Comparative Analysis of the Educational Systems of the United States of America and Finland

Essay , 2018 , 8 Pages , Grade: 1.6

Didactics - Common Didactics, Educational Objectives, Methods

A comparison of the education disparity in the United States of America and the unified education system in Finland helps to underscore the differences in learning outcomes in various countries. Although Finland is a smaller economy, its education system consistently puts the learning outcomes higher than the United States of America. The overall availability of quality schools programs tend to be well established in wealthy industrialized nations than in the more poor developing ones.

However, there are large differences that distinguish even countries that are geographically near each other and operating at similar economic development. For instance, all children aged three years are enrolled in an education program in Finland and France compared with twenty-eight percent of Spanish and Portuguese preschool children. Even within the same nation, access to education is more prevalent in urban centres compared with the rural areas. It is only in the last few decades that systematic research begun to look at the linkages that exist between national policy, childhood education programs, and the outcomes of the children. There is widespread body of evidence that suggest that participation in a preschool program enhances cognitive development among children and prepares for success in their schooling.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• A Comparison of Education Disparity in the United States of America and the Unified Education System in Finland
• The American Education System
• Elementary, Upper Primary and Secondary School Management
• Private Schools
• Charter Schools
• Magnet Schools
• Homeschooling
• Management of the Education System
• The Finnish Education System
• The Finnish Education System: Overview
• The Finnish Education System: Administration
• The Finnish Education System: Comprehensive Education System
• The Finnish Education System: Equity and Well-being
• The Finnish Education System: Education Opportunities
• The Finnish Education System: Education Reform
• The Finnish Education System: Education Policies
• The Finnish Education System: Comparison of Student Population
• The Finnish Education System: The Teacher Qualifications

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper seeks to compare and contrast the education systems in the United States of America and Finland. It aims to explore the reasons behind the differences in learning outcomes between the two countries, despite the United States being a much larger and more economically developed nation.

• Education Disparity and Equity
• Learning Outcomes and National Policy
• Role of the State and Decentralization in Education
• Financing and Funding of Education
• Teacher Qualifications and Pedagogical Practices

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The paper begins by highlighting the significant differences in educational outcomes between the US and Finland, particularly in terms of student achievement. It emphasizes the importance of early childhood education and its impact on later learning.
• The American education system is described, focusing on its structure, management, and different types of schools, including public, private, charter, magnet, and homeschooling. It emphasizes the decentralized nature of the system, with state and local control over education policy and curriculum.
• The Finnish education system is presented as a centralized system emphasizing equity, well-being, and inclusive education. It discusses the importance of comprehensive education and the abolition of streaming, resulting in a more uniform learning experience for all students.
• The paper further contrasts the approaches to education policies, highlighting the emphasis on equity and social cohesion in Finland, compared to the focus on addressing disparities in the US. The Finnish system emphasizes the provision of equal opportunities for all students, regardless of socioeconomic background.
• A comparison of the student populations in both countries is conducted, pointing out the larger and more diverse student population in the US. This diversity is seen as a potential factor contributing to the variation in educational outcomes.
• The paper concludes by examining the differences in teacher qualifications and assessment practices between the two countries. It highlights the importance of highly qualified teachers and a holistic approach to assessment in Finland, which contributes to the high quality of education.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of this work are education disparity, education systems, learning outcomes, equity, well-being, inclusive education, centralized education, decentralized education, national policy, curriculum development, teacher qualifications, assessment practices, Finland, United States of America, PISA, OECD.

• Grade: 1.6
• Author: Caroline Mutuku (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 8
• Catalog Number: V428836
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668723832
• ISBN (Book): 9783668723849
• Language: English
• Tags: comparative, analysis, educational, systems, united, states, america, finland