Finland to Overhaul Education System and Scrap Learning by Subject

Finland is going to be doing something radical to change the way education is taught to students in that country.

The Finnish National School Board has decided to scrap the current education system and move towards a “teaching by topic” system. By taking away the idea of teaching by subject, the school board hopes that the new system will support learning in a changing world. Called the Development School Network, the schools will consist of cooperation, innovation, and open-minded and experimental development activities.

“The school development objective of the network is to renew the operating culture and pedagogy, to promote student learning, school satisfaction and motivation, support teachers' competence development and wellbeing at work, to develop management practices and to create and disseminate new innovation,” said Counsellor of Education, Aija Rinkinen. “Objectives are also responsible for the ongoing curriculum reform requirements.”

The changes will affect 167 primary schools in 38 different municipalities all over Finland. Each school will choose for themselves the most current and relevant information to teach. Other changes also include moving from the passive approach of pupils sitting in front of their teacher to a more collaborative approach with students working together in groups. The change will foster communications skills and group work.

Finland is already known for having one of the best educational systems in the world, and the progressive approach is expected to push the country even higher on the international scale.