How are teachers educated in Finland?

Teachers in pre-primary education have university education. They are either ECEC teachers with a minimum of a bachelor's degree or class teachers with a master's degree. In general basic and upper secondary education all teachers are required to have a master's degree.

How are teachers trained in Finland?

Finnish teachers must hold a master's degree in education, or in their specific field. Teacher education does not only consist of academic studies but also involves pedagogical studies and guided teaching practice. The content of teacher education develops constantly.

What is Finland's method of teaching?

Finnish schools often schedule lessons into hour-long blocks: 45 minutes of instruction, 15 minutes of break. Students rarely have back-to-back lessons without breaks—and at the elementary level, it's expected that children will spend their breaks playing outside, rain or shine.

What is different about teachers in Finland?

Teachers consult with colleagues

In Finland the teachers are not constantly evaluated based on how well the class is doing, rather they are trusted to do the job well without too many restrictions. That allows teachers to merge classes if necessary to let the students experience different methods of teaching.

How does Finland evaluate their teachers?

In general, teachers' work is evaluated by their principals, and often involves a one-on-one private conversation that may focus upon issues like individual growth, participation in professional development, contributions to the school, and personal professional goals.

Ten (10) REASONS why FINLAND'S EDUCATION SYSTEM is considered the BEST in the WORLD

Why are Finnish teachers so good?

Teachers in Finland spend fewer hours at school each day and spend less time in classrooms than American teachers. Teachers use the extra time to build curriculums and assess their students. Children spend far more time playing outside, even in the depths of winter.

Why are teachers respected in Finland?

Prospective teachers undergo rigorous preparation and, once certified, are given exceptional decision-making authority over things like curriculum and assessment. Finnish teachers command the same level of trust and autonomy that professionals in other fields do, such as medicine or law.

How long is the school day in Finland?

Finland School Hours

Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom.

What is true about teachers in Finland?

Students in Finland often have the same teacher for up to six years of their education. During this time, the teacher can take on the role of a mentor or even a family member. During those years, mutual trust and bonding are built so that both parties know and respect each other.

How many hours do teachers work in Finland?

The total work hours per week for lower secondary teachers in Finland is 31.6 hours which is 13.2 hours per week less than teachers in the U.S. That is a significant difference that could have a large impact on the professional and personal life of a teacher.

What curriculum does Finland use?

Finland has a national core curriculum which includes learning objectives for the core subjects; suggested time allotments for each subject; and requirements for assessment, with guidance on how to grade assessments at two benchmarks.

What is the difference between Finland's teachers and United States teachers?

Teachers in Finland have different perspectives from those in the U.S. in their learning style. Finland's curriculum focuses more on skills. Their theory of teaching is to "teach less; learn more" (Burg, n.d., p.

What is special or unique about Finland's educational system?

The Finnish education system requires no standardized tests given at the national level and no school rankings. In addition, there are no inspection procedures for learning institutions.

How hard is it to be a teacher in Finland?

In Finland, teachers are required to have a master's degree, including pedagogical studies and teaching practice. Teacher education is research-based. Added to wide expertise in learning and teaching, teacher qualification includes social, ethical and moral competence.

Can a US teacher teach in Finland?

Most positions teaching English in Finland will require you to have a degree; some even ask for a teaching license from your home country. Provided you have a TEFL certification, and you may be able to find some roles at language schools.

How long is a school lesson in Finland?

Each class meets three times a week for 75 minutes, and each marking period is about a month and a half long. Usually, school starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m., with an hour for lunch and 15 minutes between each class, so students have plenty of time to relax between classes!

Are teachers paid well in Finland?

The estimated total pay for a Teacher is €3,700 per month in the Helsinki, Finland area, with an average salary of €2,700 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

How is Finland's education system different from the United States?

Finland's education system is often praised for its high-quality and equitable outcomes. One factor that sets it apart from the US is its approach to homework. In Finland, there is less emphasis on homework and more focus on providing students with a well-rounded education during school hours.

Why is Finland #1 in education?

The Finnish education system is based on common values: democracy, equality, inclusivity and respect for many talents and abilities. We have practically no private schools (except for some Steiner schools, a few Christian schools and some very old private schools that don't really differ much from public schools).

How long is summer break in Finland?

6. There are a total of 190 school days in a Finnish school year. School year starts in the middle of August and ends in May. Finnish kids have about 10 weeks of summer holiday as well as holidays in autumn, Christmas break and winter usually in February.

How many weeks is summer break in Finland?

The summer break is ten weeks. In addition schools have autumn, Christmas and winter breaks. Teaching time in basic education is among the lowest in the world. Finnish pupils stay in school 6 300 hours during their 9-year basic education.

Do Finland go to school on Saturday?

During the school year, there are autumn, winter and Easter holidays in addition to summer holidays. Instruction is given weekly from Monday to Friday. There is no school on Saturdays except on the final days of the autumn and spring term. Minor changes are possible on an annual basis.

What country treats teachers the best?

China, the country where teachers have the highest status, compared them to doctors. In general, teachers in Eastern countries had higher status than in Western countries, including the United States.

Does Finland have a no homework policy?

Finnish teachers have the liberty to determine the need for homework individually. Required subjects are most often covered during the school day which reduces the need for homework. Homework is seen more as a recap of what has been learned in the class but it is not supposed to take a hours of time at home.

Does Finland have a teacher shortage?

Teacher shortages affect several areas of education.

There is a lack of ECEC teachers, especially in the Helsinki area. Each year, Finland must educate at least 1,400 new teachers in early childhood education and care, considering the needs of both national languages ³.