Finland's education success

When it comes to international results, Finland's schools score consistently at the top.
However, pupils study the fewest number of class hours in the developed world.
The BBC travels to Helsinki to find out the secret of the Finns' education success.

[@BrianNguyenIHASDACANSER]

every freaking country in this world needs this system

[@andyh.5244]

No

[@DeYaa]

Right ✔

[@alexat848]

THATS RIGHT!

[@anthonymanderson7671]

​@@andyh.5244yes

[@kei86]

"This is my school, not some politician school" WHAT? HOLY I WANT THIS KIND OF SYSTEM IN MY COUNTRY!!!

[@kumikorkki]

Well, in biology in 9th grade we focus mainly on human biology. We study human anatomy, physiology. We learn about pregnancy, sexually transmitted deceases, safe sex. It's such a long list that I don't have the patience to tell you everything in detail. :)

[@susanford2388]

I get the idea. Good for you. Bravo.

[@Svi3sa]

Also, the teachers have the freedom. This is helpful in so many ways!

[@salsa10cubana]

Congratulations, Finland. Your education system is just what I desire for Spain

[@Artecus]

They don't mention here that Finnish teachers make 89 percent of the salary of their upper quartile Finnish peers. In the United States teachers make less than 60% of their upper quartile American peers. (Do not know what it is for the United Kingdom). The narrow salary discrepancy in Finland makes an enormous difference for recruitment of top university students.

[@UseAsDirected100]

Arthur E. Michalak There are other issues like autonomy of schools, smaller sizes, common standards, and so on. But salary often is the biggest difference, yes.

[@comrademartinofrappuccino]

Citation needed

[@alanwhite933]

And, teachers in Finland must have a Masters....

[@naveed210]

If you want to know about British education, the dog whistle of “unlike other European nations, Finland has little immigration” is a glimpse into the kind of indoctrination much of our population has been brought up on. 😂🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Theelamental]

why isn't america funding this education system, that has proven itself effective.

[@ErikPT]

Theelamental hi from the future due to teaching unions.

[@sharonrinkiewicz3940]

Has nothing to do with teachers unions. Finland treats teachers with great respect. The teachers are given the FREEDOM to actually teach according to the needs of the child. In the US, there is virtually no respect for teachers. They are often the scapegoats of society's problems. In addition, private schools are outlawed in Finland. This forces the rich children to attend school with their poorer peers. They grow up together, become friends. Schools are funded on the principles of equity and equality. In the US, schools are funded by property taxes. This is precisely why the poorest neighborhoods have the worst schools. Imagine if we outlawed private schools. You can bet your sweet ass the rich parents would demand better resources in education. In Finland, there are no standardized tests. In America, because we place so much emphasis on test scores, teachers are forced to teach to the test. They are dictated what to teach, when to teach, and how to teach. Next, let's look at teacher training. In America, the standards are very low. Need a BA to teach, and the majority of that time is spent on theory, NOT practice. Just about anyone gets accepted into an education program. But in Finland, getting into an education program is extremely difficult. Think of it like trying to get into Harvard. Finland has built in what they call "practice schools," where students are paired with specially trained veteran teachers for two years. They practice teaching real students with constant feedback. Student teachers work together on developing lesson plans, teaching the kids, ECT. But in America, it is about competition, not collaboration. They get one semester of internship, unpaid. Yet, somehow we expect them to pay tuition on top of bills, quit their full time jobs to work for free. In Finland, teachers and other education professionals have real say in education policy. In America, we have people with zero experience in public schools dictating curriculum, standards, policies with no input from teachers. A lot can be said about curriculum as well. We pile so many standards, so many requirements with no time to actually teach them, let alone the time to learn them. In a typical 9th grade English class, there are over 300 standards but only 180 days of school. Is it any wonder why our kids graduate high school and still can't write a single sentence? In addition, we expect kids to sit quietly for seven hours a day with almost no breaks. Their brains turn off. Finland's curriculum is based on DEPTH, not breadth. They have much fewer standards but what is taught is learned in depth. For instance, in elementary school, we expect children to learn algebraic concepts BEFORE students fully learn basic arithmetic. We expect them to perform long division without truly learning the multiplication tables. And we wonder why our kids suck at math. America places little to no value in language learning whereas in Finland, they emphasize it, so children graduate fluent in three or four languages. So criticizing teachers unions is rather short sighted. Teachers unions fight for better education, better resources, better treatment of teachers. A lot needs to change in America, and honestly it begins with our culture and society as a whole. If our leaders don't respect teachers, how can we expect anyone else to.

[@susanford2388]

Can you imagine asking 50 states to be synchronized on education? They can hardly agree with each other on so many aspects of life let alone education. The US spend very little on early education & would rather parents paid for it instead of using tax dollars to do it.

[@erinlong6252]

I love this! I believe this is so eye opening to the American education system. It's not about the money or time, but about the drive to do well not by placing them as winners or losers but AS STUDENTS! Way to go Finland! You keep rockin' it, maybe one day America will catch on.

[@susanford2388]

Hillary Clinton went to Finland 20 years ago as she had heard of the marvelous Finnish system & wanted to learn from it. So American politicians are aware but they do not want to spend money on proper education, they want the parents to spend their hard on money on it instead.

[@butovas]

ahhh can't wait to start my studies in Finland!

[@butovas]

@Women's rights was a mistake frustrated much?

[@hipithautaa]

How was it?

[@amerikanserkku]

This makes me proud to be assistant teacher in finland.

[@DeYaa]

TRUST ? I'm crying.. The only reason that I'm being quite in most of the classes is because I don't trust teachers and I don't agree with our school system.. I just hate when they tell us that we MUST do this and do that... we HAVE TO do what they tell us, We have to learn what they teach us.. not what they want to learn, we have to get a job that our parents want not the one that our hearts want.. They don't let us to learn what we want to learn They don't let us to do what we want to do They don't let us to dress how we want to dress They don't let us to choose what we really LOVE They don't us us to live like a HUMAN They don't let us to live how we want to live.. They just use us like a ROBOT School is just like a HELL for most of the students~ Especially those who have a lower class The only students they see are The A students, and the others are nothing more than a loser in their eyes.. Most of the students kill theirself every year.. and they ask why? Are you really blind ? Can't you see what we are suffering from?..

[@AdamOpie]

Why doesn't every country have this ? -_-

[@biggioist]

I don't know...I am Italian. :3

[@saiyomaru]

+PaNḎa Ḡod thats fucked up xD, you'd get your ass beat if you say that away from the keyboard

[@saiyomaru]

***** nah i doubt it, theres only retards, dumbass, people with common sense, and those that contributes or follows in this world, the rest is all bull shit under that color, cus quite frankly you hate your own race more than others

[@saiyomaru]

***** oh i said, blow that torch back up your ass bitch! lol

[@saiyomaru]

***** it wont do you no good, i will simply just eat you, problem solve

[@happytosee1]

Fantastic report, one of the better ones. it shows the truth about intelligence, it happens when we are relaxed

[@Mike220111]

i love you Finland

[@MrMeoow91]

I think focus on languages at early grades is the most important key aspect since kids can learn a language much easier and faster at young age.

[@lourdessanchez7335]

In the US education is run by state, it would be possible for some states to try a similar model. Finland has about 6 million people These states have a population of less than 6 million: Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, Oregon, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Utah, Nevada, Hawaii, N Mexico, W Virginia, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Montana, Wyoming, N Dakota, Delaware, S Dakota, Alaska, DC and Vermont.

[@ZarathuPower]

LOL, it looks like all school systems are failing except in Finland. Many countries around the globe have adopted the U.S.. or British school systems that driven by competition. Such educations systems do nothing but wasting children's precious time that are so important for learning and be creative. Kudos to Finland.

[@ponhaus]

one thing they never mention in these bits about Finnish schools is that these kids are FINNISH ! As a whole these people are much more cooperative, less competitive, and very efficient. It is a culture of 'nothing wasted'. Each person sees themselves as valued. Here in the US, there is an pervasive cultural creed... "I don't take no sh*t from nobody !" ...even at the cost of hurting one's self. The Finns have a very different mind set.

[@shirleystephens7563]

This is neat the teachers seem to have a lot of wisdom

[@GregRainsMedia]

Finnish schools are recognized as number one in world for student achievement. Some of the main points: educators make the decisions, NOT politicians. Teachers are encouraged to get master's degrees and the state picks up the tab. There is differentiated instruction. One teacher has same students for five years in elementary grades. Interesting stuff!

[@aumv3606]

I really want this system in India their educational system is useless and prevents use of creativity I am in grade 10 and I am being harassed by Sri chaitanya techno school and I desperately need this

[@ThEsLaViNaToR534]

Very good English speaking country!! 4 languages learnt omg I would love Finland's education system over here in Scotland

[@susanford2388]

Scotland can be proud of themselves. Scotland was once the home of global medicine. In fact Scotland has produced a lot of scientists. Be proud to have had a Scottish education.

[@pillerable]

Most students are quite happy with their education and are indeed receiving it in a top-notch environment. You're just special. Though perhaps I'm not qualified to have an opinion on this, for I went to school in Helsinki and I have no idea what it's like elsewhere.

[@RedWizardFox]

I love this. Can every school be like this? :)

[@nishantpatar9020]

Billions respect to Finland..

[@susanford2388]

I have seen a few of these Finnish videos & I am impressed that so many of the teachers speak such good English. One Teacher spoke 5 languages. OMG plus she was a chemistry & physics teacher. Wow.

[@DadgeCity]

Teaching in Finland was very thorough, very slow and relaxed, no stress, nobody ever rushes you to do anything, everybody can take their time. Apart from the government inspections and all what that means, schools in England are good: great ideas, lots of attention to the children. Great resources and modern teaching methods, and in a good school you get a lot of teacher support. Not enough music and singing, perhaps :-). Finnish kids eat much healthier school dinners, as well.

[@rameshmulka9574]

Sofisticated education system, l love it

[@snowdevil002]

I love you finland!

[@luf4rall]

A teaching job in Finland is a well respected and distinguished job along with doctor and lawyer jobs. They are payed adequately and the success of there students are a bonus reward.

[@drsubramonian]

Excellent…......

[@radioban]

Hey lol that's my old school. I remember how there was international visitors every year because the school building looked so modern.

[@schwiiZZZ]

they have the best scientists and music!!!!!!!!!

[@tyttiMK]

chris chung LOL, "honorable titles"? You do realize that Finns hardly ever use any kind of titles, even at work when talking to the boss? Only in the military and when talking to the president, or ministers and such.

[@AditIrwan]

Theres a lot of homework in Indonesia and with a killer teachers.. Finlan education I think very homies, it seems like the teacher never get mad of student who not understand, coz they know, they have makes the student understand. And teach very patient and slowly.. If Indonesia use that system I will appreciate it. I'm steessed out of this fvckin homework !!

[@anamariaminucci243]

I have this idea to combine cooking and fraction math. I had a lot of difficult to learn fraction. I believe this new method will make easy to understand math.

[@superbarajaso]

@TheKaos007 You´re right, those are unfortunate drawbacks from cold weather, but a country with better education will always have and upper hand in most things

[@justnotcricket]

What do you Finns think of grammar schools?

[@chriswanderer90]

Similar to me. Some college teachers wanted to be called by their first names,

[@RacinZilla003]

Oh, my God... those phones...

[@shk00design]

The best way to learn anything is in a team environment. Like a foreign languages and music. This is what makes the El Sistema music program in Venezuela so successful. It is not just kids going their own ways but everybody in small ensembles and getting ahead by teamwork and partly peer pressure. In a country like the US some even consider private schools an alternative to the often underfunded public system. Here the public system seemed to work miracles...

[@FinnishPagan]

Thumbs up!

[@TempestTossedWaters]

@Geckuno Sure, why not?

[@DadgeCity]

I'm a teacher in England now, but I had some of my teacher training at a Finnish university. The biggest difference to me is that here it's all about government inspections, observing, constantly setting-achieving targets otherwise some funding might get withdrawn. All the teaching focuses on the exams from day 1, not on what the pupils actually need. I have to constantly provide "evidence of learning", spend my time doing paperwork, 4/5 training sessions will be on pprwrk and not teaching.

[@angelfugon9199]

An Excellent educational system of community participation.

[@jjjjjokerface]

I'd like to go to Finland to get my Master's (I'm currently a college sophomore, and wish I could go there now but the transfer process would be basically impossible for an international student) because of the free tuition. Even though living there would be expensive, I added up the costs and a year of living there equals a year's worth of tuition at a public US university, so why not? Free, excellent schooling and an opportunity to travel? Sounds like a good deal to me.

[@tclim988]

I'm wondering how you were able to download this from the BBC website? I tried to do so myself, but couldn't figure out how. Any tips?

[@supirbis]

I'm from Indonesia. I very wonder with finland's education system. It help me.

[@FinnishPagan]

True!

[@remsorian3]

each person had to understand that they have to have a little bit of education as much as you have to educate as much as you can go on they have to understand that the economy is on education every person has to understand that the most important thing is education

[@josue.jimenezm]

The education sistem in Finland is wonderfull. Many other countries have to catch the examples from the educaction in Finland to improve their education sistems.

[@lauren11235swann]

i have never had more than one teacher at the same time. i mean in jr. high we had one teacher for one subject. but 3 teachers in one class? no way. i'm in high school now, and i'm really proud of finlands education (of course im finn)

[@jamesof7seven]

That's true. Multiple alleles and all that. So much is yet unknown.

[@saprangoli1142]

I love Finland education ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Tropicaliak]

setting aside science and math, I would like to know how people are learning so many languages (and so well!) especially with less time in school relative to other places! I wish I had learned more languages when I was younger, but there were basically no opportunities until I was already jr. high age (living in the US.)

[@shirog0ma]

I wish I studied in Finland.

[@DaMaster2401]

this is the way education should be

[@zabbok]

i was also watching a vid on the south korean system...clearly the finns are getting great results w/o much of the stress.

[@skaterpunkrulezz]

While in America....competition is more important then education

[@ValWasTakenWasTaken]

I just started the 9th grade, and im supposed to find out what I want to study/do after the 9th grade in the next 6 months :P But the peruskoulu system works well :)

[@andikadimasprasetyo5758]

Ivan Illich would be proud of this

[@jleeger]

@summer28 Good comment, and very true, but this makes even more of an argument for a system like Finalnd's. Create a nationally standardized system that emphasizes local/community schooling. It's the SYSTEM that's working in Finland - cooperative teaching, high teacher-to-student ratio, and high community and parent involvement. That's the system that works, and it will work in any socioeconomic group.

[@CapuRen]

You come and see my secondary school. Same shit everywhere. In these shows they show only the best -.-

[@TheBuzzkill2012]

Comparing the US to Finland is a tough sell. First, 5.4 million vs. 300 million people. That's huge. SO many different types of people live in the US. It's not possible to educate everyone the same way finland does. 2nd, Finland does a great job, so naturally, people try to recreate, but with so many people, those schools are still crap. 3rd, the masters idea, isn't even possible. You wouldn't have enough teachers. Also, just cause you have a masters, doesn't mean you'll be a better teacher.

[@PlannedObsolescence]

I agree. I'm American, and it never fails to impress me how nearly all the Finnish people I've conversed with write in impeccable English. One Finnish person I spoke with via KZbin said that English is becoming like an unofficial second language in Finland.

[@Lapinmiez]

Well i and every one from my class when i was at primary school called our teacher as teacher and never with his name. Now that im in vocational school we call teachers with their names or some sort of nickname (example we call our woodcutting teacher as log emperor) but thats because they are workers who have started to teach their profession and arent really studied to become teacher so they are much more casual.

[@Mx.Shyloh]

3 languages? I live in North Carolina, here we are only required to take 2 semester's of of spanish or french before your graduate. In jr. high my average class size is 35. I wanta live in Finland:(

[@lolippi]

fineland :)

[@coicedebagual]

While in Brazil, building football stadiums is more important than pretty much anything else.

[@gamemaker1234]

Are PAID to study. GOING TO FINLAND RIGHT FUCKING NOW

[@UnclePutte]

@istiiizzz Nonsense! I go swimming in the lake nearby with my friends almost every day when it's -50'C.

[@ann241]

I wanna study finland 😞😞

[@Mel-cy7wr]

God I want to be a teacher in Finland so bad

[@tclim988]

@theworldvideos1 Thanks for the reply ... sorry I didn't say anything when you first replied, but I hadn't been back to this video since I wrote my question.

[@emperor262626]

@istiiizzz yeah because study in a sunny day is such a waste of time.

[@bbaction101]

My School in america we can learn another language in 8th grade until graduation, but my Spanish teacher was deported...

[@Alcatrazoria]

I want to live here

[@AnastasiaDinda]

I wish that i could get into a school like this, i really would love if my country could have changed its education system for the better not worse. I mean we don't even get computer lessons anymore.

[@SilverGamingFI]

Come to Finland pal!

[@joostehreidarsson8490]

Finland is suppose to be a pretty amazing country

[@neophytetroll]

@jessie245 I did not know that Finland is more accepting than in the United States. Where do you get this information from? You've been there before or something. Just curious :) I also like the fact that people in Finland go into more practical and useful-to-society careers such as engineering than in management and law.

[@s0nderellad]

Niin!!!

[@msallehuddinsoeb]

the teacher has good accent!

[@MrElitegamer6]

Seems a hell lot less stressful than Singapore's system. Goddamn How I wish my country's school was not so dull with concrete floors and don't even get me started on the weather. At least you have a cool climate there.

[@PrinceKumar-wr1ll]

Wat are you from Singapore?Is Singapore Education System is better than Findlands?

[@KulHuAllahu]

Amazing vid. I see a lot of similarities between this school and homeschooling here in the US (so long as parents give up that competitiveness in favor or instilling a love of learning & proper knowledge). The purpose of diversity is so that we may learn from one another bc everyone has something to offer, not just "genetically superior Whites", believe it or not (in ref to the comment below, which just took humanity back about 500 years & which does the opposite of the commenter's intent by i

[@iggyover]

@tomcat624u yup....that should do it....just sit back and wait for the calls to roll in.

[@Lucas_Ficz]

I wish Brazil was like Suomi...snowy, full of polite and intelligent people (not to mention beautiful) and a more corruptionless country :(

[@alo754]

Why was I taken from Peru and put in the US instead of Finland !? Those kids are so lucky >.>

[@supermonk3y07]

I see most of the top schools in the world are mostly asian countries that really stress nothing but long hours, repetition, and memorization just so they can do well on tests and pass. but out of the best schools in the world, Finland seems to have a great educational system that sometimes tops other schools in other countries such as South Korea or Singapore. I want this educational system in the USA.

[@arroyoandrews]

Ojala algun dia esto llegue a Puerto Rico

[@d6ud9e]

Don't take this video for granted. This only shows the pretty side of finnish schools.

[@PrinceKumar-wr1ll]

d6ud9e what is horrible side of the Finnish school?May I know?

[@technoserf_digital]

I wish America could be doing this. If we had a system where the kids actually LEARNED America could face its current challenges with ease, but unfortunately we seem to lack the educated population we need. :(

[@mromake1]

The point is they do, they have immigrants, low-income families, etc., and everyone is taught equally - there are NO private schools at all, there is no competition and no standardised testing system (like SATs / GCSEs) And yet they are ranked #1 in the world for education. Their ranking was carefully analysed to include all scores. This is not just one special or elite school... this is the whole country that has this system. I think we should learn from it, not look for the 'catch' or fault'

[@modelclasslist]

Singapore OWNS Finland and as anyone who is successful knows, being productive teaching effectively is NOT EASY for students. or teachers if you have ever talked to one in your life.

[@MetalliaSuomi]

Joo, se on mahtav! =D Paras maa maailmlla

[@eugenepohjola258]

Howdy. Being a Finn this is bewildering. I can agree that Finns study hard for tests and exams. Yes. But if one asks a man on street what the 30 years war was about my guess is that less than 20% could answer. Swedes are known to a cultivated people. My guess is that about 50% can answer. So yes. We study hard and forget harder. Not much is truly assimilated. Regards.

[@hinnatvoimassa]

@Tarenaccount You are right, some students study many languages. I'm studying Japanese at the moment : ). But this video gives a picture that most Finnish students can speak 3 or 4 languages, which I don't think is true at all.

[@hinnatvoimassa]

@Uchiha Madara Wow! A reply to my 9 year old message! Thank you. We don't have to argue whether Finns can speak more than 2 languages, because now we have statistical data. According to the study Aikuiskoulutukseen Osallistuminen 2017, about 50% of Finns can speak 3 or more languages. I have to admit that is more than I thought. www.stat.fi/til/aku/2017/04/aku_2017_04_2018-12-12_kat_003_fi.html

[@lapselliset]

One pupil costs 6604€/year in elementary school. That money is taken from tax money. It includes school material like books, and food. The system is same for everyone. No competition.

[@theworldvideos1]

@tclim988 Stream Transport, a free software that can be downloaded from the internet !!

[@LittleRainbowMiss]

@ThEsLaViNaToR534 in my school, you can learn 4 to 6 languages :P

[@Timcookie321]

wow, i only learned french and still can't remember it, well bonjour i recall is hello lol