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3. Individual approach

An individual education plan is designed for every child. Books, exercises, homework, and in-class activities — everything is selected for each child individually and graded accordingly. Tutoring and remedial teaching are also available for those who require it.

4. Practical approach

Finnish people say: ’Either we prepare them for life or for exams. We choose the first.’ That is why there are no exams in Finnish schools. The teacher is the one to decide whether or not to carry out midterms and tests. There is only one compulsory standard test — a final to write before graduation from secondary school. But teachers do not give their students any special training for it.
School is the place to learn useful skills that can come in handy in real life. Finnish kids know how to do their taxes, create promo websites, calculate a percentage discount, or draw a wind rose to find one’s way around.

5. Trust

All relationships in Finnish schools are built on trust. For instance, there are no sudden checks on teachers and no one is imposing anything on them. The single unified education system only gives general recommendations, allowing teachers to choose an adequate method freely. Students are allowed to occupy themselves by something quiet if they are not caught up in what is going on in class or have finished doing their task. It is generally thought that the student is the one to choose what is best for him.

6. Voluntariness

Knowledge is never forced upon students. Teachers do their best to involve children in academic activities, but if they are not interested in or not capable of studying, they are oriented towards a more practical profession. No one is going to keep giving F’s to such students. It is essential to be well-prepared for adult life, and that’s why repeating a year is not considered shameful.

7. Independence

Finnish teachers help their students learn how to think, analyze, and gain knowledge independently. It’s essential to be able to find necessary information from open sources, while memorizing countless formulas, especially with the Internet available, can be viewed as a waste of time and energy.

What about grades?

Grades are given according to a ten-point scale, but from 1st through 3rd grade there are no grades at all. All schools have an electronic blackboard system called ’Wilma.’ It allows teachers, social workers, doctors, and psychologists to give feedback to students and keep in touch with their parents. No student fears receiving a bad grade in Finland: grades are used to motivate students, not to discourage them. Nor do the teacher’s reputation and salary depend on his or her students’ grades.

Additional information:

1. School premises are not fenced or guarded.
   
2. In class, children are allowed to sit on the floor or carpet.
   
3. There is no school uniform or any recommendations on how to dress. But children do have to bring a second pair of light shoes with them, especially in winter.
   
4. When it is warm, classes are usually taught outside. Younger students are taken outside during every break.
   
5. There is hardly ever any homework. Children should enjoy their free time! And parents are not advised to help their kids with homework: teachers say it’s much better to organize a family visit to a museum, go hiking, or swimming together.
   
6. Finns don’t claim that their education system is perfect. But they never stop fine-tuning and ameliorating this system, constantly researching how it corresponds to the latest social changes and scientific developments.