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Finnish Results in PIAAC
Staff from the Institute for Educational Research at University of Jyväskylä, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Board of Education have summarised Finland's acheivements in PIAAC. Here are the highlights:
- The mean literacy rate of Finnish adults is excellent by international standards. Finland’s mean score for literacy was 288 points, which is significantly better than the average score for the OECD countries (273 points). The only country to score higher was Japan.
- Mean proficiency in numeracy in Finland is one of the best in the survey. The mean score (282 points) is substantially higher than the OECD average (269 points). Japan was the only country that exceeded Finland in proficiency in numeracy (288 points).
- Altogether 41% of all Finns are either good or excellent at solving problems in technology-rich environments. This is well over the OECD average (34%). The only country to score higher than Finland in this domain is Sweden.
The authors do not offer an explanation, but perhaps our subscribers in Finland can offer some answers
| Attachment | Size |
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| PIAAC_ENG_verkkoesite.pdf | 736.98 KB |
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Excellence in Finland
Having worked extensively in Finland in the mid and late 1990s I can offer a possible explanation for its good results. At that time the interest in lifelong learning was pervasive throughout every city and town in the country. The number of municipalities in the Finnish learning cities association almost equalled that of the UK with 15 times more people. The number of Finnish politicians and high level administrators at internal and overseas conferences was always high . Schools were community schools surrounded by all the help that youngsters might need in order to overcome difficulty and succeed. The Finnish national policy on lifelong learning was called 'The Joy of Learning' - it was a perceptive document,covering all aspects of education in schools, adult and higher education and engaging companies and state industries. Joy of learning indeed! Everyone knows that learning involves pain, grief, hard work and mental torture. - not in Finland it doesn't! And it shows.
Education and Wealth
Yes, Finland is considered as an 'educational country'. The big question is however why that potential does not produce more innovations and wealth.