Why Finland’s schools are so successful

Tiger

導讀：芬蘭義務階段的學校教育譽滿全球，這與政府政策得當以及良好的社會氛圍密不可分。

For many years the school system in Finland has been very successful. In the PISA survey， which compares reading， math and science knowledge of 15 year olds around the world， Finland is not only the top European country but also better than Asian countries and cities like Shanghai， Singapore and South Korea. But what makes the educational system in this small country so strikingly different from others in the western world？

First of all， the Finish government makes it possible for all children to attend preschool， which comes after kindergarten. Compulsory education begins at 7. Teachers work with their pupils in school as much as possible. They have little homework to do when they get home. When teachers are not with the pupils they spend a lot of time in schools working on new projects. They teach in teams if it helps them reach their goals. That is why dropout rates are low compared to other countries.

Teaching in Finland is a more highly admired profession than in any other country. Finland selects its teachers very carefully. Only talented students go on to a university and receive a masters degree in education. Finland only takes the best to educate its youth.

Schools in Finland are small. Teachers here are more ready to prepare children for life than those in any other country. In some cases they know every pupil in their school and can adjust to them. Teachers try everything to succeed with their pupils. Most of the pupils get additional help in their elementary school years， either by the teachers themselves or through specially trained educators.

All Finish children， whether they come from the city or a rural town， whether from a rich or poor family have the same chances in education. Education experts say that there is very little difference between very good and the worst students. Two thirds of Finish pupils who finish compulsory education move on to higher education， the highest rate in the European Union.

A part of Finlands success is also because of the fact that its society is homogeneous. There are not so many differences between the wealthy and poor， as in America or other western European countries. This is reflected in the classroom too. Teachers always try to show pupils how to behave socially and care for others. They teach them that taking duty is very important for their future life.

Vocabulary

strikingly adv. 引人側目地

compulsory adj. 義務的

dropout n. 輟學、輟學者

homogeneous adj. 由相同（或同類型）事物（或人）組成的

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