A review by emmkayt
Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? by Pasi Sahlberg

3.0

Looks at the confluence of factors in Finland that may have resulted in its students' top standing In international academic assessments and educational outcomes. Dry and table-heavy, as well as somewhat repetitive, although I enjoyed the occasional quirky references to Finnish national temperaments (really, you're all the strong silent type and just want to best the Swedes?). Despite the dryness, it provided me with lots to think about. I was interested, for example, to learn that: each school designs its own curriculum; teachers teach only 4 periods a day and must attain research-based Master's degrees; half of students receive special needs education at some point in their school careers; and secondary school students are not divided by age and instead complete a required number of modules in whatever order they choose over three years.