Title: Education reform in Finland and the comprehensive school system | Centre For Public Impact (CPI)
Headings: Education reform in Finland and the comprehensive school system
Education reform in Finland and the comprehensive school system
The initiative
The challenge
The public impact
Stakeholder engagement
Political commitment
Public confidence
Clarity of objectives
Strength of evidence
Feasibility
Management
Measurement
Alignment
Bibliography
The Public Impact Fundamentals - A framework for successful policy

Content: In 1960, almost 62 percent of Finns lived in rural areas; however, only 20 percent of students living in the countryside attended grammar schools. Conversely, 38 percent of Finns lived in urban areas but 47 percent of children there attended grammar schools. [ 3] More than ever, parents wanted an “improved and more comprehensive basic education” for their children. [ 2] Both the increase in student numbers and inequality of educational access and attainment led to the need for serious reforms. It was necessary to provide quality education for all children regardless of their socioeconomic background or where they lived. The public impact
The success of the comprehensive education reforms is evident from the subsequent excellent student performance and national educational outcomes. These outcomes can be attributed to a number of factors, including the focus on providing equal access for all to quality education and the role of local municipalities and teachers in designing and implementing the curriculum to meet students' needs. Student performance at school has improved considerably since the implementation of comprehensive school reforms. While there are other factors at play - such as a more extensive build-up of the welfare state - the reforms are seen as at least partly responsible for the improvement.