.225 --> 00:01:03.685
To Finland and investigated

25
00:01:04.355 --> 00:01:06.085
what happened in their education

26
00:01:06.085 --> 00:01:07.245
System and in their country

27
00:01:07.265 --> 00:01:10.845
and their society that led to these very high PS of results.

28
00:01:11.605 --> 00:01:16.085
Countries often see its economic success as tied in

29
00:01:16.085 --> 00:01:17.085
with their social systems.

30
00:01:17.665 --> 00:01:19.245
So for example, in the eighties,

31
00:01:20.135 --> 00:01:24.845
Japan was very buoyant in terms of their economic prowess.

32
00:01:24.905 --> 00:01:27.525
So people really looked at Japan,

33
00:01:27.745 --> 00:01:31.565
and their education system as kind of feeding this kind

34
00:01:31.565 --> 00:01:34.245
of economic, prosperity.

35
00:01:34.865 --> 00:01:37.285
Um, and conversely, when things go wrong,

36
00:01:37.285 --> 00:01:39.405
the education system is often blamed.

37
00:01:39.825 --> 00:01:42.405
So when there are recessions, often politicians

38
00:01:42.405 --> 00:01:47.005
and policymakers look at the, education system to see,

39
00:01:47.065 --> 00:01:48.925
you know, what's going, you know, so-called wrong

40
00:01:49.185 --> 00:01:51.045
and how to place blame.

41
00:01:52.185 --> 00:01:56.465
Um, so with this notion

42
00:01:56.495 --> 00:01:59.425
that education leads to kind of

43
00:02:00.105 --> 00:02:03.945
a competitive labor market, has changed kind

44
00:02:03.945 --> 00:02:05.065
of the face of education.

45
00:02:05.205 --> 00:02:08.545
So in, you see, often in Anglo countries,

46
00:02:09.375 --> 00:02:13.585
what is called ification of early childhood to kind of,

47
00:02:13.855 --> 00:02:18.225
implement literacy, at a young age in order

48
00:02:18.325 --> 00:02:21.585
to connect that to kind of life chances

49
00:02:21.725 --> 00:02:24.185
and impact on the country's economy.

50
00:02:24.445 --> 00:02:26.585
So what has happened with PISA

51
00:02:26.585 --> 00:02:30.425
and International Achievement Studies is that it gives

52
00:02:30.945 --> 00:02:35.915
a benchmark for educational success, which politicians

53
00:02:35.915 --> 00:02:37.955
and policymakers can really equate with,

54
00:02:38.175 --> 00:02:40.075
economic success.

55
00:02:40.455 --> 00:02:43.475
So seeing PISA scores,

56
00:02:43.495 --> 00:02:45.715
really can influence education policy.

57
00:02:46.185 --> 00:02:49.675
PISA is administered by the OECD, which is the organization

58
00:02:49.675 --> 00:02:52.275
for e economic cooperation and development.

59
00:02:52.375 --> 00:02:56.265
So you have economic, in the title.

60
00:02:56.485 --> 00:03:00.325
So it is connecting, education and,

61
00:03:01.675 --> 00:03:03.495
and economics a bit more closely.

62
00:03:03.715 --> 00:03:08.135
So we have, through PISA kind

63
00:03:08.135 --> 00:03:11.615
of educational success being quantified through

64
00:03:12.205 --> 00:03:14.295
what has been called International League tables

65
00:03:14.915 --> 00:03:18.775
and International, education Olympics.

66
00:03:19.555 --> 00:03:21.735
And, I've also seen it called,

67
00:03:21.735 --> 00:03:23.655
international Education Horse Race.

68
00:03:23.835 --> 00:03:27.855
So, interestingly, piece of scores come out very soon,

69
00:03:28.635 --> 00:03:33.445
and this often creates a flurry of, political statements

70
00:03:33.705 --> 00:03:34.885
and, you know, naming

71
00:03:34.945 --> 00:03:38.085
and shaming, you know, looking at your education system,

72
00:03:38.435 --> 00:03:42.765
what can we do to be more like, you know, whatever country

73
00:03:42.765 --> 00:03:45.965
that's, that's performing really well in Pisa.

74
00:03:46.305 --> 00:03:49.685
The historical context for Finland is that it was part

75
00:03:49.685 --> 00:03:52.845
of Sweden and Russia for about 700 years.

76
00:03:53.065 --> 00:03:55.925
So it was a part of Sweden for 600 years,

77
00:03:56.465 --> 00:03:59.205
and then Russia for 100 years.

78
00:03:59.745 --> 00:04:03.085
And during this time, there was a very,

79
00:04:04.015 --> 00:04:06.845
proud movement for the very unusual finished language.

80
00:04:07.545 --> 00:04:11.805
So there was, a great importance placed on literacy

81
00:04:11.825 --> 00:04:14.445
and reading of the finished language

82
00:04:14.825 --> 00:04:16.805
and coming up towards independence,

83
00:04:16.805 --> 00:04:18.605
which was declared in 1917.

84
00:04:19.055 --> 00:04:21.045
There was, a nationalist

85
00:04:21.045 --> 00:04:24.845
and independence movement, which really promoted education,

86
00:04:25.255 --> 00:04:27.445
which told people, okay, if we're going

87
00:04:27.445 --> 00:04:29.685
to be our own country, if we're going to be independent,

88
00:04:30.025 --> 00:04:31.525
we need to have education.

89
00:04:32.225 --> 00:04:34.605
So around the time of the Russian Revolution,

90
00:04:34.845 --> 00:04:36.645
Finland declared independence.

91
00:04:36.705 --> 00:04:41.005
So in 1917, they became a independent country.

92
00:04:41.505 --> 00:04:43.285
But what happened right

93
00:04:43.285 --> 00:04:45.725
after there was a really bitter civil war,

94
00:04:46.545 --> 00:04:50.445
and with a, a lot of devastation to,

95
00:04:51.225 --> 00:04:53.765
the population in the late 1930s

96
00:04:53.825 --> 00:04:56.845
and the 1940s, then there was World War ii,

97
00:04:57.015 --> 00:04:59.325
where Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union.

98
00:04:59.625 --> 00:05:03.685
So overcoming this, took a lot of,

99
00:05:04.795 --> 00:05:06.125
what fins call sisu.

100
00:05:06.235 --> 00:05:10.845
It's, kind of, resilience, I think is the,

101
00:05:11.565 --> 00:05:13.185
the closest word in English.

102
00:05:13.375 --> 00:05:16.765
They were able to use education

103
00:05:17.105 --> 00:05:18.405
and, hard work.

104
00:05:18.905 --> 00:05:22.365
And in 1952, Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympics,

105
00:05:22.365 --> 00:05:26.685
which was really seen as a time where Finland could announce

106
00:05:26.685 --> 00:05:29.325
to the whole world, you know, we're ready

107
00:05:29.345 --> 00:05:30.405
to host the Olympics.

108
00:05:30.405 --> 00:05:32.365
We're o we've overcome these hard times,

109
00:05:32.585 --> 00:05:35.845
and we are now a, a strong independent nation.

110
00:05:36.545 --> 00:05:39.245
Um, in the early 1990s,

111
00:05:39.245 --> 00:05:42.285
however, there was a very devastating recession.

112
00:05:42.745 --> 00:05:45.765
So again, the country was faced with very difficult times.

113
00:05:46.385 --> 00:05:49.725
And, and after that, Finland joined the eu,

114
00:05:49.985 --> 00:05:53.445
he joined the Euro, and very recently joined nato.

115
00:05:53.945 --> 00:05:58.205
So with these devastating stories, you hear a lot of,

116
00:05:59.195 --> 00:06:00.735
of these stories of sisu,

117
00:06:00.755 --> 00:06:02.575
the resilience of the Finnish people.

118
00:06:03.195 --> 00:06:07.295
So for example, I met a, a professor of education

119
00:06:07.355 --> 00:06:10.025
who said her when the,

120
00:06:10.325 --> 00:06:13.065
the borders reconfigured in eastern Finland,

121
00:06:13.405 --> 00:06:15.225
her father had died in the war.

122
00:06:15.645 --> 00:06:18.145
Um, they had their clothes on their back one bag,

123
00:06:18.205 --> 00:06:20.425
but what they had, was education.

124
00:06:20.455 --> 00:06:23.225
This was their way forward from overcoming,

125
00:06:23.725 --> 00:06:24.825
these hardships.

126
00:06:24.925 --> 00:06:26.065
So a, a lot

127
00:06:26.065 --> 00:06:28.305
of these stories I heard when I was researching my

128
00:06:28.305 --> 00:06:30.145
doctorate, this the importance

129
00:06:30.145 --> 00:06:34.785
of education in finished society to, to overcome hardship.

130
00:06:35.125 --> 00:06:36.145
In the 1960s,

131
00:06:36.235 --> 00:06:39.105
there was a welfare state movement in the

132
00:06:39.105 --> 00:06:40.585
Nordic countries and in Finland.

133
00:06:40.725 --> 00:06:44.905
So there was a education reform moving from,

134
00:06:45.685 --> 00:06:50.505
what is similar to the 11 plus in, in England,

135
00:06:51.195 --> 00:06:54.185
where students had, an early differentiation

136
00:06:55.055 --> 00:06:57.545
with secondary school to a comprehensive system.

137
00:06:57.845 --> 00:06:59.745
So that happened in the 1970s,

138
00:07:00.165 --> 00:07:02.225
and also in the late 1970s,

139
00:07:02.225 --> 00:07:03.985
there was teacher education reform

140
00:07:04.325 --> 00:07:06.865
to move all teacher education first to the universities,

141
00:07:06.925 --> 00:07:11.065
and then to have all teachers have a master's degree,

142
00:07:11.165 --> 00:07:12.825
by the end of the 1970s.

143
00:07:13.125 --> 00:07:17.185
So these are, some of the historical sociocultural

144
00:07:17.185 --> 00:07:19.905
and then also education reforms that really,

145
00:07:20.335 --> 00:07:23.385
have made Finland's education system what it is today.

146
00:07:24.685 --> 00:07:27.025
What's really interesting about Finland is there is

147
00:07:27.335 --> 00:07:30.185
political consensus when it comes to education.

148
00:07:30.805 --> 00:07:33.465
So for example, the country

149
00:07:34.585 --> 00:07:37.705
I reside in the uk, there is, more

150
00:07:37.725 --> 00:07:40.985
or less, to main political parties that,

151
00:07:41.325 --> 00:07:43.765
are butting heads.

152
00:07:43.865 --> 00:07:46.725
So for example, if there's a education reform

153
00:07:46.725 --> 00:07:50.205
that's announced, the first thing the shadow education

154
00:07:50.205 --> 00:07:51.965
secreted cherry does is denounce it.

155
00:07:52.025 --> 00:07:55.965
So you have these kind of political party lines where it's,

156
00:07:55.965 --> 00:07:57.805
it's, there's a lot of toing and froing.

157
00:07:58.065 --> 00:08:01.605
Um, in Finland, it's usually necessary to make a coalition

158
00:08:01.675 --> 00:08:04.325
between, several political parties.

159
00:08:04.945 --> 00:08:07.965
So between that, you have,

160
00:08:09.035 --> 00:08:12.565
more compromise in terms of political visions,

161
00:08:12.585 --> 00:08:16.085
but there's also a general political consensus about

162
00:08:16.915 --> 00:08:18.205
education in Finland.

163
00:08:18.705 --> 00:08:19.925
Um, another thing

164
00:08:19.955 --> 00:08:23.125
that supports the education system in Finland is the

165
00:08:23.195 --> 00:08:24.845
equitable values of the country.

166
00:08:25.065 --> 00:08:29.365
So I spoke about the Nordic welfare state, in the 1960s.

167
00:08:29.745 --> 00:08:31.805
And, gender equity

168
00:08:31.945 --> 00:08:35.285
and then socioeconomic equity is really prioritized

169
00:08:35.505 --> 00:08:37.285
by the Finnish government.

170
00:08:37.665 --> 00:08:42.125
So you have these equitable values where, schools are,

171
00:08:43.145 --> 00:08:45.885
much more equal in terms of provision.

172
00:08:46.265 --> 00:08:48.645
So for example, the early PISA scores came out

173
00:08:48.665 --> 00:08:53.085
and there was, bigger within school variation

174
00:08:53.715 --> 00:08:55.380
than between school variation.

175
00:08:55.705 --> 00:08:58.605
So, which, which is showing that whether you're in north,

176
00:08:58.705 --> 00:08:59.925
so east west urban

177
00:09:00.025 --> 00:09:04.405
or rural Finnish schools, you have a very similar level of,

178
00:09:04.465 --> 00:09:08.045
teaching education and educational quality.

179
00:09:08.945 --> 00:09:12.165
So part of that is of the equitable,

180
00:09:12.345 --> 00:09:15.205
values is really bringing up the weaker students.

181
00:09:15.905 --> 00:09:19.255
So it was a great effort by the Fins

182
00:09:19.255 --> 00:09:22.055
to really target the students that were struggling

183
00:09:22.055 --> 00:09:26.455
and then to move them up to a level where they could,

184
00:09:28.095 --> 00:09:30.655
maintain their education with everyone else.

185
00:09:31.955 --> 00:09:35.735
Um, so along with this, I would say the strengths

186
00:09:35.735 --> 00:09:37.895
of finished education is teacher education.

187
00:09:38.015 --> 00:09:40.375
I think this is the biggest thing I found

188
00:09:40.765 --> 00:09:44.135
with my doctoral research is the high quality of teachers.

189
00:09:44.435 --> 00:09:46.895
So I spoke earlier about education reforms

190
00:09:46.955 --> 00:09:50.095
and the teacher education reforms, which moved

191
00:09:50.715 --> 00:09:53.335
all teacher education to the university

192
00:09:53.675 --> 00:09:55.415
and then to the master's degree level.

193
00:09:55.515 --> 00:09:58.655
So all qualified teachers in Finland have a master's degree,

194
00:09:58.875 --> 00:10:00.775
and I will say that includes primary teachers

195
00:10:00.775 --> 00:10:05.015
because that is the most common question I get is do primary

196
00:10:05.455 --> 00:10:07.415
teachers or, elementary

197
00:10:07.415 --> 00:10:08.815
school teachers have a master's degree?

198
00:10:08.995 --> 00:10:12.215
And the the, the answer is absolutely yes.

199
00:10:12.735 --> 00:10:13.935
Everyone has a master's degree.

200
00:10:13.995 --> 00:10:15.855
So you have a very, very high level

201
00:10:15.875 --> 00:10:18.095
of education with teachers.

202
00:10:18.675 --> 00:10:22.795
And, to become a teacher is really rigorous.

203
00:10:22.855 --> 00:10:24.155
So it's a five-year program.

204
00:10:24.255 --> 00:10:26.595
You have to write an undergraduate dissertation,

205
00:10:26.675 --> 00:10:27.915
a master's dissertation.

206
00:10:28.535 --> 00:10:31.475
It is research based. It is very academic.

207
00:10:32.015 --> 00:10:35.195
Um, teachers are asked to be problem solvers

208
00:10:35.295 --> 00:10:39.035
and critical reflectors, it is harder to get into.

209
00:10:39.245 --> 00:10:40.675
There was an article that came out,

210
00:10:40.755 --> 00:10:42.275
I believe in 2012 or 2013.

211
00:10:42.415 --> 00:10:45.835
It said it's harder to get into medical school, sorry,

212
00:10:46.215 --> 00:10:49.195
harder to get into primary school teaching programs

213
00:10:49.195 --> 00:10:50.315
than into medical school.

214
00:10:50.615 --> 00:10:53.395
So this is the level of, selectivity

215
00:10:53.395 --> 00:10:54.555
that the admissions have

216
00:10:54.895 --> 00:10:56.395
and the level of rigor that you have

217
00:10:56.395 --> 00:10:58.235
with the teacher education programs.

218
00:10:59.015 --> 00:11:01.195
So because of this, you have a high level

219
00:11:01.195 --> 00:11:02.515
of trust in education.

220
00:11:03.615 --> 00:11:06.075
So in certain countries there's a lot of inspection,

221
00:11:06.585 --> 00:11:07.715
there's a lot of testing,

222
00:11:08.335 --> 00:11:10.515
and you do not have that in Finland.

223
00:11:11.015 --> 00:11:14.195
Um, I would say along with this is,

224
00:11:14.195 --> 00:11:15.555
good vocational education.

225
00:11:15.635 --> 00:11:17.515
I think vocational education is overlooked.

226
00:11:18.015 --> 00:11:21.035
So students have the option at 16 to choose

227
00:11:21.035 --> 00:11:22.475
between a more academic track

228
00:11:22.535 --> 00:11:25.355
and a, more applied track

229
00:11:25.375 --> 00:11:26.995
for their upper secondary education.

230
00:11:27.055 --> 00:11:29.595
And you also have, polytechnics

231
00:11:29.595 --> 00:11:31.795
and universities coexisting,

232
00:11:31.795 --> 00:11:34.075
with each other at the tertiary education level.

233
00:11:34.615 --> 00:11:37.275
The early childhood phase is a very long one.

234
00:11:37.375 --> 00:11:40.835
So students don't begin their first year

235
00:11:40.835 --> 00:11:43.315
of compulsory education until the age of seven.

236
00:11:43.815 --> 00:11:47.955
So you have, a long early childhood education phase

237
00:11:47.955 --> 00:11:52.765
where, play autonomy, problem solving,

238
00:11:52.955 --> 00:11:55.685
outdoor play four schools are really emphasized as well.

239
00:11:55.875 --> 00:11:59.685
Political consensus is one of the major ones.

240
00:12:00.185 --> 00:12:03.365
So I interviewed a minister of education at the time,

241
00:12:03.385 --> 00:12:05.765
and he said, there's continuity and there's change,

242
00:12:06.105 --> 00:12:08.405
and you have to have the continuity to see

243
00:12:08.405 --> 00:12:09.925
through education reforms.

244
00:12:10.305 --> 00:12:13.245
So for example, the teacher education reforms

245
00:12:13.245 --> 00:12:17.885
of the late 1970s, he believed, manifested themselves

246
00:12:18.555 --> 00:12:20.765
with the first, PISA scores.

247
00:12:21.665 --> 00:12:24.165
So he says it takes a generation

248
00:12:24.865 --> 00:12:26.245
to see through education reform.

249
00:12:26.265 --> 00:12:29.525
So if there is a political change every four or five years,

250
00:12:30.265 --> 00:12:32.965
and then the policies change, there isn't time

251
00:12:33.065 --> 00:12:35.125
to see those education reforms through

252
00:12:35.185 --> 00:12:37.805
and see if they've, they've come into,

253
00:12:38.425 --> 00:12:40.085
effect teacher autonomy

254
00:12:40.185 --> 00:12:42.165
and teacher agency, which comes from

255
00:12:43.025 --> 00:12:44.925
the master's degree for all teachers.

256
00:12:45.505 --> 00:12:49.205
So having this academic research,

257
00:12:50.205 --> 00:12:51.445
critical thinking, problem solving

258
00:12:51.545 --> 00:12:55.765
and critical reflection in a master's degree really makes

259
00:12:56.125 --> 00:12:58.125
teachers, trusted in society.

260
00:12:58.625 --> 00:13:02.205
Um, they're autonomous and they see the classroom

261
00:13:02.205 --> 00:13:03.485
and teaching as they see fit.

262
00:13:03.665 --> 00:13:06.685
So the head teachers, the municipalities, the government,

263
00:13:07.525 --> 00:13:11.525
everyone trusted teachers to do, as they wish, and

264
00:13:12.035 --> 00:13:13.525
because of the teacher autonomy,

265
00:13:13.745 --> 00:13:15.365
you then you have teacher agency.

266
00:13:15.625 --> 00:13:18.565
So having trust in the system, I think is,

267
00:13:19.065 --> 00:13:20.245
is very, very important.

268
00:13:20.745 --> 00:13:24.685
Um, fins would say, raising the level

269
00:13:24.905 --> 00:13:26.045
of teacher education

270
00:13:26.105 --> 00:13:29.405
to the master's level is probably the most important thing

271
00:13:29.915 --> 00:13:31.565
that could have been done,

272
00:13:31.565 --> 00:13:33.085
education-wise for the country.

273
00:13:33.305 --> 00:13:35.805
So there were, detractors, there were people

274
00:13:35.825 --> 00:13:39.005
who did not like the fact that teachers, you know,

275
00:13:39.005 --> 00:13:40.965
only teachers needed to have a master's degree,

276
00:13:41.545 --> 00:13:46.405
but you know, they stuck to, the education policy.

277
00:13:46.625 --> 00:13:50.315
And then, you know, when the PISA scores came out, it really

278
00:13:51.155 --> 00:13:54.075
reinforced that decision to, to raise the level of,

279
00:13:54.575 --> 00:13:56.035
of education for teachers.

280
00:13:56.615 --> 00:14:01.055
So this was, not without, it's debate.

281
00:14:01.395 --> 00:14:04.825
As I said, people did not want teachers

282
00:14:04.825 --> 00:14:05.865
to have the higher degree.

283
00:14:06.165 --> 00:14:08.545
And because higher education is free in Finland,

284
00:14:08.545 --> 00:14:10.585
that meant it's very expensive for the country

285
00:14:11.205 --> 00:14:12.505
to maintain this.

286
00:14:12.955 --> 00:14:16.625
There was also, some debate when the,

287
00:14:17.125 --> 00:14:18.425
policy came through.

288
00:14:18.765 --> 00:14:22.515
It was, you know, do the education students,

289
00:14:22.615 --> 00:14:27.315
do the teachers really need to, write the dissertation?

290
00:14:27.735 --> 00:14:30.235
You know, do they really need to,

291
00:14:31.525 --> 00:14:33.145
to have the same level of rigor?

292
00:14:33.565 --> 00:14:35.345
And so they weighed up a bunch of options,

293
00:14:35.405 --> 00:14:40.025
but eventually it was decided that all teachers need to have

294
00:14:41.165 --> 00:14:42.905
the same level of rigor

295
00:14:42.905 --> 00:14:45.465
that anyone else would have at the master's degree level.

296
00:14:45.725 --> 00:14:49.465
So we have really high expectations in terms of teachers,

297
00:14:49.525 --> 00:14:52.885
but you also have very high expectations in terms of,

298
00:14:53.755 --> 00:14:56.445
what is expected of pupils in the education system.

299
00:14:57.225 --> 00:15:00.245
So I would say with that comes the trust

300
00:15:01.385 --> 00:15:02.605
in, in education.

301
00:15:03.065 --> 00:15:05.645
And then along with that, you have a really strong ecosystem

302
00:15:05.865 --> 00:15:08.965
of social services that support the education system.

303
00:15:09.105 --> 00:15:13.205
So you have, good healthcare, universal healthcare,

304
00:15:13.625 --> 00:15:17.045
dental care, affordable,

305
00:15:17.695 --> 00:15:20.565
early childhood education and care free university.

306
00:15:21.105 --> 00:15:24.565
So you have this, strong ecosystem that would support,

307
00:15:25.625 --> 00:15:29.925
an equitable education system for everyone who partakes.

308
00:15:30.785 --> 00:15:34.095
And I met a professor who's British,

309
00:15:34.275 --> 00:15:37.135
but works in a Finnish university,

310
00:15:37.235 --> 00:15:40.935
and he said, in Finland education policy is made

311
00:15:40.935 --> 00:15:41.935
for the next generation,

312
00:15:42.355 --> 00:15:44.775
but in England, education policy is made

313
00:15:44.775 --> 00:15:45.775
for the next election.

314
00:15:45.835 --> 00:15:47.575
And I thought that was really poignant.

315
00:15:47.635 --> 00:15:52.135
It was, it's not for necessarily political gain, it's really

316
00:15:52.195 --> 00:15:56.385
for the people, the children, for the country, as opposed

317
00:15:56.445 --> 00:16:00.205
to, your political party's survival

318
00:16:00.305 --> 00:16:01.445
in the next general election.

319
00:16:01.945 --> 00:16:06.045
So all of these things make Finland what has been named

320
00:16:06.105 --> 00:16:08.525
as the happiest country for a few years in a row.

321
00:16:08.825 --> 00:16:10.605
So it's not just, you know, you walk around

322
00:16:10.665 --> 00:16:12.765
and people have huge smiles on their faces.

323
00:16:12.955 --> 00:16:16.975
It's really, the safety net of social services,

324
00:16:17.075 --> 00:16:21.895
having great education, great welfare that,

325
00:16:22.045 --> 00:16:24.775
that make Finland, the country that it is

326
00:16:24.965 --> 00:16:26.135
with this education system.

Quick Answers

Finland's PISA Success: Educational Insights and Reform

00:00:00 - My doctoral research focused on the reasons for Finland's success in pisa. And PISA stands for the Program for International Student Assessment, which is administered by the OECD in Paris. And the OECD is the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. So every three years, the OECD, test 15 year olds around the world in, reading, mathematical and scientific literacy. And the first time they gathered these data, it was in 2000.
00:00:36 - where Finland really came out on top of these, piece of results. The expectation at the time was, Well, it wouldn't be Finland. And, Educational interest Was really focused in a lot of different countries, namely, Those in East Asia. So it was, quite a shock to the world. And then My doctoral research, As a Qualitative research, I went To Finland and investigated
00:01:06 - System and in their country and their society that led to these very high PS of results. Countries often see its economic success as tied in with their social systems. So for example, in the eighties, Japan was very buoyant in terms of their economic prowess. So people really looked at Japan, and their education system as kind of feeding this kind of economic, prosperity.
00:01:37 - the education system is often blamed. So when there are recessions, often politicians and policymakers look at the, education system to see, you know, what's going, you know, so-called wrong and how to place blame. so with this notion that education leads to kind of a competitive labor market, has changed kind of the face of education.
00:02:09 - what is called ification of early childhood to kind of, implement literacy, at a young age in order to connect that to kind of life chances and impact on the country's economy. So what has happened with PISA and International Achievement Studies is that it gives a benchmark for educational success, which politicians
00:02:38 - economic success. So seeing PISA scores, really can influence education policy. PISA is administered by the OECD, which is the organization for e economic cooperation and development. So you have economic, in the title. So it is connecting, education and, and economics a bit more closely. So we have, through PISA kind

Finland's Resilience and Educational Success

00:03:12 - what has been called International League tables and International, education Olympics. And, I've also seen it called, international Education Horse Race. So, interestingly, piece of scores come out very soon, and this often creates a flurry of, political statements and, you know, naming and shaming, you know, looking at your education system,
00:03:42 - that's, that's performing really well in Pisa. The historical context for Finland is that it was part of Sweden and Russia for about 700 years. So it was a part of Sweden for 600 years, and then Russia for 100 years. And during this time, there was a very, proud movement for the very unusual finished language. So there was, a great importance placed on literacy
00:04:14 - and coming up towards independence, which was declared in 1917. There was, a nationalist and independence movement, which really promoted education, which told people, okay, if we're going to be our own country, if we're going to be independent, we need to have education. So around the time of the Russian Revolution, Finland declared independence. So in 1917, they became a independent country. But what happened right
00:04:46 - and with a, a lot of devastation to, the population in the late 1930s and the 1940s, then there was World War ii, where Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union. So overcoming this, took a lot of, what fins call sisu. It's, kind of, resilience, I think is the, the closest word in English.
00:05:17 - and, hard work. And in 1952, Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympics, which was really seen as a time where Finland could announce to the whole world, you know, we're ready to host the Olympics. We're o we've overcome these hard times, and we are now a, a strong independent nation. in the early 1990s, however, there was a very devastating recession. So again, the country was faced with very difficult times.
00:05:49 - he joined the Euro, and very recently joined nato. So with these devastating stories, you hear a lot of, of these stories of sisu, the resilience of the Finnish people. So for example, I met a, a professor of education who said her when the, the borders reconfigured in eastern Finland, her father had died in the war. they had their clothes on their back one bag,

Finland's Educational Reforms and Resilience

00:06:20 - This was their way forward from overcoming, these hardships. So a, a lot of these stories I heard when I was researching my doctorate, this the importance of education in finished society to, to overcome hardship. In the 1960s, there was a welfare state movement in the Nordic countries and in Finland. So there was a education reform moving from, what is similar to the 11 plus in, in England,
00:06:55 - with secondary school to a comprehensive system. So that happened in the 1970s, and also in the late 1970s, there was teacher education reform to move all teacher education first to the universities, and then to have all teachers have a master's degree, by the end of the 1970s. So these are, some of the historical sociocultural and then also education reforms that really, have made Finland's education system what it is today.
00:07:27 - political consensus when it comes to education. So for example, the country I reside in the uk, there is, more or less, to main political parties that, are butting heads. So for example, if there's a education reform that's announced, the first thing the shadow education secreted cherry does is denounce it. So you have these kind of political party lines where it's,
00:07:58 - in Finland, it's usually necessary to make a coalition between, several political parties. So between that, you have, more compromise in terms of political visions, but there's also a general political consensus about education in Finland. another thing that supports the education system in Finland is the equitable values of the country. So I spoke about the Nordic welfare state, in the 1960s.
00:08:31 - and then socioeconomic equity is really prioritized by the Finnish government. So you have these equitable values where, schools are, much more equal in terms of provision. So for example, the early PISA scores came out and there was, bigger within school variation than between school variation. So, which, which is showing that whether you're in north, so east west urban
00:09:04 - teaching education and educational quality. So part of that is of the equitable, values is really bringing up the weaker students. So it was a great effort by the Fins to really target the students that were struggling and then to move them up to a level where they could, maintain their education with everyone else.

Finland's Rigorous Teacher Education System

00:09:35 - of finished education is teacher education. I think this is the biggest thing I found with my doctoral research is the high quality of teachers. So I spoke earlier about education reforms and the teacher education reforms, which moved all teacher education to the university and then to the master's degree level. So all qualified teachers in Finland have a master's degree, and I will say that includes primary teachers because that is the most common question I get is do primary
00:10:07 - school teachers have a master's degree? And the the, the answer is absolutely yes. Everyone has a master's degree. So you have a very, very high level of education with teachers. And, to become a teacher is really rigorous. So it's a five-year program. You have to write an undergraduate dissertation, a master's dissertation. It is research based. It is very academic. teachers are asked to be problem solvers and critical reflectors, it is harder to get into.
00:10:40 - I believe in 2012 or 2013. It said it's harder to get into medical school, sorry, harder to get into primary school teaching programs than into medical school. So this is the level of, selectivity that the admissions have and the level of rigor that you have with the teacher education programs. So because of this, you have a high level of trust in education. So in certain countries there's a lot of inspection, there's a lot of testing, and you do not have that in Finland.
00:11:14 - good vocational education. I think vocational education is overlooked. So students have the option at 16 to choose between a more academic track and a, more applied track for their upper secondary education. And you also have, polytechnics and universities coexisting, with each other at the tertiary education level. The early childhood phase is a very long one. So students don't begin their first year of compulsory education until the age of seven.
00:11:47 - where, play autonomy, problem solving, outdoor play four schools are really emphasized as well. Political consensus is one of the major ones. So I interviewed a minister of education at the time, and he said, there's continuity and there's change, and you have to have the continuity to see through education reforms. So for example, the teacher education reforms of the late 1970s, he believed, manifested themselves
00:12:21 - So he says it takes a generation to see through education reform. So if there is a political change every four or five years, and then the policies change, there isn't time to see those education reforms through and see if they've, they've come into, effect teacher autonomy and teacher agency, which comes from the master's degree for all teachers. So having this academic research,

Teacher Autonomy and Education Policy Impact

00:12:51 - and critical reflection in a master's degree really makes teachers, trusted in society. they're autonomous and they see the classroom and teaching as they see fit. So the head teachers, the municipalities, the government, everyone trusted teachers to do, as they wish, and because of the teacher autonomy, you then you have teacher agency. So having trust in the system, I think is, is very, very important.
00:13:24 - of teacher education to the master's level is probably the most important thing that could have been done, education-wise for the country. So there were, detractors, there were people who did not like the fact that teachers, you know, only teachers needed to have a master's degree, but you know, they stuck to, the education policy. And then, you know, when the PISA scores came out, it really
00:13:54 - of education for teachers. So this was, not without, it's debate. As I said, people did not want teachers to have the higher degree. And because higher education is free in Finland, that meant it's very expensive for the country to maintain this. There was also, some debate when the, policy came through. It was, you know, do the education students,
00:14:27 - You know, do they really need to, to have the same level of rigor? And so they weighed up a bunch of options, but eventually it was decided that all teachers need to have the same level of rigor that anyone else would have at the master's degree level. So we have really high expectations in terms of teachers, but you also have very high expectations in terms of,
00:14:57 - So I would say with that comes the trust in, in education. And then along with that, you have a really strong ecosystem of social services that support the education system. So you have, good healthcare, universal healthcare, dental care, affordable, early childhood education and care free university. So you have this, strong ecosystem that would support,
00:15:30 - And I met a professor who's British, but works in a Finnish university, and he said, in Finland education policy is made for the next generation, but in England, education policy is made for the next election. And I thought that was really poignant. It was, it's not for necessarily political gain, it's really for the people, the children, for the country, as opposed

Finland's Happiness: Education and Social Services

00:16:24 - in the next general election. So all of these things make Finland what has been named as the happiest country for a few years in a row. So it's not just, you know, you walk around and people have huge smiles on their faces. It's really, the safety net of social services, having great education, great welfare that, that make Finland, the country that it is with this education system.

Faculti AI can make mistakes

Research

Policy

Analysis

Data

Originals

Explainers

Podcasts

Faculti

New on Faculti

Knowledge Base

PISA and Global Education Policy

Media Literacy Toolkit

Critical Questions to Consider ▼

Bias and Perspective Awareness ▼

Further Reading ▼