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Supporting Mathematics Teachers in the United States and Finland Proceedings of a Workshop (2018) / Chapter Skim
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2 The Finnish Education System
Pages 5-8

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From page 5...
... CONTEXT FOR MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND FINLAND Appreciation for what Finnish and U.S. mathematics educators can learn from one another's approaches to teacher preparation and ongoing professional development begins with understanding the context for mathematics education in the two nations.
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From page 6...
... The two nations dedicate slightly different percentages of public spending to primary and secondary public education: 3.9 percent of gross domestic product for Finland and 3.5 percent for the United States, as compared with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average of 3.8 percent. Both countries have been responding to rapid changes in the global economy and the growing demand for technically skilled workers.
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From page 7...
... School attendance is compulsory until age 16, but at that age students may choose among three options: completing upper secondary coursework that will prepare them for university study, beginning a vocational program that will prepare them for an occupation that does not require a university degree, or doing a combined program that prepares them for a particular occupation but includes some components of the upper secondary curriculum. Approximately half of the students between the ages of 16 and 19 start and complete the upper secondary coursework.
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From page 8...
... The national core curriculum outlines the goals, content, and spirit of basic education, but municipal authorities and teachers can influence the way schools implement this curriculum. Teachers may develop specific plans for implementing the curriculum and devise and implement assessments based on the national curriculum.
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Key Terms

  • upper secondary
  • basic education
  • secondary school
  • national core
  • own assessment

  • core curriculum
  • national evaluation
  • secondary coursework
  • education policy
  • learning materials

  • finnish basic
  • finnish schools
  • compulsory basic
  • schools provide
  • schools range

  • receive basic
  • schools designed
  • national curriculum
  • helsinki schools
  • secondary curriculum

  • public schools
  • schools offer
  • magnet schools
  • schools implement
  • schools located

  • schools serve
  • secondary public
  • schools according
  • educational equality
  • particular occupation


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