Technology in schools

Finland is regarded as one of the model countries when it comes to education. The school system which guarantees all children and young people an equal opportunity for free of charge basic education near one’s home has been listed as a key factor behind the success. Also, the high educational standard of teachers, the high authority of the individual schools and teachers in the implementing of teaching and the significant role of the co-operation between home and school are all considered important factors that benefit the learning of students.

Students in Finnish schools have ranked among the top entries in the international PISA-study for years. PISA is an assessment program coordinated by OECD. The program generates information on the skills level of 15-year old people in areas of literacy, mathematics and natural sciences. Although the results are good, the developers have been concerned about the varying level of information technology equipment in schools and the use of information technology, as the use of technology in schools has decreased while home use is increasing. To further the use of technology, a considerable amount of both free of charge and commercial digital teaching materials have been developed by several parties that specialise in developing education.

National and regional development projects have been initiated and continuing education has been increased to activate the use of technologies in schools. In 2008, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Education and the Finnish National Board of Education started a project to utilise information and communications technology in teaching and studies. The vision of the “Information and communications technology in everyday school work”-project is that in the year 2011, schools in Finland will be equipped with innovative and creative operating models and practices that can be used in teaching information and communications technology and the utilisation of digital media.