Only ‘one exam’ in 9 years of school: Finland’s unique education system explained amid AAP-LG row

Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on Monday marched to the Lieutenant Governor’s office to protest against alleged interference in the functioning of the Delhi government. The march began after the proceedings of the Delhi Assembly were adjourned for the day.

“It is unfortunate that Delhi CM and AAP MLAs have to march to LG office. I hope the lieutenant governor will see his mistake and allow teachers to train in Finland.

Kejriwal alleged that the work of the Delhi government was being deliberately disrupted for political reasons and said that “the LG is not our headmaster to check our homework. They will have to say yes or no to our proposals.”

The Chief Minister asked how the elected government would function if it did not have the power to take decisions. The assembly was adjourned after a war of words broke out between BJP MLAs and ruling AAP members over “illegal and unwanted obstructions and interferences” by LG Saxena.

AAP MLAs oppose Lt Governor’s “objections” to Delhi government sending teachers to Finland for a training programme.

What is the program about?

The Delhi government had sent a proposal to the LG’s office for a training program for primary in-charges in Finland.

You say that LG has ‘withheld the file’. On the other hand, the lieutenant governor’s office has denied rejecting any plans and said they only advised the state to do a cost-benefit analysis.

what is different about finland Education system?

• Apart from an exam at the end of a student’s senior year in high school, there are no mandatory standardized tests in Finland, a report from the Smithsonian explains.
• There is no ranking, no comparison or competition between students, schools or regions. Schools in Finland are supported by the government. The people in charge, from national authorities to local governments, are teachers, not business leaders, military leaders or professional politicians.
• Each school shares the same national goals and a pool of university-trained teachers. The result is that a Finnish child has a good shot of receiving the same quality education regardless of whether he or she lives in a rural village or a university town, the report explains.

• According to a recent survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the gap between the weakest and strongest students is the smallest in the world.
• “In Finnish education, equality is the most important word. “On this, all political parties, right and left, agree,” Olli Lukkanen, president of Finland’s powerful teachers’ union, told Smithsonian.
• Ninety-three percent of Finns graduate from academic or vocational high schools, 17.5 percentage points higher than in the United States, and 66 percent go on to higher education, the highest rate in the European Union. Nonetheless, Finland spends about 30% less per student than the United States.
• “We teach children how to learn, how to pass exams,” Pasi Sahlberg, a former math and physics teacher who worked for Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, told the publication.

how did this change

Many school systems are so concerned with increasing test scores and understanding in math and science, they forget what it takes to have a happy, harmonious, and healthy student and learning environment. Several years ago, the Finnish school system was in need of some serious reforms, a report World Explains the economic platform.

The program that Finland put together focused on getting back to basics. It was not about outperforming or getting ahead of others. Instead they sought to make the school environment more equitable.

Since the 1980s, Finnish teachers have prioritized these fundamentals:

• Education should be used to remove social inequality.
• All students are entitled to free school meals.
• Access to health care has become easier.
• psychological therapy
• personal advice

Here the Finns again start by changing very subtle details. Pupils start attending school at the age of seven. They are given free rein during their developing childhood years so that they are not bound by compulsory education. The report says that this is a way of letting a child remain a child.

only 9 years of compulsory schooling

There is only 9 years of compulsory school that children in Finland are required to attend. Eighth grade is optional, but ninth grade is compulsory.

It is a liberating ideal only from a psychological point of view. While this may be anecdotal, many students really do feel like they are trapped in prison. The report notes that Finland tends to reduce this forced idealization and instead prepares its children for the real world.

read all latest explainer Here