1. In Finland, education is highly valued and teachers are prestigious professionals.
2. Education is free and accessible to everybody. The State pays for books, material and meals. If a child lives more than 5 km away from the school centre, they are also paid the transport.
3. Public funds are equally distributed among the centres so they can have the same facilities.
4. There is consensus and interaction between politicians, schools, teachers, universities.
5. The curriculum has the same general guidelines and a common framework, but each school organises itself according to their needs, achievements or results.
6. Personalised education and adapted to students: from the first years teachers give support students with special needs, minimising dropout rates in the future. They respect the different rhythms of learning. Moreover, teachers take on the same group from 7 to 12 years, so they get to know their students much better.
7. Integrated and multicultural.
8. Students have time. To play and to rest are also important. Children do not start school until they are 7. School days are also shorter and pupils do not have homework.
9. So have teachers. They spend less time inside the classroom and dedicate the rest of the time to prepare the lessons, investigate, organise or work collaboratively with other teachers.
10. Competence and numbers are avoided. Students do not do exams, neither do they get qualifications until they are 11 years old. Reports are descriptive, instead of numerical. Each student develop their own way of learning.
11. Participation and curiosity are rewarded. Imagination and empowerment are appreciated in the Finnish society. There are a lot of professionals in artistic and creative fields, as well as in technology and engineering.
12. Parents get involved into this process. They value education, participate in cultural activities and receive aids for the conciliation of family and work life.
