Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Curriculum Development in Finland Pasi Sahlberg, PhD Senior Education Specialist World Bank 1 Brief outlook • • • • • • • Population: 5.2 million The most northern corner of the EU GDP per capita: $26,000 4,100 comprehensive schools (1-9 grades) 475 upper secondary schools 50,000 teachers Public expenditure on educational institutions: 5.7 % of the GDP 2 Why curriculum change? • Situation in the beginning of 1990s – Teachers rarely used curriculum in their work – Teachers demanded more freedom – Teachers’ professional qualifications were increasing – Decentralization of public administration – Central administration didn’t know exactly how schools could improve performance – Paradigm shift in understanding learning 3 What was the solution? • New National Framework Curriculum 1994 – Loose conceptual framework describing intended experiences rather than content – Schools were invited to design their own curricula (but not by Law) – Increased flexibility and freedom of choice – Focus on new conception of learning – Support to schools in curriculum design 4 What happened? • Schools progressed in different rhythms • School curricula became very diverse (but still based on a common core) • Curriculum became a school improvement instrument and an active reference for schools • Schools created new identities and profiles • Fundamental curriculum change! 5 Possible impact of 1994 reform • Focus shifted from individual teachers to school as a community of professionals • The hidden potentials in schools, i.e. motivation, creativity and moral purposes were released but some got burned-out • Trusting teachers increased their working commitments • Schools became gradually learning centers 6