The Serpent in Finland’s Garden of Equity:Essay Review of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learnfrom Educational Change in Finland by Pasi Sahlberg

Essay Review of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland by Pasi Sahlberg (NY: Teachers College Press, 2011) Author(s): Sandra Stotsky — Publication date: 2012-03-05 Category: Education Abstract: About four decades ago, Finland introduced major reforms to grades 1-12 and teacher education, with noteworthy results. In 1970, less than 10% of its students graduated from high school. By 2010, most high schoolage students attended high school and most of these students graduated. What did Finland do to achieve such a dramatic increase in high school graduation rates? And to be among the highest-scoring countries on all the mathematics, science, and reading tests for 15-year olds given by PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) since 2000? We can find some answers in an account of the policy changes that contributed to these results by Pasi Sahlberg, director of the Center for International Mobility and Cooperation in Finland. We need to look elsewhere for other possible reasons.

The Serpent in Finland’s Garden of Equity