Late in the year 2010, the “Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development” released its annual Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) study. It is an international comparison of educational performance. One of the areas of the world that education takes top scores in reading (English), writing (English), mathematics, and science, is Shanghai- China. As usual, the so-called sub-Saharan nations of Africa were not listed in the ranking. Overall according to strategies beneficial to the populations of the USA, England, France, and many other nations, they may need to emulate Finland.
The people of Finland creatively and collectively developed what worked in other nations, and crystallized an effective unified educational system that has no difference among socio-economic groups in the nation. Unlike virtually every nation in the world, the students that attend school in poor areas will receive the same education as those in wealthier areas. An added improvement compared against the USA and a few other nations is that Finland does not do Standardized Tests. Those tests have been confirmed to be a major distraction to required learning, and teacher preparation time.
Parents, teachers and students assess progress and effectiveness of schools can be determined through a poll system and results from mid-term and final exams. One method that could be used to determine weaknesses and strengths is short-term sample-based learning tests, instead of the flawed and stupid methodology of believing education should be treated like a game, and segments of it should be rewarded as such. Life, like education is a process and journey, not a game to be won, lost, or set in a competition. The only field of education that competition truly belongs in is through physical education exercises. Another way that Finland is much better is that they put real time and money into elevating the teaching profession. Parents and politicians logically regard teachers in the same manner they do doctor’s, and the police. In successful nations, the more the schools are encouraged to work in coordination and cooperation, the better the educational system. The schools in the Shanghai area of China also avoid the competitive model of school reform. The low performing schools are paired with and mentored by high performing ones, with the emphasis on sharing techniques that work.
Closing schools and firing teachers is simply not a choice in many places, unless a gross abuse of the position or safety violations are outrageously present. This is a philosophy shared by many of the so-called third world nations. Many teachers just need a few workshops with collaborative time, not a bunch of tests. Many parents and grand-parents may need to be certified as beneficial as well. If teachers are going to be forced to do re-evaluation tests, every profession in the country should be mandated do one also (policemen, clerks, managers, politicians, doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, cooks,
Member of the Earth Charter; SGI-USA; Organizing for America; and a key member of the expanding African Heritage Association begun in Ghana. Currently an Educator, Author, and Activist.
This information came from the book “The Global Situation”
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