@pasi_sahlberg

“Lessons from the Finnish Experience”

2015 Cross-site Convening Washington, DC, USA

8th October 2015

Collaboration, Teacher Voice and Equity in Reforming Education

2000

PISA

Collaboration

Creativity

Trust-based responsibility

Teacher professionalism

Equity

Competition

Standardization

Test-based accountability

De-professionalization

Privatization

Two Global Change Forces

Collaboration

Creativity

Trust-based responsibility

Teacher professionalism

Equity

Competition

Standardization

Test-based accountability

De-professionalization

Privatization

Two Global Change Forces

Why Equity Matters?

Equity  of  educa.on  system  enhances  Weakness  of  the  rela.onship  between  achievement  and  family  background  (ESCS  Index)  

Quality  of  achievemen

t  improves  

Stud

ent  a

chievemen

t  in  reading,  m

athe

ma.

cs  and

 science  (PISA)  

Weak equity and low quality

Strong equity and high quality

Strong equity and low quality

Weak equity and high quality

Equity  of  educa.on  system  enhances  Weakness  of  the  rela.onship  between  achievement  and  family  background  (ESCS  Index)  

•  Shanghai

•  Hong Kong Quality  of  achievemen

t  improves  

Stud

ent  a

chievemen

t  in  reading,  m

athe

ma.

cs  and

 science  (PISA)  

•  Singapore

OECD, 2013

”Highest performing education systems are those that combine

excellence with equity.”

OECD, 2013

Framework for Whole-system Improvement in Finland

Focus on Equity.

1    

Fair school funding

Early childhood education

Preventive special education

School health & wellbeing

Whole child approach

Teacher professionalism.

2    

Right people

Best programs

Social capital

Professional association

The Children Must Play.

3    

Typical 4th grade schoolday in Finland

Mother tongue 45 min

P.E. 45 min

Science 45 min

Music 45 min

English 45 min

15 min recess

15 min recess

15 min recess

30 min lunch

8.30AM 2.00PM

Homew

ork

0 to 30 min

@pasi_sahlberg

THANK YOU!