This is a presentation made for international Erasmus+ -audience in May 2015.

1. Nice to meet you!

2. My name is Sari Auramo
• primary school teacher from Ohkola school,
Mäntsälä
• teacher for 20 years
• principal 6 years, teacher and vice principal 14 years
• lecturer for Finnish national board of education
(eTwinning and ICT)

3. • eTwinning- teacher since 2005
• eTwinning-ambassador since 2007
• about 40 eTwinning projects
• many conferences around Europe
• the best eTwinning project in Finland 2010
• The best eTwinning project in Europe 2011

4. Finnish
education
system

7. Background for Finnish
PISA success
Finland's success is largely explained by
• the education system (uniform basic education for the
whole age group)
• highly competent teachers
• the autonomy given to schools
http://www.minedu.fi/pisa/taustaa.html?lang=en
http://www.minedu.fi/export/sites/default/pisa/2009/Background_to_PISA_success.pdf

8. Equity in education
- Equal opportunities for education for everyone
- Free at all levels (including instruction, school materials,
school meals, health care, dental care, commuting,
special needs education and remedial teaching)
- Basic education encompasses nine years and caters for
all those between 7 and 16 years
- Every pupil and student has the right to educational
support
- Special needs education
- Language minorities and migrants
- Life-long learning in focus
http://www.minedu.fi/export/sites/default/pisa/2009/Background_to_PISA_success.pdf
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

9. Education system based
on trust and responsibility
• Most education is publicly funded
• Local administration and educational institutions
play a key role
• Quality assurance is based on steering instead of
controlling
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

10. Early childhood and basic education
as part of life-long learning
• Early childhood education supports children’s
development and learning
• Basic education is provided within a single structure
• School year is the same everywhere but timetables
are local
• National core curriculum leaves room for local
variations
• Assessment is part of daily schoolwork
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

11. General and vocational pathways at
upper secondary level
• Most students continue their studies after basic
education (more than 90 %)
• General upper secondary education is flexibly organised
• First national examination at the end of general upper
secondary education
• Vocational education and training in cooperation with
the world of work
• Competence-based qualifications offer a way to
demonstrate prior learning
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

12. Higher education
with a dual structure
• Higher education is offered by universities and polytechnics
• 14 universities
• Most university students aim for a Master’s degree
• Polytechnic degrees provide students with practical professional
skills
• 24 polytechnics
• One example – Helsinki Metropolia:
http://www.metropolia.fi/en/degree-programmes/
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/yliopistokoulutus/yliopistot/?lang=en
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/ammattikorkeakoulutus/ammattikorkeakoulut/?lang=en
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

13. Highly educated
teaching personnel
• Teaching is an attractive career choice in Finland
• The most common pre-service requirement is a
Master’s degree
• The work of teachers is very independent
• Educational leaders are required a teacher
qualification
• Continuing teacher education is encouraged
http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf
http://oph.fi/download/154491_Teacher_Education_in_Finland.pdf

14. School meals in Finland
• Finnish legislation guarantees pupils and students the
right to free meals during school days from pre-primary
and basic education until the completion of upper
secondary education.
Start at 1.03.
https://youtu.be/Y0bGi_P2OAY?t=1m3s

15. Thank you!