Finnish education is the best in the world. principles of the “secondary” level of Finnish education

Despite the fact that Finland is independent state exists only 100 years, its educational system is deservedly considered one of the best in the world. This country traditionally ranks first in the population education index, and holders of diplomas from its higher educational institutions are in great demand in all countries Western Europe. High-quality and, which is very important for young people, free education attracts students from all over the world to Finland. Citizens of Russia are no exception. Studying in Finland is especially popular among residents of the North-West region, for whom a simplified visa issuance system applies.

Features of Finnish education

Each stage of training allows you to improve the level of education

The educational system operating in Finland today was formed in the 60s of the last century. It includes 4 steps:

• preschool education;
• comprehensive school;
• average educational establishments;
• higher education institutions.

At each level, training is conducted in two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. In the northern regions of the country, they are supplemented by the indigenous language of Suomi.

Preschool education

Kindergartens in Finland accept children from 9 months to 5 years. Their main task is to care for children during the day and help parents raise their children. Unlike all other stages of education, this stage costs money. Moreover, the amount of payment does not depend on the prestige or better equipment of the kindergarten, but on the income of the child’s parents. The maximum payment is 254 euros, and the minimum is 23 euros.

Kindergartens in Finland have everything necessary for the development of children

A kindergarten group can have from 12 to 21 children, depending on their age. The younger the children, the more teachers work with them. IN big cities There is often a shortage of places in preschool institutions, therefore, the state pays benefits to those parents who independently care for the child.

At the age of 6, preparation for school begins, which lasts one year. Its attendance is free and compulsory for all children. Groups for classes are formed in kindergarten or school.

Comprehensive school

School education in Finland consists of two levels and lasts 9-10 years. Moreover, students do not pass exams even after graduating from school. They don't have diaries either. Parents can learn about their child’s progress from the electronic classroom journal in national system Wilma. In addition, once a month the class curator gives them a report card, where all the student’s grades are recorded.

Video: sightseeing tour with the director of a secondary school in Finland

Academic year starts in mid-August ( the exact date appointed by the school administration) and lasts until the end of May or beginning of June. During this time, schoolchildren go on vacation three times. All schools in the country work first shift, 5 days a week.

First level

At the age of 7, children go to primary school (alakoulu), where education lasts 6 years. Junior classes spend all their time in the same office with a permanent teacher. In the first two years, schoolchildren study four main subjects:

• mathematics;
• reading;
• native language;
• natural history.

Additionally, they do physical education. Much attention is paid to the creative development of children: they are taught to play on various musical instruments, choral singing, drawing and sculpting. In one lesson, kids can study several disciplines at the same time.

Children are provided great amount development opportunities

Every year new lessons are added, and by the end of the sixth grade, students have basic knowledge in all basic subjects, which necessarily include Finnish, Swedish and two foreign languages. Grades in Finnish primary school appear after 3rd grade and are given only orally.

Particular attention is paid to inclusive education; all Finns are explained from an early age that children with speech impediments and people with disabilities are full-fledged people who should be treated as equals.

Upper stage

From 7th grade, students move to high school. Usually it is located in a separate building. At this stage, each teacher teaches a separate subject. In the classroom he is accompanied by an assistant, which greatly simplifies the learning process.

High school students have the right to independently choose additional disciplines. Training at this level lasts 3 years. If desired, children can improve their knowledge by attending an additional tenth grade. After graduating from high school, graduates can continue their education or go to work. Their introduction to professions is given quite a lot of attention in the ninth grade. Students independently choose their desired place for employment and become familiar with its features.

Schoolchildren are given virtually no homework. Finnish teachers believe that it is healthier for children to walk and spend free time with parents, and not sit over lessons.

IN high school A ten-point grading system has been adopted, in which the lowest is four. If a student receives such a final grade, he must prove at the beginning of the next school year that his knowledge has improved.

Principles of Finnish school education

According to research international organization PISA, Finnish schoolchildren consistently rank first in terms of educational level. Experts around the world are trying to unravel the mystery of such effective learning. Most of them believe that this was largely possible thanks to a number of principles on which Finnish education is based.

1. Equality. There are no elite or ordinary schools in Finland. All educational institutions are equally well funded and have the same opportunities. Finns do not separate children into different classes depending on their abilities and the financial capabilities of their parents. Both geniuses and noticeably lagging behind study in the same team. Teachers should not ask children questions related to their parents’ place of work and income level.
2. Free. In Finnish schools, any collection of money from parents is strictly prohibited. In addition to the training itself, students are provided free of charge: lunches, excursions and any extracurricular activities, textbooks and all necessary supplies, including tablets or e-books; transport that transports children if the distance from home to the nearest school is more than 2 km.
3. Individuality. For each child, teachers develop a special curriculum. The student may ask for additional explanation of the material at the end of the lesson. There are no tutors in Finland. Teachers do an excellent job with their responsibilities. For children who constantly have problems mastering the material, there is remedial education. It is carried out in small groups or individually.
4. Voluntariness. Teachers try to interest the child in studying certain subjects, but if he does not have the desire or does not have enough abilities, then he will be oriented towards obtaining a good working specialty. A special school specialist, the “teacher of the future,” is engaged in identifying inclinations for certain activities.
5. Practicality. Finnish schools prepare students for life, not for exams. It is important not to memorize formulas, but to learn how to use reference books and correctly apply the information received. Children are not called to the board, the teacher explains the topic of the lesson and, together with an assistant, monitors the completion of tasks.

Secondary education - lyceums and colleges

After school, Finns can continue their education at a lyceum (lukio) or a vocational college (ammattikoulu). Selection for educational institutions at this level is based on average school grades. Weak students go to college, where they receive a working specialty, and stronger students go to a lyceum, where they improve their knowledge in various disciplines.

Depending on the future profession College education lasts from one to four years. Here you can get a specialty in almost any industry: from Agriculture to art or sports. During training Special attention focus on practical knowledge. Graduates, if desired, can enter any higher educational institution.

Video: vocational education system in Finland

At the lyceum, education lasts for 3 years. It is conducted according to the course system, so there is no usual division into classes. After graduating from the lyceum, graduates take exams in the following disciplines:

• native language (Finnish or Swedish);
• second state language;
• foreign language;
• mathematics or humanities subjects (optional).

After successfully passing these tests, graduates in a solemn ceremony receive white caps, which they are very proud of, and begin to be considered applicants. Passing the exams allows you to choose any institute or university in the country for further education.

Higher education

Universities in Finland are divided into two categories:

• universities (yliopisto)
• polytechnic institutes, or if their name is literally translated from Finnish “institutes applied sciences"(ammattikorkeakoulu).

The main difference between polytechnic institutes is a large number of practical classes, which are introduced into the curriculum at the beginning of the first year.

The Finnish degree system includes the following levels:

1. Bachelor (kandidaatti). Awarded after 3-4 years of study at any university in the country. Some faculties require the defense of a final thesis or in-depth study several items.
2. Master (maisteri). To obtain a master's degree, you need to study for another 2 years at the university. Graduates of polytechnic institutes who decide to become masters must work for three years in their chosen specialty and attend one-year preparatory courses.
3. Doctor of Science (tohtori). The student becomes the holder of this title after 4 years of doctoral studies, conducting scientific research and dissertation defense. In the middle of this period, applicants are awarded a lecinciate degree, which has no analogues in other European countries.

Basic languages ​​and the principle of free education

Education at universities in the country is conducted in Finnish and Swedish. But there are programs for foreign students and in English. Most of them are designed to obtain a master's degree in business and IT technology. Depending on the program, teaching in English may last the entire course or only the first two years.

All stages of Finnish higher education are free for both local residents and foreigners, including citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Popular educational institutions and educational programs for Russians

For a long time, Finnish parents did not have the right to choose schools. Despite the fact that this ban has now been lifted, most students continue to go to nearby schools, since they are all almost the same. But there are educational institutions in which the program is noticeably different from others. Thus, the Russian School of Eastern Finland, founded in 1997, is popular among immigrants from our country. Its branches are located in three cities: Joensuu, Lappeenranta and Imatrea.

Education at this school is conducted in Finnish, but some subjects are taught in Russian. In addition, children of immigrants receive assistance for native language during lessons and can attend additional classes to learn Finnish.

Graduates of the Russian School, without exams, enter its gymnasium, where they are formed into special groups that study in the city’s lyceums. They study core subjects separately from other lyceum students, and compulsory ones - in general classes.

There are about 50 higher education institutions in Finland. The largest and most prestigious of them is the University of Helsinki. Only highly qualified specialists teach there. Almost all possible disciplines are studied here; the education received at the medical faculty of this university is especially valued. Bachelor's degrees are taught only in Finnish and Swedish, but many master's and doctoral programs are taught in English.

The oldest and largest university in Finland, founded in 1640

Most Russian students choose business-oriented programs, information Technology and tourism. This is due to the fact that these areas are usually taught in English. Some universities have programs in which some subjects are taught in Russian. Thus, the Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (Ammattikorkeakoulu) teaches a course in hotel business and tourism. Here you can get both a bachelor's and a master's degree.

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences is very popular among Russians

How to enter a university?

First of all, you need to decide on the choice of university and find out about its rules for admitting applicants. All universities independently determine the deadlines for submitting documents, their list and the method of passing entrance exams.

Video: how to enter the Finnish University of Applied Sciences

Most universities accept applications from the beginning of December to the end of March. Most often, future students must submit the following documents:

• a completed application for admission to a university (a sample can be found on the website Universityadmissions.fi - for universities or Admissions.fi - for polytechnic institutes);
• a copy of the certificate of secondary education, translated into Finnish language;
• certificate confirming successful completion international exam in English (TOEFL or IELTS);
• a motivation letter in English, in which the applicant explains why he chose this particular university.

Some universities independently test the level of knowledge in English on a face-to-face exam.

11th grade students who have not yet received a certificate can enter Finnish universities under the discretionary admission program. To do this, they will need to attach to the package of documents a certificate confirming their studies in the 11th grade and a report card with grades for the first half of the year.

If the review of documents is positive, the applicant receives a written invitation to the entrance examination. Based on this document, the future student receives permission to enter Finland.

Some universities require you to pass exams in specialized subjects, while others require you to successfully pass an interview. Admissions committees from Finland often come to the border regions of Russia and conduct entrance tests on site.

After receiving confirmation of enrollment at the university, you must apply for a student visa. To do this, you must provide the Finnish Embassy with a package of documents, which includes:

• a questionnaire filled out according to the OLE_OPI form (it can be downloaded from the website migri.fi);
• two photographs measuring 47 mm by 36 mm;
• a valid foreign passport;
• a certificate confirming enrollment in a Finnish educational institution;
• certificate of education received in Russia;
• a certificate from the bank confirming the availability of funds sufficient to live in Finland (at least 560 euros per month);
• medical insurance policy;
• birth certificate and parental permission to travel to Finland (for students under 18 years of age).

Students who come to Finland for more than a year are required to obtain registration from the police department. It includes the provision of basic personal data and is renewed every year.

Cost of studying in Finland for foreigners

Higher education in Finland is free, but students will still have to spend money. During training you have to pay at the university teaching aids and mandatory membership fee to the trade union. Typically these payments do not exceed 90 euros per month. In addition, the student pays for housing and food on his own.

Every city in Finland has an organization that distributes dormitories. There are a lot of people who want to get housing there, so it’s better to contact them immediately after admission. Applications are submitted to the organization's website. The cost of a private room in three-room apartment ranges from 150 to 300 euros depending on the size of the city.

For foreign students receiving first higher education, no scholarships are provided. Only applicants for a master's or doctorate degree can qualify for various grants.

A student visa gives you the right to work no more than 20 hours a week. During the holidays this restriction is lifted. IN major cities In Finland, finding a job for a student who speaks Finnish fluently is quite easy. Without this skill, you often have to settle for the position of a cleaner or handyman.

Finnish education has long and consistently occupied the best positions in various ratings, which the scale of the article does not allow to list. However, the most important “prize” of the country’s educational system is worth mentioning: according to international studies conducted every 3 years by the authoritative organization PISA, Finnish schoolchildren showed the highest level of knowledge in the world. They also became the most reading children on the planet, taking 2nd place in natural sciences and 5th place in mathematics.

But this is not even what fascinates the global teaching community so much. It is incredible that with such high results, Finnish schoolchildren spend the least amount of time studying, and the Finnish state spends very moderate funds on its high-quality and free education compared to many other countries.

In general, there is some kind of mystery that teachers from different countries are trying to unravel. The Finns do not hide anything and are happy to share their experience by organizing seminars both in their country and around the world.

Compulsory secondary education in Finland includes two levels of school

• lower (alakoulu), from 1st to 6th grade
• upper (yläkoulu), from 7th to 9th grade.

In the additional 10th grade, students can improve their grades. Then the children go to a vocational college, or continue their studies at the lyceum (lukio), grades 11–12, in our usual understanding.

The Finnish school professes a gradual workload, brought to the maximum only for volunteers who have chosen “lukio”, those who are very willing and able to learn.

7 principles of the “secondary” stage of Finnish education

Equality:

• schools

There are no elites or weak ones. The largest school in the country has 960 students. The smallest has 11. All have exactly the same equipment, capabilities and proportional funding. Almost all schools are public, there are a dozen public-private ones. The difference, besides the fact that parents make a partial payment, is the increased requirements for students. As a rule, these are unique “pedagogical” laboratories that follow the chosen pedagogy: Montessori, Frenet, Steiner, Mortan and Waldorf schools. Private institutions also include institutions teaching in English, German, and French.

Following the principle of equality, Finland has a parallel education system "from kindergarten to university" in Swedish.

The interests of the Sami people have not been forgotten; in the north of the country it is possible to study in their native language.

Until recently, Finns were forbidden to choose a school; they had to send their children to the “closest” one. The ban was lifted, but most parents still send their children “closer”, because all schools are equally good.

• all items.

In-depth study of some subjects at the expense of others is not encouraged. Here it is not considered that mathematics is more important than, for example, art. On the contrary, the only exception to creating classes with gifted children may be aptitude for drawing, music and sports.

• parents.

The teacher will find out who the child’s parents are by profession (social status) last, if necessary. Questions from teachers and questionnaires regarding parents’ place of work are prohibited.

• students.

Finns do not sort students into classes, educational institutions based on abilities or career preferences.

There are also no “bad” and “good” students. Comparing students with each other is prohibited. Children, both brilliant and those with severe mental deficits, are considered “special” and learn along with everyone else. IN general team Children in wheelchairs are also educated. In a regular school, a class can be created for students with visual or hearing impairments. Finns try to integrate into society as much as possible those who require special treatment. The difference between weak and strong students is the smallest in the world.

“I was outraged by the Finnish education system when my daughter, who by local standards can be considered gifted, was studying at school. But when my son, who had a lot of problems, went to school, I immediately really liked everything,” the Russian mother shared her impressions.

• teachers.

There are no “favorite” or “hated grimaces”. Teachers also do not attach their souls to “their class”, do not single out “favorites” and vice versa. Any deviations from harmony lead to termination of the contract with such a teacher. Finnish teachers only have to do their job as a mentor. They are all equally important in work collective, and “physicists”, and “lyricists”, and labor teachers.

• equal rights of adults (teachers, parents) and children.

The Finns call this principle “respect for the student.” Children from the first grade are explained their rights, including the right to “complain” about adults social worker. This encourages Finnish parents to understand that their child is an independent person, whom it is forbidden to offend either with words or with a belt. Teachers cannot humiliate students due to the peculiarities of the teaching profession adopted in Finnish labor legislation. main feature is that all teachers sign a contract for only 1 academic year, with a possible (or not) extension, and also receive a high salary (from 2,500 euros for an assistant, to 5,000 for a subject teacher).

• Free:

In addition to the training itself, the following are free:

• lunches
• excursions, museums and all extracurricular activities
• a school taxi (minibus), which picks up and returns the child if the nearest school is more than two km away.
• textbooks, everything stationery, calculators, and even laptops and tablets.

Any collection of parent funds for any purpose is prohibited.

• Individuality:

For each child there is a individual plan training and development. Individualization concerns the content of the textbooks used, exercises, the number of class and homework assignments and the time allocated for them, as well as the material taught: for whom the “roots” are required - a more detailed presentation, and from whom the “tops” are required - briefly about the main thing.

During a lesson in the same class, children perform exercises of different difficulty levels. And they will be assessed according to personal level. If you performed “your” exercise of initial difficulty perfectly, you will receive an “excellent”. Tomorrow they will give you a higher level - if you don’t cope, it’s okay, you’ll get a simple task again.

In Finnish schools, along with regular education, there are two unique types educational process:

1. Supportive teaching of “weak” students is what private tutors do in Russia. Tutoring is not popular in Finland, school teachers Volunteer for extra help during or after class.
2. – Corrective training – associated with sustainable common problems in mastering the material, for example, due to a lack of understanding of the non-native Finnish language in which the instruction is conducted, or due to difficulties with memorization, with mathematical skills, as well as with antisocial behavior some children. Correctional training is carried out in small groups or individually.

• Practicality:

The Finns say: “either we prepare for life or for exams.” We choose the first." That's why there are no exams in Finnish schools. Control and intermediate tests are at the discretion of the teacher. There is only one required standardized test at the end of high school secondary school Moreover, teachers do not care about its results, do not report to anyone for it, and do not specially prepare children: what they have is good.

At school they teach only what you may need in life. Logarithms or the structure of a blast furnace are not useful, they are not studied. But the kids here know from childhood what a portfolio, a contract, bank card. They can calculate the percentage of tax on an inheritance received or income earned in the future, create a business card website on the Internet, calculate the price of a product after several discounts, or draw a “wind rose” in a given area.

• Confidence:

Firstly, to school employees and teachers: there are no checks, RONO, methodologists teaching how to teach, etc. The education program in the country is uniform, but represents only general recommendations, and each teacher uses the teaching method that he considers appropriate.

Secondly, trust in children: during lessons you can do your own thing. For example, if an educational film is on during a literature lesson, but the student is not interested, he can read a book. It is believed that the student himself chooses what is healthier for him.

Closely related to this principle are two others:

• Voluntariness:

He who wants to learn learns. Teachers will try to attract the student’s attention, but if he has a complete lack of interest or ability to study, the child will be oriented toward a “simple” profession that will be practically useful in the future and will not be bombarded with “fs.” Not everyone has to build airplanes, someone has to be good at driving buses.

The Finns also see this as a task high school– to determine whether a given teenager should continue studying at a lyceum, or whether a minimum level of knowledge is sufficient; for whom it is more beneficial to go to a vocational school. It should be noted that both paths are equally valued in the country.

A full-time school specialist, the “teacher of the future,” is engaged in identifying each child’s inclinations for a certain type of activity through tests and conversations.

In general, the learning process in a Finnish school is soft and delicate, but this does not mean that you can “give up” on school. Control of the school regime is mandatory. All missed lessons will be made up in the literal sense. For example, for a 6th grade student, a teacher can find a “window” in the schedule and put him in a lesson in 2nd grade: sit, be bored and think about life. If you disturb the younger ones, the hour will not be counted. If you don’t follow the teacher’s instructions, don’t work in class, no one will call your parents, threaten, insult, referring to mental inferiority or laziness. If parents are not equally concerned about their child’s studies, he will not easily move on to the next grade.

There is no shame in staying a second year in Finland, especially after 9th grade. You need to prepare seriously for adult life, which is why Finnish schools have an additional (optional) 10th grade.

• Independence:

Finns believe that school should teach the child the main thing - an independent future successful life.

Therefore, here they teach us to think and gain knowledge ourselves. The teacher does not teach new topics - everything is in the books. What is important is not memorized formulas, but the ability to use a reference book, text, the Internet, a calculator - to attract the necessary resources to the solution current problems.

Also, school teachers do not interfere in students’ conflicts, giving them the opportunity to prepare for life situations comprehensively and develop the ability to stand up for themselves.

School, school, I dream about you

Educational process in the “identical” Finnish schools, however, it is organized very differently.

When and how long do we study?

The school year in Finland begins in August, from 8 to 16, there is no single day. And it ends at the end of May. In the autumn half-year there are 3-4 days of autumn holidays and 2 weeks of Christmas holidays. The spring half-year includes a week of February ski holidays (Finnish families, as a rule, go skiing together) and Easter.

Training is five days, only during the day shift. Friday is a “short day”.

What are we learning?

1–2 grades: study the native (Finnish) language and reading, mathematics, natural history, religion (according to religion) or “Life Understanding” for those who do not care about religion; music, fine arts, labor and physical education. Several disciplines can be studied at once in one lesson.

Grades 3–6: English language learning begins. In 4th grade there is another foreign language to choose from: French, Swedish, German or Russian. Additional disciplines are being introduced - elective subjects, each school has its own: typing speed on a keyboard, computer literacy, woodworking skills, choral singing. Almost all schools offer playing musical instruments; during 9 years of study, children will try everything, from the pipe to the double bass.

In the 5th grade, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, and history are added. From 1st to 6th grade, instruction is taught by one teacher in almost all subjects. A physical education lesson is any sport game 1–3 times a week, depending on the school. A shower is required after class. Literature, in the usual sense for us, is not studied, it is rather reading. Subject teachers appear only in the 7th grade.

7-9 grades: Finnish language and literature (reading, regional culture), Swedish, English, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, basics of health, religion (life understanding), music, fine arts, physical education, elective subjects and labor, which is not separated separately “for boys” and “for girls”. Everyone learns together how to cook soups and cut with a jigsaw. In 9th grade – 2 weeks of introduction to “working life”. The guys find anything for themselves " workplace” and with great pleasure they go “to work”.

Who needs grades?

The country has adopted a 10-point system, but until the 7th grade a verbal assessment is used: mediocre, satisfactory, good, excellent. From 1st to 3rd grade there are no marks in any options.

All schools are connected to the state electronic system "Wilma", something like an electronic school diary, to which parents receive a personal access code. Teachers give grades, record absences, and inform about the child’s life at school; a psychologist, a social worker, a “teacher of the future,” and a paramedic also leave there the information parents need.

Grades in a Finnish school do not have an ominous connotation and are required only for the student himself; they are used to motivate the child to achieve his goal and self-test so that he can improve his knowledge if he wishes. They do not affect the teacher’s reputation in any way; they do not spoil school or district indicators.

Little things school life:

• The school grounds are not fenced and there is no security at the entrance. Most schools have an automatic locking system on front door, you can only enter the building according to the schedule.
• Children do not necessarily sit at desks and tables; they can also sit on the floor (carpet). In some schools, classrooms are equipped with sofas and armchairs. The premises of the junior school are covered with carpets and rugs.
• There is no uniform, as well as any requirements regarding clothing, you can even come in pajamas. Change of shoes is required, but most primary and secondary children prefer to run in socks.
• in warm weather, lessons are often held at fresh air near the school, right on the grass, or on specially equipped benches in the form of an amphitheater. During breaks, elementary school students must be taken outside, even if only for 10 minutes.
• homework is rarely assigned. Children need to rest. And parents should not study with their children; teachers recommend instead a family trip to a museum, forest or swimming pool.
• teaching “at the blackboard” is not used; children are not called upon to retell the material. The teacher briefly sets the general tone of the lesson, then walks among the students, helping them and monitoring the tasks being performed. The teacher's assistant also does this (there is such a position in Finnish schools).
• In notebooks you can write in pencil and erase as much as you like. Moreover, the teacher can check the assignment with a pencil!

One of my friends, who recently moved to Finland, took her child to 1st grade last year. She was worried and prepared for the event, as it should be, according to Russian traditions. Later she emotionally shared her unusual experience:

“Gathering near the school at 9 am, August 14. First shock. The impression is that the children “came as they slept.” My son in a jacket with a tie and a bouquet looked like a guest artist. No one gave flowers except us, there were no bows, balloons, songs or other attributes of the holiday. The school director came out to schoolchildren in grades 1–4 (the older ones were in another building), said a few welcoming words and indicated to the students by name who was in what grade. All. Hello, our very first of September!

All foreigners are assigned to one class: Swedes, Arabs, Indians, Englishmen, and a couple of children each from Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia. Finnish teacher and 3 translators. Some children are attending 1st grade for the second year, so they are also “on hand” to help.

The second shock, already with positive side: No preparation for school is required from parents. Literally everything, “from backpacks to flip-flops” (a briefcase filled with “stationery”, flip-flops for the pool, even a towel) was given to the child at school. Nothing is required from parents at all: “everything is fine, your child is wonderful,” they tell everyone. The only thing they care about is whether the child and parents spend enough time together.

The third, memorable moment was the dining room. On the school website there is a menu for the month; the child can help himself to whatever he wants from what is offered; there is a “basket” on his school website on the Internet. The menu takes into account any preferences of the child, any diet, if any, you just need to inform, there is also vegetarian cuisine. In the dining room, as in the classroom, children each sit at their own table.”

This is what Finnish secondary education looks like in a very brief summary. Maybe it will seem wrong to some. Finns do not pretend to be ideal and do not rest on their laurels; even in the best things you can find disadvantages. They are constantly exploring how much they are school system corresponds to the ongoing changes in society. For example, in this moment reforms are being prepared that involve dividing mathematics into algebra and geometry, and increasing teaching hours in them, as well as highlighting literature and social science as separate items.

However, the Finnish school definitely does the most important thing. Their children do not cry out at night from nervous tension, do not dream of growing up quickly, do not hate school, do not torment themselves and the whole family while preparing for the next exams. Calm, reasonable and happy, they read books, easily watch films without translation into Finnish, play computer games, ride rollerblades, bikes, bikes, compose music, theater plays, sing. They enjoy life. And in between all this, they also have time to study.

“Either we prepare for life, or for exams. We choose the first."
Natalya Kireeva lives in Helsinki. She recently spoke about the system and principles of local education and shared her opinion on why Finnish education is considered one of the best in the world.
According to international studies conducted every 3 years by the authoritative organization PISA, Finnish schoolchildren showed the highest level of knowledge in the world. They are also the best reading children on the planet, ranking 2nd in science and 5th in math. But this is not even what fascinates the teaching community so much. It is incredible that with such high results, students spend the least amount of time studying.
Compulsory secondary education in Finland includes two levels of school:
- lower (alakoulu), from 1st to 6th grade;
- upper (yläkoulu), from 7th to 9th grade.
In the additional 10th grade, students can improve their grades. Then the children go to a vocational college or continue their studies at the lyceum (lukio), grades 11–12 in our usual sense.
7 principles of the “secondary” level of Finnish education:
1. Equality
School
There are no elites or weak ones. The largest school in the country has 960 students. The smallest has 11. All have exactly the same equipment, capabilities and proportional funding. Almost all schools are public, there are a dozen public-private ones. The difference, besides the fact that parents make partial payments, is the increased requirements for students. As a rule, these are peculiar “pedagogical” laboratories that follow the chosen pedagogy: Montessori, Frenet, Steiner, Mortan and Waldorf schools. Private institutions also include institutions teaching in English, German, and French.
Following the principle of equality, Finland has a parallel education system "from kindergarten to university" in Swedish. The interests of the Sami people have not been forgotten; in the north of the country it is possible to study in their native language.
Until recently, Finns were forbidden to choose a school; they had to send their children to the “closest” one. The ban was lifted, but most parents still send their children “closer”, because all schools are equally good.
Items.
In-depth study of some subjects at the expense of others is not encouraged. Here it is not considered that mathematics is more important than, for example, art. On the contrary, the only exception to creating classes with gifted children may be aptitude for drawing, music and sports.
Parents.
The teacher will find out who the child’s parents are by profession (social status) last, if necessary. Questions from teachers and questionnaires regarding parents’ place of work are prohibited.
Students.
Finns do not sort students into classes based on ability or career preferences.
There are also no “bad” and “good” students. Comparing students with each other is prohibited. Children, both brilliant and those with severe mental deficits, are considered “special” and learn along with everyone else. Children in wheelchairs also study in the general team. In a regular school, a class can be created for students with visual or hearing impairments. Finns try to integrate into society as much as possible those who require special treatment. The difference between weak and strong students is the smallest in the world.
“I was outraged by the Finnish education system when my daughter, who by local standards can be considered gifted, was studying at school. But when my son, who had a lot of problems, went to school, I immediately really liked everything,” the Russian mother shared her impressions.
Teachers.
There are no “favorite” or “hated grimaces”. Teachers also do not attach their souls to “their class”, do not single out “favorites” and vice versa. Any deviations from harmony lead to termination of the contract with such a teacher. Finnish teachers only have to do their job as a mentor. All of them are equally important in the work collective: “physicists”, and “lyricists”, and labor teachers.
Equal rights of an adult (teacher, parent) and a child.
The Finns call this principle “respect for the student.” Children from the 1st grade are explained their rights, including the right to “complain” about adults to a social worker. This encourages Finnish parents to understand that their child is an independent person, whom it is forbidden to offend either with words or with a belt. Teachers cannot humiliate students due to the specifics of the teaching profession adopted in Finnish labor legislation. The main feature is that all teachers sign a contract for only 1 academic year, with a possible (or not) extension, and also receive a high salary (from 2,500 euros for an assistant, to 5,000 for a subject teacher).
2. Free
In addition to the training itself, the following are free:
lunches;
excursions, museums and all extracurricular activities;
transport that picks up and returns the child if the nearest school is more than two kilometers away;
textbooks, all office supplies, calculators and even laptops and tablets.
Any collection of parent funds for any purpose is prohibited.

3. Individuality
An individual learning and development plan is drawn up for each child. Individualization concerns the content of the textbooks used, exercises, the number of class and homework assignments and the time allocated for them, as well as the material taught: for those who need the “roots” - a more detailed presentation, and for those who are required to have the “tops” - briefly about the main thing.
During a lesson in the same class, children perform exercises of different difficulty levels. And they will be assessed according to their personal level. If you performed “your” exercise of initial difficulty perfectly, you will receive an “excellent”. Tomorrow they will give you a higher level - if you don’t cope, it’s okay, you’ll get a simple task again.
In Finnish schools, along with regular education, there are two unique types of educational process:
Supportive teaching of “weak” students is what private tutors do in Russia. In Finland, tutoring is not popular; school teachers volunteer to provide extra help during or after lessons.
Correctional education is associated with persistent general problems in mastering the material, for example, due to a lack of understanding of the non-native Finnish language in which training is conducted, or due to difficulties with memorization, with mathematical skills, as well as with antisocial behavior of some children. Correctional training is carried out in small groups or individually.
4. Practicality
The Finns say: “We either prepare for life or for exams. We choose the first." That's why there are no exams in Finnish schools. Control and intermediate tests are at the discretion of the teacher. There is only one mandatory standard test at the end of secondary school, and teachers do not care about its results, are not accountable to anyone for it, and children are not specially prepared: what is there is good.
At school they teach only what you may need in life. The design of a blast furnace, for example, is not useful; it is not studied. But the kids here know from childhood what a portfolio, contract, and bank card are. They can calculate the percentage of tax on an inheritance received or income earned in the future, create a business card website on the Internet, calculate the price of a product after several discounts, or draw a “wind rose” in a given area.
5. Trust
Firstly, to school employees and teachers: there are no checks, rono, methodologists teaching how to teach, etc. The education program in the country is uniform, but it represents only general recommendations, and each teacher uses the teaching method that he considers appropriate.
Secondly, trust in children: during lessons you can do your own thing. For example, if an educational film is on during a literature lesson, but the student is not interested, he can read a book. It is believed that the student himself chooses what is healthier for him.
6. Voluntariness
He who wants to learn learns. Teachers will try to attract the student’s attention, but if he has a complete lack of interest or ability to study, the child will be oriented toward a “simple” profession that will be practically useful in the future and will not be bombarded with “fs.” Not everyone has to build airplanes, someone has to be good at driving buses.
The Finns also see this as the task of high school - to determine whether a given teenager should continue studying at a lyceum or whether a minimum level of knowledge is enough, and who would benefit from going to a vocational school. It should be noted that both paths are equally valued in the country.
A full-time school specialist, the “teacher of the future,” is engaged in identifying each child’s inclinations for a certain type of activity through tests and conversations.
In general, the learning process in a Finnish school is soft and delicate, but this does not mean that you can “give up” on school. Control of the school regime is mandatory. All missed lessons will be made up in the literal sense. For example, for a 6th grade student, a teacher can find a “window” in the schedule and put him in a lesson in 2nd grade: sit, be bored and think about life. If you disturb the younger ones, the hour will not be counted. If you don’t follow the teacher’s instructions, don’t work in class, no one will call your parents, threaten, insult, referring to mental inferiority or laziness. If parents are also not concerned about their child’s studies, he will not easily move on to the next grade.
There is no shame in staying a second year in Finland, especially after 9th grade. You need to prepare seriously for adult life, which is why Finnish schools have an additional (optional) 10th grade.
7. Independence
Finns believe that school should teach the child the main thing - an independent future successful life. Therefore, here they teach us to think and gain knowledge ourselves. The teacher does not teach new topics - everything is in the books. What is important is not memorized formulas, but the ability to use a reference book, text, the Internet, a calculator - to attract the necessary resources to solve current problems.
Also, school teachers do not interfere in students’ conflicts, giving them the opportunity to prepare for life situations comprehensively and develop the ability to stand up for themselves.
The educational process in “identical” Finnish schools, however, is organized very differently.
When and how long do we study?
The school year in Finland begins in August, from the 8th to the 16th, there is no single day. And it ends at the end of May. In the autumn half-year there are 3-4 days of autumn holidays and 2 weeks of Christmas holidays. The spring half-year includes a week of February - "skiing" holidays (Finnish families, as a rule, go skiing together) - and Easter.
Training is five days, only on the day shift. Friday is a “short day”.
What are we learning?
1st–2nd grade:
The native (Finnish) language and reading, mathematics, natural history, religion (according to religion) or life understanding (for those who do not care about religion), music, fine arts, labor and physical education are studied. Several disciplines can be studied at once in one lesson.
Grades 3–6:
Learning English begins. In 4th grade there is another foreign language to choose from: French, Swedish, German or Russian. Additional disciplines are being introduced - elective subjects, each school has its own: typing speed on a keyboard, computer literacy, ability to work with wood, choral singing. Almost all schools offer playing musical instruments; during 9 years of study, children will try everything, from the pipe to the double bass.
In grade 5, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, and history are added. From grades 1 to 6, instruction is taught by one teacher in almost all subjects. A physical education lesson is any sports game 1-3 times a week, depending on the school. A shower is required after class. Literature, in the usual sense for us, is not studied, it is rather reading. Subject teachers appear only in 7th grade.
7th–9th grade:
Finnish language and literature (reading, local culture), Swedish, English, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, basic health, religion (life understanding), music, fine arts, physical education, elective subjects and work that is not divided separately " for boys" and "for girls". Everyone learns together how to cook soups and cut with a jigsaw. In 9th grade - 2 weeks of familiarization with “working life”. The guys find any “workplace” for themselves and go “to work” with great pleasure.
Who needs grades?
The country has adopted a 10-point system, but up to grade 7 a verbal assessment is used: mediocre, satisfactory, good, excellent. From 1st to 3rd grade there are no marks in any options.
All schools are connected to the state electronic system "Wilma", something like an electronic school diary, to which parents receive a personal access code. Teachers give grades, record absences, and inform about the child’s life at school; a psychologist, a social worker, a “teacher of the future,” and a paramedic also leave there the information parents need.
Grades in a Finnish school do not have an ominous connotation and are required only for the student himself; they are used to motivate the child to achieve his goal and self-test so that he can improve his knowledge if he wishes. They do not affect the teacher’s reputation in any way; they do not spoil school or district indicators.
Trifles of school life
The school grounds are not fenced, and there is no security at the entrance. Most schools have an automatic lock system on the front door; entry into the building is only possible according to the schedule.
Children do not necessarily sit at desks and tables; they can also sit on the floor (carpet). In some schools, classrooms are equipped with sofas and armchairs. The premises of the junior school are covered with carpets and rugs.
There is no uniform, as well as any requirements regarding clothing; you can even come in pajamas. Change of shoes is required, but most primary and secondary children prefer to run in socks.
In warm weather, lessons are often held outdoors near the school, right on the grass, or on specially equipped benches in the form of an amphitheater. During breaks, elementary school students must be taken outside, even if only for 10 minutes.
Homework is rarely assigned. Children need to rest. And parents should not study with their children; teachers recommend instead a family trip to a museum, forest or swimming pool.
Teaching “at the blackboard” is not used; children are not called upon to retell the material. The teacher briefly sets the general tone of the lesson, then walks among the students, helping them and monitoring the completion of tasks. The teacher's assistant also does this (there is such a position in Finnish schools).
You can write in notebooks with a pencil and erase as much as you like. Moreover, the teacher can check the assignment with a pencil!
This is what Finnish secondary education looks like in a very brief summary. Maybe it will seem wrong to some. Finns do not pretend to be ideal and do not rest on their laurels; even in the best things you can find disadvantages. They are constantly examining how their school system is keeping up with changes in society. For example, reforms are currently being prepared that propose dividing mathematics into algebra and geometry and increasing teaching hours in them, as well as distinguishing literature and social science as separate subjects.
However, the Finnish school definitely does the most important thing. Their children do not cry out at night from nervous tension, do not dream of growing up quickly, do not hate school, do not torment themselves and the whole family while preparing for the next exams. Calm, reasonable and happy, they read books, easily watch films without translation into Finnish, play computer games, ride rollerblades, bikes, bikes, compose music, theater plays, and sing. They enjoy life. And in between all this, they also have time to study.

Finnish education has long and consistently occupied the best positions in various ratings, which the scale of the article does not allow to list. However, the most important “prize” of the country’s educational system is worth mentioning: according to international studies conducted every 3 years by the authoritative organization PISA, Finnish schoolchildren showed the highest level of knowledge in the world. They also became the most reading children on the planet, taking 2nd place in natural sciences and 5th place in mathematics.

But this is not even what fascinates the global teaching community so much. It is incredible that with such high results, Finnish schoolchildren spend the least amount of time studying, and the Finnish state spends very moderate funds on its high-quality and free education compared to many other countries.

In general, there is some kind of mystery that teachers from different countries are trying to unravel. The Finns do not hide anything and are happy to share their experience by organizing seminars both in their country and around the world.

Compulsory secondary education in Finland includes two levels of school

• lower (alakoulu), from 1st to 6th grade
• upper (yläkoulu), from 7th to 9th grade.

In the additional 10th grade, students can improve their grades. Then the children go to a vocational college, or continue their studies at the lyceum (lukio), grades 11–12, in our usual understanding.

The Finnish school professes a gradual workload, brought to the maximum only for volunteers who have chosen “lukio”, those who are very willing and able to learn.

7 principles of the “secondary” stage of Finnish education

Equality:

• schools

There are no elites or weak ones. The largest school in the country has 960 students. The smallest has 11. All have exactly the same equipment, capabilities and proportional funding. Almost all schools are public, there are a dozen public-private ones. The difference, besides the fact that parents make a partial payment, is the increased requirements for students. As a rule, these are unique “pedagogical” laboratories that follow the chosen pedagogy: Montessori, Frenet, Steiner, Mortan and Waldorf schools. Private institutions also include institutions teaching in English, German, and French.

Following the principle of equality, Finland has a parallel education system "from kindergarten to university" in Swedish.

The interests of the Sami people have not been forgotten; in the north of the country it is possible to study in their native language.

Until recently, Finns were forbidden to choose a school; they had to send their children to the “closest” one. The ban was lifted, but most parents still send their children “closer”, because all schools are equally good.

• all items.

In-depth study of some subjects at the expense of others is not encouraged. Here it is not considered that mathematics is more important than, for example, art. On the contrary, the only exception to creating classes with gifted children may be aptitude for drawing, music and sports.

• parents.

The teacher will find out who the child’s parents are by profession (social status) last, if necessary. Questions from teachers and questionnaires regarding parents’ place of work are prohibited.

• students.

Finns do not sort students into classes, educational institutions based on abilities or career preferences.

There are also no “bad” and “good” students. Comparing students with each other is prohibited. Children, both brilliant and those with severe mental deficits, are considered “special” and learn along with everyone else. Children in wheelchairs also study in the general team. In a regular school, a class can be created for students with visual or hearing impairments. Finns try to integrate into society as much as possible those who require special treatment. The difference between weak and strong students is the smallest in the world.

“I was outraged by the Finnish education system when my daughter, who by local standards can be considered gifted, was studying at school. But when my son, who had a lot of problems, went to school, I immediately really liked everything,” the Russian mother shared her impressions.

• teachers.

There are no “favorite” or “hated grimaces”. Teachers also do not attach their souls to “their class”, do not single out “favorites” and vice versa. Any deviations from harmony lead to termination of the contract with such a teacher. Finnish teachers only have to do their job as a mentor. All of them are equally important in the work collective, both “physicists” and “lyricists” and labor teachers.

• equal rights of adults (teachers, parents) and children.

The Finns call this principle “respect for the student.” Children from the first grade are explained their rights, including the right to “complain” about adults to a social worker. This encourages Finnish parents to understand that their child is an independent person, whom it is forbidden to offend either with words or with a belt. Teachers cannot humiliate students due to the specifics of the teaching profession adopted in Finnish labor legislation. The main feature is that all teachers sign a contract for only 1 academic year, with a possible (or not) extension, and also receive a high salary (from 2,500 euros for an assistant, to 5,000 for a subject teacher).

• Free:

In addition to the training itself, the following are free:

• lunches
• excursions, museums and all extracurricular activities
• a school taxi (minibus), which picks up and returns the child if the nearest school is more than two km away.
• textbooks, all office supplies, calculators, and even laptops and tablets.

Any collection of parent funds for any purpose is prohibited.

• Individuality:

An individual learning and development plan is drawn up for each child. Individualization concerns the content of the textbooks used, exercises, the number of class and homework assignments and the time allocated for them, as well as the material taught: for whom the “roots” are required - a more detailed presentation, and from whom the “tops” are required - briefly about the main thing.

During a lesson in the same class, children perform exercises of different difficulty levels. And they will be assessed according to their personal level. If you performed “your” exercise of initial difficulty perfectly, you will receive an “excellent”. Tomorrow they will give you a higher level - if you don’t cope, it’s okay, you’ll get a simple task again.

In Finnish schools, along with regular education, there are two unique types of educational process:

1. Supportive teaching of “weak” students is what private tutors do in Russia. In Finland, tutoring is not popular; school teachers volunteer to provide extra help during or after lessons.
2. – Correctional education – is associated with persistent general problems in mastering the material, for example, due to a lack of understanding of the non-native Finnish language in which the instruction is conducted, or due to difficulties with memorization, with mathematical skills, as well as with antisocial behavior of some children. Correctional training is carried out in small groups or individually.

• Practicality:

The Finns say: “either we prepare for life or for exams.” We choose the first." That's why there are no exams in Finnish schools. Control and intermediate tests are at the discretion of the teacher. There is only one mandatory standard test at the end of secondary school, and teachers do not care about its results, are not accountable to anyone for it, and children are not specially prepared: what is there is good.

At school they teach only what you may need in life. Logarithms or the structure of a blast furnace are not useful, they are not studied. But the kids here know from childhood what a portfolio, contract, and bank card are. They can calculate the percentage of tax on an inheritance received or income earned in the future, create a business card website on the Internet, calculate the price of a product after several discounts, or draw a “wind rose” in a given area.

• Confidence:

Firstly, to school employees and teachers: there are no checks, RONO, methodologists teaching how to teach, etc. The education program in the country is uniform, but represents only general recommendations, and each teacher uses the teaching method that he considers appropriate.

Secondly, trust in children: during lessons you can do your own thing. For example, if an educational film is on during a literature lesson, but the student is not interested, he can read a book. It is believed that the student himself chooses what is healthier for him.

Closely related to this principle are two others:

• Voluntariness:

He who wants to learn learns. Teachers will try to attract the student’s attention, but if he has a complete lack of interest or ability to study, the child will be oriented toward a “simple” profession that will be practically useful in the future and will not be bombarded with “fs.” Not everyone has to build airplanes, someone has to be good at driving buses.

The Finns also see this as the task of high school - to determine whether a given teenager should continue studying at a lyceum, or whether a minimum level of knowledge is sufficient, and who would benefit from going to a vocational school. It should be noted that both paths are equally valued in the country.

A full-time school specialist, the “teacher of the future,” is engaged in identifying each child’s inclinations for a certain type of activity through tests and conversations.

In general, the learning process in a Finnish school is soft and delicate, but this does not mean that you can “give up” on school. Control of the school regime is mandatory. All missed lessons will be made up in the literal sense. For example, for a 6th grade student, a teacher can find a “window” in the schedule and put him in a lesson in 2nd grade: sit, be bored and think about life. If you disturb the younger ones, the hour will not be counted. If you don’t follow the teacher’s instructions, don’t work in class, no one will call your parents, threaten, insult, referring to mental inferiority or laziness. If parents are not equally concerned about their child’s studies, he will not easily move on to the next grade.

There is no shame in staying a second year in Finland, especially after 9th grade. You need to prepare seriously for adult life, which is why Finnish schools have an additional (optional) 10th grade.

• Independence:

Finns believe that school should teach the child the main thing - an independent future successful life.

Therefore, here they teach us to think and gain knowledge ourselves. The teacher does not teach new topics - everything is in the books. What is important is not memorized formulas, but the ability to use a reference book, text, the Internet, a calculator - to attract the necessary resources to solve current problems.

Also, school teachers do not interfere in students’ conflicts, giving them the opportunity to prepare for life situations comprehensively and develop the ability to stand up for themselves.

School, school, I dream about you

The educational process in “identical” Finnish schools, however, is organized very differently.

When and how long do we study?

The school year in Finland begins in August, from 8 to 16, there is no single day. And it ends at the end of May. In the autumn half-year there are 3-4 days of autumn holidays and 2 weeks of Christmas holidays. The spring half-year includes a week of February ski holidays (Finnish families, as a rule, go skiing together) and Easter.

Training is five days, only during the day shift. Friday is a “short day”.

What are we learning?

1–2 grades: study the native (Finnish) language and reading, mathematics, natural history, religion (according to religion) or “Life Understanding” for those who do not care about religion; music, fine arts, labor and physical education. Several disciplines can be studied at once in one lesson.

Grades 3–6: English language learning begins. In 4th grade there is another foreign language to choose from: French, Swedish, German or Russian. Additional disciplines are being introduced - elective subjects, each school has its own: typing speed on a keyboard, computer literacy, woodworking skills, choral singing. Almost all schools offer playing musical instruments; during 9 years of study, children will try everything, from the pipe to the double bass.

In the 5th grade, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, and history are added. From 1st to 6th grade, instruction is taught by one teacher in almost all subjects. A physical education lesson is any sports game 1-3 times a week, depending on the school. A shower is required after class. Literature, in the usual sense for us, is not studied, it is rather reading. Subject teachers appear only in the 7th grade.

7-9 grades: Finnish language and literature (reading, regional culture), Swedish, English, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, basics of health, religion (life understanding), music, fine arts, physical education, elective subjects and labor, which is not separated separately “for boys” and “for girls”. Everyone learns together how to cook soups and cut with a jigsaw. In 9th grade – 2 weeks of introduction to “working life”. The guys find any “workplace” for themselves and go “to work” with great pleasure.

Who needs grades?

The country has adopted a 10-point system, but until the 7th grade a verbal assessment is used: mediocre, satisfactory, good, excellent. From 1st to 3rd grade there are no marks in any options.

All schools are connected to the state electronic system "Wilma", something like an electronic school diary, to which parents receive a personal access code. Teachers give grades, record absences, and inform about the child’s life at school; a psychologist, a social worker, a “teacher of the future,” and a paramedic also leave there the information parents need.

Grades in a Finnish school do not have an ominous connotation and are required only for the student himself; they are used to motivate the child to achieve his goal and self-test so that he can improve his knowledge if he wishes. They do not affect the teacher’s reputation in any way; they do not spoil school or district indicators.

Trifles of school life:

• The school grounds are not fenced and there is no security at the entrance. Most schools have an automatic lock system on the front door; entry into the building is only possible according to the schedule.
• Children do not necessarily sit at desks and tables; they can also sit on the floor (carpet). In some schools, classrooms are equipped with sofas and armchairs. The premises of the junior school are covered with carpets and rugs.
• There is no uniform, as well as any requirements regarding clothing, you can even come in pajamas. Change of shoes is required, but most primary and secondary children prefer to run in socks.
• in warm weather, lessons are often held outdoors near the school, right on the grass, or on specially equipped benches in the form of an amphitheater. During breaks, elementary school students must be taken outside, even if only for 10 minutes.
• homework is rarely assigned. Children need to rest. And parents should not study with their children; teachers recommend instead a family trip to a museum, forest or swimming pool.
• teaching “at the blackboard” is not used; children are not called upon to retell the material. The teacher briefly sets the general tone of the lesson, then walks among the students, helping them and monitoring the tasks being performed. The teacher's assistant also does this (there is such a position in Finnish schools).
• In notebooks you can write in pencil and erase as much as you like. Moreover, the teacher can check the assignment with a pencil!

One of my friends, who recently moved to Finland, took her child to 1st grade last year. She was worried and prepared for the event, as it should be, according to Russian traditions. Later she emotionally shared her unusual experience:

“Gathering near the school at 9 am, August 14. First shock. The impression is that the children “came as they slept.” My son in a jacket with a tie and a bouquet looked like a guest artist. No one gave flowers except us, there were no bows, balloons, songs or other attributes of the holiday. The school director came out to schoolchildren in grades 1–4 (the older ones were in another building), said a few welcoming words and indicated to the students by name who was in what grade. All. Hello, our very first of September!

All foreigners are assigned to one class: Swedes, Arabs, Indians, Englishmen, and a couple of children each from Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia. Finnish teacher and 3 translators. Some children are attending 1st grade for the second year, so they are also “on hand” to help.

The second shock is on the positive side: no preparation for school is required from parents. Literally everything, “from backpacks to flip-flops” (a briefcase filled with “stationery”, flip-flops for the pool, even a towel) was given to the child at school. Nothing is required from parents at all: “everything is fine, your child is wonderful,” they tell everyone. The only thing they care about is whether the child and parents spend enough time together.

The third, memorable moment was the dining room. On the school website there is a menu for the month; the child can help himself to whatever he wants from what is offered; there is a “basket” on his school website on the Internet. The menu takes into account any preferences of the child, any diet, if any, you just need to inform, there is also vegetarian cuisine. In the dining room, as in the classroom, children each sit at their own table.”

This is what Finnish secondary education looks like in a very brief summary. Maybe it will seem wrong to some. Finns do not pretend to be ideal and do not rest on their laurels; even in the best things you can find disadvantages. They are constantly examining how their school system is keeping up with changes in society. For example, reforms are currently being prepared that propose dividing mathematics into algebra and geometry, and increasing the hours of teaching in them, as well as highlighting literature and social science as separate subjects.

However, the Finnish school definitely does the most important thing. Their children do not cry out at night from nervous tension, do not dream of growing up quickly, do not hate school, do not torment themselves and the whole family while preparing for the next exams. Calm, reasonable and happy, they read books, easily watch films without translation into Finnish, play computer games, ride rollerblades, bikes, bikes, compose music, theater plays, and sing. They enjoy life. And in between all this, they also have time to study.

26.03.2015

I have heard and read before that Finnish education is the best in the world according to a ranking compiled by an educational organization Pearson Education . But I didn't know why it was the best until now.

But today I read an article about7 principles of the “secondary” level of Finnish education , and a lot became clear. It is the best education because it perfectly satisfies the conditions for educating a new person in the global world. A human consumer, a “globik”, so to speak.

But the “glob” does not need great discoveries, he does not need overexertion, he needs comfort and tranquility. The system has already taken care of his task in society, and this task is consumption. They will teach you one profession, but you don’t need more knowledge. After all, if you study a lot, then there will be no time left for entertainment. What kind of consumption is this without entertainment?!

Well, I won’t get ahead of myself, let’s read about these principles themselves. It is worth noting that the author of the article, Natalya Kireeva (a Russian woman living in Helsinki), really considers Finnish education to be the best. And I will allow myself short comments that allow me to come to the conclusions I stated above.

1. Equality

School

There are no elites or weak ones. The largest school in the country has 960 students. The smallest has 11. All have exactly the same equipment, capabilities and proportional funding. Almost all schools are public, there are a dozen private ones. The difference, besides the fact that parents make partial payments, is the increased requirements for students. As a rule, these are original “pedagogical” laboratories that follow the chosen pedagogy: Montessori, Frenet, Mortan and Waldorf school. Private institutions also include institutions teaching in English, German, and French.

Great idea about social status. Apparently, the Finns took this from the Soviet education system.

All items

In-depth study of some subjects at the expense of others is not encouraged. Here it is not considered that mathematics is more important than, for example, art. On the contrary, the only exception when creating classes with gifted children may be aptitude for drawing, music and sports.

That is, no specialization. It doesn't matter whether your child is a math genius or not. Sit down, don't move.

Parents' parents

The teacher will find out who the child’s parents are by profession (social status) last, if necessary. Questions from teachers and questionnaires regarding parents’ place of work are prohibited.

It’s hard to believe that in the “nest” of juvenile justice, parents are not tested for social status. Apparently this is reserved for “less advanced” states. After all, in Russia this survey is becoming more and more widespread.

Students

Finns do not sort students into classes based on ability or career preferences.

There are also no “bad” and “good” students. Comparing students with each other is prohibited. Children, both brilliant and those with severe mental deficits, are considered “special” and learn along with everyone else. Children in wheelchairs also study in the general team. In a regular school, a class can be created for students with visual or hearing impairments. Finns try to integrate into society as much as possible those who require special treatment. The difference between weak and strong students is the smallest in the world.

“I was outraged by the Finnish education system when my daughter, who, by local standards, can be classified as gifted, was studying at school. But when my son, who had a lot of problems, went to school, I immediately really liked everything,” the Russian mother shared her impressions.

This is where the Russian mother calls a spade a spade. The system works on averaging, the system does not need geniuses. Everyone must meet a minimum standard.

Teachers

There are no “favorite” or “hated grimaces”. Teachers also do not attach their souls to “their class”, do not single out “favorites” and vice versa. Any deviations from harmony lead to termination of the contract with such a teacher. Finnish teachers only have to do their job as a mentor. All of them are equally important in the work collective: “physicists”, and “lyricists”, and labor teachers.

I don’t understand at all how you can become a mentor without being “attached with your soul” to your class?! I think the author is wishful thinking here. Essentially turning the teacher providing educational service, into a teacher-mentor. Just to give a service, you don’t need to “get attached”.

Equal rights of an adult (teacher, parent) and a child

The Finns call this principle “respect for the student.” Children from the 1st grade are explained their rights, including the right to “complain” about adults to a social worker. This encourages Finnish parents to understand that their child is an independent person, whom it is forbidden to offend either with words or with a belt.

I hope no one has any questions on this issue? By intimidating both parents and teachers, the system turns children into uncontrollable creatures with all the ensuing consequences. A child is not yet a person, but developing personality. And without adult control and guidance, it is not known what he will turn into. Although no, it’s clear who – the consumer! State propaganda will take care of this.

2. Free (Wonderful!)

3. Individuality

An individual learning and development plan is drawn up for each child. Individualization concerns the content of the textbooks used, exercises, the number of class and homework assignments and the time allocated for them, as well as the material taught: for those who need the “roots” - a more detailed presentation, and for those who are required to have the “tops” - briefly about the main thing.

During a lesson in the same class, children perform exercises of different difficulty levels. And they will be assessed according to their personal level. If you performed “your” exercise of initial difficulty perfectly, you will receive an “excellent”. Tomorrow they will give you a higher level - if you don’t cope, it’s okay, you’ll get a simple task again.

I’m not ready to evaluate this initiative, but for me it’s some kind of chaos.

4. Practicality

The Finns say: “We either prepare for life or for exams. We choose the first." That's why there are no exams in Finnish schools. Control and intermediate tests are at the discretion of the teacher. There is only one mandatory standard test at the end of secondary school, and teachers do not care about its results, are not accountable to anyone for it, and children are not specially prepared: what is there is good.

At school they teach only what you may need in life. The design of a blast furnace, for example, is not useful; it is not studied. But the kids here know from childhood what a portfolio, contract, and bank card are. They can calculate the percentage of tax on an inheritance received or income earned in the future, create a business card website on the Internet, calculate the price of a product after several discounts, or draw a “wind rose” in a given area.

You may not become an engineer, but you must become a consumer.

5. Trust

Firstly, to school employees and teachers: there are no checks, rono, methodologists teaching how to teach, etc. The education program in the country is uniform, but it represents only general recommendations, and each teacher uses the teaching method that he considers appropriate.

Secondly, trust in children: during lessons you can do your own thing. For example, if an educational film is on during a literature lesson, but the student is not interested, he can read a book. It is believed that the student himself chooses what is healthier for him.

Trust or indifference?

6. Voluntariness

He who wants to learn learns. Teachers will try to attract the student’s attention, but if he has a complete lack of interest or ability to study, the child will be oriented toward a “simple” profession that will be practically useful in the future and will not be bombarded with “fs.” Not everyone has to build airplanes, someone has to be good at driving buses.

The Finns also see this as the task of high school - to determine whether a given teenager should continue studying at a lyceum or whether a minimum level of knowledge is enough, and who would benefit from going to a vocational school. It should be noted that both paths are equally valued in the country.

A full-time school specialist, the “teacher of the future,” is engaged in identifying each child’s inclinations for a certain type of activity through tests and conversations.

In general, the learning process in a Finnish school is soft and delicate, but this does not mean that you can “give up” on school. Control of the school regime is mandatory. All missed lessons will be made up in the literal sense. For example, for a 6th grade student, a teacher can find a “window” in the schedule and put him in a lesson in 2nd grade: sit, be bored and think about life. If you disturb the younger ones, the hour will not be counted. If you don’t follow the teacher’s instructions, don’t work in class, no one will call your parents, threaten, insult, referring to mental inferiority or laziness. If parents are also not concerned about their child’s studies, he will not easily move on to the next grade.

There is no shame in staying a second year in Finland, especially after 9th grade. You need to prepare seriously for adult life, which is why Finnish schools have an additional (optional) 10th grade.

It gives the impression of an ideally fair society. Whatever you want, you do, if you don’t want, you don’t, no one will say anything to you about it. How then is super-effort trained? How to develop character, will, diligence? But this is nothing the consumer system needs. And this once again proves that it is precisely this kind of “free” person that the Finnish educational system cultivates.

7. Independence

Finns believe that school should teach the child the main thing - an independent future successful life. Therefore, here they teach us to think and gain knowledge ourselves. The teacher does not teach new topics - everything is in the books. What is important is not memorized formulas, but the ability to use a reference book, text, the Internet, a calculator - to attract the necessary resources to solve current problems.

That is, it is once again proven that knowledge is essentially not needed when there is Google. All that remains is to make the knowledge available on the Internet satisfy the ideology of global peace and that’s the end of it.

A friend of mine was recently in Finland and told me that there are a lot of young people drinking and having fun on the streets and in bars. Now I understand why. For a true, “free” consumer, entertainment is a necessary part of life. (Lessons? - I didn’t hear.)

But the worst thing, as far as I understand, is that parents cannot force their child to study. If the school said that you are a driver, then everything is a death sentence. And if the parent does not agree, then there is no use for such a parent. The child is withdrawn from the state and becomes a driver. And the parent just has to come to terms with it if he doesn’t want to go to jail.

So if you hear somewhere again that the Finnish education system is the best in the world, think about who is giving such an assessment and why.

Vladimir Voloshko, RVS.