Analyzing Historical, Cultural, and Social Factors Shaping Education in Finland and Japan
Finland’s educational system is considered one of the best in the world, and its quality has been shaped by the historical, cultural, and social conditions throughout the country’s existence. On the one hand, the country has a robust social welfare system that improves the well-being of children and all citizens (Paksuniemi & Keskitalo, 2019). Finland’s culture is also based on valuing individuality and creativity, which is reflected in its educational system. For example, the KallahtiComprehensive School in Helsinki is known for highly individualized learning (Paksuniemi & Keskitalo, 2019). Finally, historically, Finland has been a country that values the quality of education.
Historically, education has been seen as a means to climb the social ladder and achieve success in Japan. This is why this country’s highly competitive educational system and academic achievements are prioritized over creativity (Katsuno et al., 2019). Discipline is one of the most critical aspects of the culture of Japan, and it is also emphasized in education. For example, Hikari Oe, a Japanese student who won a Harvard University scholarship, explains her success through the discipline she was taught in school in Japan (Katsunoet al, 2019). Her story is not unique, as Japanese students are known to achieve great results through discipline.
Comparing Educational Goals and Strategies Between Finland, Japan and the United States
Compared to the US, Finland strongly emphasizes equal opportunities for success for all students regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Finland also focuses more on creativity and critical thinking, which is not prioritized as much in the United States regarding educational achievements. In terms of addressing educational inequity, Finland, as a country that historically has a robust social welfare system, ensures that all children have equal access to resources needed in the educational process.
For example, Finland provides all students with free meals, transportation, books, and stationery, which is yet to be achieved in the United States. Japan is also different from the US in terms of emphasizing the importance of educational success, as in Japan, a person’s overall success is entirely defined by how well they do academically. Educational inequity is not addressed well, and education is not so accessible, which makes it similar to the US.
Addressing Educational Quality and Inequality: Lessons from Other Nations for the U.S.
The United States could learn a lot from Finland in order to improve its public education. To begin with, the US educational system revolves around standardized testing, which might be good in some cases but can restrict students’ creativity. Making testing less rigid and more focused on critical thinking skills could enhance students’ outcomes and engage them more in the learning process.
Another practice that could be borrowed is related to addressing inequity: America could introduce similar measures, such as free stationery for all students or additional help for low-income families. On the other hand, emphasizing the importance of education in a way similar to that of Japan could lead to more stress and burnout among students. Therefore, using some of the Finnish practices would be more helpful.
Personal Reflection
So far, learning about Finland’s educational system has been the most exciting experience. The Finnish school and higher education system are fascinating due to their different approaches and the country’s educational success, which has been recognized internationally. Learning about the systems of some Asian countries, particularly South Korea and Japan, has been difficult, as it is hard to grasp the cultural particularities of these countries and understand why they organize education the way they do.
Advice for Studying Abroad in Finland and Japan
If I were to advise the people considering studying abroad in one of the countries from the module, I would recommend first exploring the culture of these countries and how it affects the educational system. Sometimes, they can conclude that the cultural differences are too extreme; in this case, it is better to cancel the decision.
References
Katsuno, M., Omomo, T., & Kitamura, Y. (Eds.). (2019). Education in Japan: A Comprehensive Analysis of Education Reforms and Practices. Springer Nature Singapore.
Paksuniemi, M., & Keskitalo, P. (Eds.). (2019). Introduction to the Finnish Educational System. Brill.