Does the Finland education system have answers for the rest of the world. Or, is their world class performance just some aberration?

Firstly, we must look at the results and see if their many differences attribute to these results.

Differences in Finland education system

Finland is out of step with the rest of the world, on educational issues on a number of key practices:

1. There are no private schools allowed in Finland, every student, from the riches to the poorest attends their local State school. Whereas the debate on private and state education in Australia is never ending, often vitriolic, and divisive. There is no such debate in Finland.

2. Although teachers’ salaries are roughly the same as the Australian equivalent, teaching positions are much prized. And teachers are considered the most highly respected professionals in the country. Teachers in Australia are, unfortunately, not widely given the recognition or the respect that they deserve.

3. Homework is not valued in Finland. And in fact, it is seen as a blight on the school. The prevailing understanding within the country is as such: The role of teaching belongs to the school. And it is not delegated to the parents to assist with the process.

Next, Could a similar system be introduced in Australia?

Could a similar system be introduced in Australia? Most unlikely, it seems that Australia has adopted a track diametrically opposed to the Finland Education system. Instead of having uniform State education for 100% of the population, Australia has a complex mix of private schools. Many with religious affiliation, secular private schools, and State schools at the end of the spectrum.

Even this is not enough with State schools further divided into performing arts schools, selective schools and comprehensive schools. Thus, this fragmentation and diversity comes at a huge dollar cost to the tax payer as well as facilitating an educational rift between students of varying socio-economic status.

There is no political will in this country to diminish the role of the elite private schools. Many of our politicians, including the Prime Minister, owe allegiance to these schools. The Finnish experiment shows what’s possible with a uniform and united schooling system. Meanwhile, funding debates and arguments see the Australian educational standards in continual decline and any progress, stagnated.