Professor : Olga Alonsabe, Ph. D.
Student : Linda D. Saab
Subject : Comparative Studies of Educational System
Date Assigned: January 15, 2011
The Educational System in Finland
The basic education in Finland is governed by Basic Education Act 1968. It is a compulsory education for a period of ten years that is from seven years to sixteen years old. The completion for comprehensive schools takes nine years. It is the National Board of Education decides on the objectives and core contents of instruction by confirming the core curriculum. Each provider in education prepares the local curriculum. For the students who are 5 kilometers or more away transportation is free. During the first six years, instruction is usually in the form of subject teaching, where different subjects are taught by subject teachers. It includes pupil counseling and special education. In their basic syllabus they include subjects mother tongue and literature (Swedish of Finnish), the other national language and foreign languages and environmental studies. The subject offered in the Philippines are also offered in their state.
The upper secondary school offers 16 to 19 years of age. The requirement for upper secondary school is the completion of comprehensive school. It continues the educational task of comprehensive school and gives students eligibility for all studies at the tertiary level. After upper secondary there is matriculation examination. The matriculation examination has a centralized body to check its individual tests according to uniform criteria. In 1982 courses were divided about 38 lessons. The local curriculum provides students with individual choices concerning studies, also utilizing the instruction offered by other education providers. School studies consist of compulsory specialization and applied courses. Applied courses may be either further studies in subjects already studied or other subjects. The school year is divided into five to six periods. It is possible to finish in two years and a maximum for four years.
They have vocational education and provides 2-3 year instruction in almost all fields of working life with 75 initial study programs. It includes apprenticeship training and practical demonstration to insure effectiveness programs. It is open to upper secondary who leavers to be expert in their fields. After three –year vocational qualification provides general eligibility for higher education. Their Ministry of Education grants licenses to organize vocational education, determining the education providers’ fields of study and total number of students.
Finland has 29 polytechnics . The Polytechnic Education was built during 1990’s to create a non-university sector in higher education and to provide instruction for expert functions in the sectors such as natural resources, technology communications, business administration, tourism, catering and institutional management, culture and other services.
The Educational System in China
Before 1949, 80 % of the Chinese was literate and during Man Zedong’s rule, education became one of the government’s chief priorities and experienced great change. The education in China before was solely a state –run system of public education run by Ministry of Education. The basic education is compulsory. The pre school are between three to six years while in the Philippines are four to five years. Then their primary education is six years starting from the age of six or seven which is more likely the same in the Philippines. The secondary is also compulsory at the age of 12 to 18 years. The junior secondary is 12 to 15 years. At the age of 15-18 years, students has the freedom to be in senior secondary or vocational secondary. A test is needed to be able to enroll in higher education.
China education changes, the first “ Law on Promotion of Private Education” took effect on effect on Sept.1,2003. With the opening of private schools , there is an increase of literacy rate. There are more literate men than women because they prefer their women to just stay in the house contrary to the Philippines in which there are more literate women than men and are bread winners in families. They cater the Special Education ( SPED). The education supports international student in 2008. The education department in China were serious to train million of skilled workers for all traders and professions to comply with the reform program and modernization needs. The government aimed for the development of China’s basic education system is to attain level of moderately developed countries by 2010. Under their education reform, government give stiphen to poor families. In primary years the curriculum-consider about Chinese, mathematics, physical education, music, drawing, nature , history , and geography. It also includes knowledge of politics and morality or ethics like training about love of motherland and love of people. Most schools have often hour activities at least one day per week for recreation and community service.
The UNESCO reported last June 2003 and pointed out that the student population of China schools of higher learning had doubled in a very short period of time. The world largest increase to raise the quality of education. They send scholar abroad with stiphen. It is also an educational investment. China’s leaders believed that an educated elite is necessary to reach modernization goal.
Among most pressing problem faces in China was the scarcity of qualified teachers. To cope with the shortage of qualified teachers, the commission established full-time and part-time service training program. The training was based on the unified model, tailored to meet local conditions. They made hotspots online education for investment in the education industry. To address the gender equality, it is necessary to articulate a strategy to inspire girls and women’s participation .
