Finnish education system again among the top
The Finnish education system is ranked among the world top, according to a global league table published by education firm Pearson. The rankings combine international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010.
The first and second places are taken by Finland and South Korea followed by three other high-performing Asian education systems Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
The global study, written by the Economist Intelligence Unit, draws on existing data from international organisations, as well as figures on literacy rates, school attendance, and university graduation rates. The comparisons draw upon tests that are taken every three or four years, in areas such as maths, science and literacy.
The study found that the top two performers develop high-quality teachers, value accountability and have a moral mission that underlies education efforts.
The report suggests that promoting a culture that is supportive of education is more important than the amount of money invested. The report also emphasises the importance of high-quality teachers and the need to find ways to recruit the best staff.
The report, and the broader Learning Curve programme of which it is part, is aimed at helping policymakers, educators, academics and other specialists to identify some of the key factors.
The Learning Curve Data Bank (LCDB) , which is accessible online, brings together an extensive set of internationally comparable data on education inputs and outputs covering over 50 countries.