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Finland Education. Brittany Falcinelli. Background. Symbols. Animal: Brown Bear Bird: Swan Coat of Arms : Fish: Perch Flower: Lily of the Valley Motto: " Vart Land" (Our Land) National Anthem: " Maamme " (Our Land) Stone: Granite Tree : Birch. People & Society.
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Finland Education Brittany Falcinelli
Symbols • Animal: Brown Bear • Bird: Swan • Coat of Arms: • Fish: Perch • Flower: Lily of the Valley • Motto: "Vart Land" (Our Land) • National Anthem: "Maamme" (Our Land) • Stone: Granite • Tree: Birch
People & Society • Ethnicities: Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% • Languages: Finnish (official) 94.2%, Swedish (official) 5.5%, other (Sami- and Russian-speaking) 0.2% • Religions: Lutheran 78.4%, Orthodox 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.2%, none 19.2% • Population is 100% literate (15+ can read and write)
Government • Became independent from Russia on December 6th 1917 • Republic • President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012) • Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 22 June 2011) • Council of State is appointed by the president, responsible to parliament • Civil law system based on Sweden’s • National symbol: Lion • National Anthem: "Maamme" (Our Land)
Economy • Main exports: Electrotechnical goods, metal products, machinery, transport equipment, wood and paper products, chemicals • Main imports: Raw materials, investment goods, energy, consumer goods (cars and textiles) • Finland is highly integrated in global economy • International trade is a third of GDP (gross domestic product) • Currency: Euro
Military • Branches: Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force • Service obligation: 6-12 months • Service age: • Male volunteer/compulsory: 18 • Female volunteer: 18
Major Landmarks • Fortress of Suomenlinna: one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world • Petajavesi Old Church: example of timber church architecture that has Renaissance and Gothic elements • Olavinlinna Castle: best known for the opera festival held every year
Education Policy • “All people must have equal access to high-quality education and training” • Same opportunities should be available to all citizens despite their ethnic origin, age, wealth or where they live • Key words: quality, efficiency, equity and internationalization
Food • Traditional breads are a part of every meal • Common meats: smoked ham or smoked reindeer • Common fish: salmon, whitefish and herring • Finnish banquet: fish, then meat, along with salad, cheese or a vegetable side dish, the dessert could consist of Finnish crepes with jam
Education System • Basic education: 9 years of Comprehensive School • Pre-primary education: 1 year voluntarily • Upper secondary education: general, vocational, and training education • Higher education: universities and polytechnics
Instruction • Students receive fewer hours of instruction than students in any other OECD country • Taught 600 hours a year as compared to 1,080 hours • In the early education, students often stay together in a class with the same teacher for several years • Teacher can follow the students’ development • Makes it a family-like enviornment
Language in Schools • Foreign languages are essential at all levels of education • Vast majority of instruction is given in Finnish • First foreign language is begun in the third grade-graduation • Second foreign language is begun in the seventh grade • Third foreign language is chosen optionally in eighth grade • 90% of their student choose English as their first foreign language
Upper Secondary Education • Ages 16-19 • Requirement: certificate from basic education • Typically done in 3 years • Matriculation exam: taken at the end of secondary schooling; it qualifies students to study at a higher education • Some upper secondary schools specialize in a certain subject: sports, art or music
Lower Secondary Math Education • Taught usually three 45 minute lessons a week in (7th and 8th grade) • Four 45 minute lessons a week (9th grade) • Grades 7 – 9: Numbers, Geometry, Algebra, Functions, and Probability and Statistics • Math teachers mostly teach physics, chemistry and sometimes computer science
Lower Secondary Math Education cont. • In the new core curriculum, congruence transformations are given a larger role than before • In the 1970’s, Euclidean-type geometry was abolished • The algebra curriculum involves simple calculations with powers and polynomials and solving first degree equations and pairs of equations.
Upper Secondary Math Education • One math course: about 35 lessons of 45 minutes each • Required courses deal with polynomial, rational, root, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, and differential and integral calculus • Specialized courses: logic, number theory, and numerical mathematics, and further analysis
Upper Secondary Math Education cont. • For the matriculation exam students can either choose between a math or general studies test • the number of mathematics lessons in Finland is small in international comparison • Finding teachers that teach mathematics, physics and chemistry is a vital challenge in Finland
Bibliography • Asta, J. (n.d.). Facts on food & Culture in finland. Retrieved April 11, 2014, from USA Today website: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/food-culture-finland-16053.html • The educational system of finland: Background, structure, equivalencies, and new directions. (2010, October). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from The Educational System of Finland website: http://www15.uta.fi/FAST/US5/REF/wesfin90.html • Education policy in finland. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from Ministry of Education and Culture website: http://www.okm.fi/OPM/Koulutus/koulutuspolitiikka/?lang=en • Finland in facts. (2014, January). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from This Is Finland website: http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160032&nodeid=44491&culture=en-US • Instructional systems. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2014, from Center on International Education Benchmarking website: http://www.ncee.org/programs-affiliates/center-on-international-education-benchmarking/top-performing-countries/finland-overview/finland-instructional-systems/
Bibliography cont. • Stedøy, I. M. (Ed.). (n.d.). Mathematics education in finnish secondary schools. Retrieved April 11, 2014, from Mathematics Education: The Nordic Way website: http://www.matematikksenteret.no/attachment.ap?id=430 • Symbols. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from Finland State Symbols, Song, Flags and More website: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/finland/fisymbols.htm • Three major landmarks in finland. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from Getaway Tips website: http://getawaytips.azcentral.com/three-major-landmarks-finland-3843.html • The world factbook. (2014, April 1). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from Central Intelligence Agency website: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fi.html