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** "//Finns are driven by a common and articulately expressed social vision that connects a creative and prosperous future.//" ** (Hargreaves, 2007, p.12)

Welcome to Finland!
The Finnish educational reform movement over the last forty years has been a hot topic lately; progressive curriculum and teacher training changes have paved the way for some impressive results on the world stage. ** Local school communities currently have a great deal of autonomy to interpret the broad goals laid out in the ** ** National Core Curriculum ** **. ** The **trust** in teachers to cater curriculum at a local level has evolved from significant teacher training reforms which, in turn, has helped create a **collective confidence** in their abilities.

This short introduction to the film //The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System// will get us warmed up: media type="youtube" key="bcC2l8zioIw?version=3" height="311" width="554" align="center"

** //"For a country with limited natural resources, education has been a door to economic growth, social cohesion, and further opportunities in life."// ** (Aho et. al, 2006, p.116)  Finland is a country devoted to life long learning and egalitarianism. Concerns over education and efforts toward maintaining high quality schools are shared by all of society (parents, government and employers). Finns use their libraries more frequently than any other nation in the EU (their newspaper subscription and reading rates are high too!). Their students don't wear uniforms, often go shoeless (to create a home like atmosphere) and no valedictorians are named. Curious yet? ** // "The pupil's work load in basic education must be such as to allow him or her enough time for rest, recreation and hobbies over and above the time spent in school, school travel and homework." // ** Basic Education Act 1998

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