Carcaras' group first impressions

1) Coming to Finland - first impressions and observations

Until now, we have been realizing some reasons why Finland has one of the most famous education systems in the world. We think a lot of things that have influenced on the quality of education as a suitable environment, efficient public transportation, security and free access to the system. We are impressed about the weather too, it’s something very new to us - a very nice and beautiful place to live and visit. We are impressed about the senses of community that is very spreaded in the Finland society, influencing all society groups, based on the trusting senses. Each one is responsible for each other. It’s amazing that every opportunity and social meetings become a learning situation, the society is really very based on education.

2) Education in Finland - what is interesting?

It’s interesting the high focus on the individualisation, not just related to special needs in the learning, but also to general individual differences in learning styles and aims. The students, teachers and principals of schools have too much autonomy. Actually, the teaching is directed by this principle, as well self-directness and relatedness. Related to this, the learning community as everything in the Finnish society is based on trust. Teacher role is more related to the learning community building than traditional teaching. The teacher’s work is more to construct actives groups than to prepare presentations. High social pressure regulate more the teacher’s work than the principals and managers, so the teaching is more directly related to the social needs. Teachers we have known are very careful not being ethnocentric.  It’s amazing that there is little private education, high successful public. We think the education in Finland got a high quality of education without too much time (less than 40 years).

Another thing is the long awareness of the politicians about the importance to have a standard system of education through the country, the schools have similar structure in the whole Finland. There is no private school, the education is equal for everyone, it does not matter if  the student is from a rich family or a poor one. It promotes a sense of community and responsibility related each other. The fact of having to two types of upper secondary schools works finely, in Finland they have one upper secondary school with an academic style that promotes scientific studies. Another model is aimed to equip the student to working life, so there are many courses available to the students.